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The Commoner
NOVBMBBE, 1915
"Patriotism is Not
Enough"
Great Britain is stirred by the execution of
a woman who was accused of violating tho rules
of war in order to aid in the escape of prisoners
whoso fate touched her heart. The Allies will
profit and in the same proportion Germany will
suffer by the cruel punishment inflicted upon
Edith Cavell, but will either side take to heart
the rebuke administered by her in her dying
words? Both sides have been inhuman each
excusing itsolf by what the other does. It is
only a short time ago that, according to Amer
ican eye witnesses, British soldiers shot helpless,
unarmed German prisoners when a submarine
was captured; and now a woman nurse is de
liberately put to death under conditions that
would shock the world had it not been made al
most insensible to horror by what it has already
seen. But the lesson taught by the killing of
Miss Cavell is that love is mightier than force.
The spirit in which she met death was more
beautiful even than the calm courage with which
she faced her executioners.
The German military chaplain testifies: "She
was bravo and bright to tho last. She pro
fessed her Christian faith and said she was glad
to die for her country. She died like a heroine."
Grand and irispiririg" words worthy to bo in
scribed on the many monuments that will be
reared to her but not so grand or inspiring as
her last words to the British chaplain: "But this
I would say, standing as I do in view of God
and eternity; I realize that PATRIOTISM IS NOT
ENOUGH. I must have NO HATRED or BIT
TERNESS TOWARD ANY ONE."
Will the warring nations overlook these
words? They have been appealing to patriotism
and to arouse the fighting spirit they have
preached resentment and retaliation they have
sought to find the cure in the same false philos
ophy that led the nations into this war hatred,
force and fear. But here is one who, about to
suffer the extreme penalty of military law, looks
serenely at her executioners and offers for them
the prayer that came from Calvary "Father,
forgive them."
If the nations at war had dealt with each other
in this spirit, there would have been no war;
if they would now meet each other in this spirit
the war would soon end. If tho diplomacy of
tho world could only be built upon the senti
ment "I must have no hatred or bitterness to
ward any one," universal peace would be as
sured and that is the real end toward Tvhlch.
we must strive if we would promote peace.
Those who make fortunes out of the shedding
of blood like those who make a profit by cul
tivating the appetite for drink may be expected
to ridicule and oppose anything that interferes
with their profits, but tho doctrine of love
is the growing doctrine, and Edith Cavell's words
will give impetus to that doctrine.
W. J. BRYAN.
It is reported that the discount on the Anglo
French loan was reduced two per cent in return
for the agreement that there should be no re
striction as to- the use made of the money. At
first it looked as if some of the borrowers
were objecting on principle to tho use of the
money for the purchase of munitions, but it
seems that it was not a matter of principle but a
matter of per cent.
A BEMEDY IS NEEDED
The investigations which are being conducted
by Comptroller Williams show that the borrow
ers of the country need greater protection than
they now have against the usurious bank. The
public has been astounded to learn that 13 per
cent of the national banks are violating the usury
law. The difficulty about enforcing a usury law
is that the victim can not afford to employ the
penalty. Why not authorize the department of
justice to bring suit wherever the evidence shows
a violation of the banking law by a bank? The
department of justice is in position to protect
tho borrower without subjecting him to business
ostracism. Usually a man who has to pay usury
has trouble enough without inviting the com
bined opposition of the banking fraternity, but
the department of justice is strong enough to
compel respect for the law. A brief statute con
ferring authority upon the department of justice
"would answer a very useful purpose.
W. J. BRYAN.
TID3 NAVY LEAGUE'S DEMANDS
2u tth5 31xrt oC AuBust the Chicago American
published a Now York dispatch by "Internation
al News Service," saying:
"New York, Aug. 30. Colonel Robert M.
ihompson, this afternoon elected president of
the Navy league, tonight throw down tho gaunt
let to congress and tho American peoplo on tho
subject of preparedness. Thompson 1b a well
known sportsman and financior who succeeds
General Horaco Porter as active head of tho
league. After a banquet in his honor ho told
newspaper men:
" 'International events aro so shaping them
solvea that tho United States will bo tho prob
able prlzo of armed conquest by tho victorious
group of powers now battling in Europe.
" 'Tho availablo gold supply of tho world is
now pouring into this country. At tho close of
tho war it Is absurd to think that an attempt
to regain this wealth will not bo mado unless tho
United States actively prepares itself on a war
footing.
" 'That Europo is unwilling to awaken tho
peoplo of tho United States to their plight Is
evidenced by tho willingness of ono great fight
ing nation abroad to accedo to our demands. In
order to avert disaster $500,000,000 should bo
appropriated for a larger navy and arrange
ments should bo mado immediately to put 1,000,
000 men in tho field.
" 'The American peoplo want this prepared
ness, but we aro a-commercial nation and the
people's voico has not yet been heard in Iho hallo
of congress. Now is the time to awaken to grave
danger and demand a proper expenditure to pre
servo peace.
" 'If the nations of Europe wish to, they may
enter New York and take tho bullion of tho
world from her vaults at tho end of tho present
war unless we set out guarding our treasure.' "
This is tho highest bid yet mado by tho Jin
goes. Five hundred millions for tho navy, and
an army of a million men. This would ralso tho
appropriations for preparedness to somewhere
between seven hundred and fifty millions to ono
billion. According to Mr. Thompson "tho na
tions of Europe, IF they wish to, may enter New
York and take tho bullion of tho world from
her vaults at tho end of the present war unless
we set out guarding our treasure." If tho
danger Is that great, would it not bo a good
plan to build a vault west of the Alleghanles
and storo this bullion beyond reach of dangor?
If there is danger enough to justify such an in
crease in our expenditures as is now asked, Ic It
not foolish to leavo this tempting prize at tho
water's edgo and run this rlBk of Its being taken
from us? This would seem reasonable, but the
laws of logic aro put aside when people get as
badly scared as officers of the Navy league or as
"deeply interested in preparedness as tho manu
facturers of munitions.
W. J. BRYAN.
GENERAL SHERWOOD'S POSITION
On another page will bo found a speech
against preparedness, recently delivered by Gen
eral Sherwood, a member of congress from tho
Toledo, O., district. Tho general is a democrat
of great popularity, having several times carried
a strongly republican district, and is conspic
uous in all matters relating to tho soldier and
hiff dependents.
He is a man ripe in years and won distinction
in the Civil war. It is gratifying to havo his
strong clear voico raised against frenzied pre
paredness. He will bo a tower of strength to
the people in their fight against tho munition
trust, which is just now trying to secure a stran
gle hold upon the nation's throat.
This veteran in war and in politics will bo
moro than a match for representatives of the
Navy league, tho Security league and other self
constituted guardians of the nation who would
commit us to tho fatal folly of Bropfc
The actual annual yield to investors in the
Anrlo-French loan is estimated to be 5.46 per
cent Counting American bonds at threo per
cent tho value of money on tho based security it
would indicate that tho 2.46 per cent is intended
to cover risk. The profits of the syndicate un
derwriting tho Anglo-French loan is given at ten
Sons As long as the high financiers can
Sake that amount loaning to belligerent nations,
Sere win always be a strong monetary Influence
vlo w makint? all war loans contraband. It is
hl?d for puSfc interest or patriotism to stand
up against ten millions of dollars profit.
Nebraska in Line for
Prohibition
Tho representatives of tho antl-llquor force
of Nebraska have acted wisely in agreeing upoa '
an amendment which oliminntcs all unnecessary
mattor aud confines tho fight to the real points
at issue. Tho proposed amendmont reads:
"Be it enacted by tho people of tho state of
Nebraska: That tho constitution of tho state of
Nobraska bo amended by adding thereto the
following, to bo known and designated as ar
ticle. 17 thorcof:
"On and after May 1, 11)17, tho manufacture,
tho sale, tho Keeping for sale or barter, tho sale
or barter under any protext, of malt, spirituous,
vinous or any other Intoxicating liquors aro for
ovor prohibited in this state, excopt for medicin
al, scientific, mechanical or sucramental pur
poses." It will bo noticed that tho proposed amend
ment presents tho real Issue, namely, whothor
intoxicating liquors shall bo manufactured or
sold in Nebraska. Tho temporanco forces have
sometimes attempted to go beyond tho real re
quirements of tho situation and havo aroused
opposition on nccount of what seemed to many
an unnecessary interference with private life.
Nebraska will do all that she can hope to do If
she rids herself of tlfo manufacture and sale of
liquor. Tho saloon Is tho evil center which Is
responsible for tho demoralization of society and
tho debauching of politics; It must go, and the
brewer and the distiller must go with the saloon
because they havo been tho strong support of the
saloon oven when they have not actually di
rected tho campaign. Tho manufacturer and the
saloon keeper, acting togcthor ngalnst tho wel
fare of tho state and the good of tho community,
have made themselves a menace which can no
longer be Ignored an evil that can no longer
bo tolerated. Colorado on tho west, Kansas on
tho south and Iowa on tho east have
joined hands to rid their peoplo of tho saloon,
and Nebraska can not afford to permit itself to
bo made tho rendezvous of tho disreputable ele
ments of which these states aro purging them
selves by theJr prohibition laws. South Dakota
on tho north will doubtless be added to the list of
prohibition states, as soon as a vote can be taken
on tho subject, and so much of Missouri as
touches Nebraska Is now dry torrltory, as well as
all of that part of Wyoming adjoining Nebraska.
Nebraska can not afford to bo black with a whits
border all around It.
Prohibition will not only remove tho centers
of moral disease, but It will frco tho political or
ganizations and conventions of a sordid, mercen
ary group that must, so long as tho saloon re
mains, make politics a business in order to pre
vent any curtailment of their profits.
Great economic, political and social problems
press for solution and our parties will not be
free to tako up these problems as long as the
time of our party organizations and the energy
of our political campaigns must bo expended In
trying to protect a shameless pecuniary interest
which unblushlngly subordinates everything to
tho making of money by the contamination of
society and tho degrading of its victims. Nine
teen states have already registered themselves
against tho domination of politics by the liquor
interests; it Is probable that by the time Nebras
ka votes, enough others will bo added to the list
to put a majority of them on the roll of honor,
W. J. BRYAN.
WANTED By their constituents at home:
Tho democratic sonators and congressmen who
aro willing to accept republican leadership in
the matter of preparedness.
PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE
The last congress lived up to its platform
pledge and passed the 'Jones bill. Owing to the
heathenish rules of the senate, tho democrats
were unable to secure action upon this measure.
Congress convenes in December and the matter
ought t,o bo taken up at once and put through
both houses so that the democratic obligation on
this subject will be discharged and the prom
ise of ultimate independence be given the Fil
ipinos. They havo been trusting the adminis
tration to give them this long hoped for assur
ance, and it would greatly jeopardize our 'work
over there if there should be any failure toinake
good this promise. A new Jones bill ought to
be passed at an early date. ,
v, W. J. BRYAN,
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