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The Commoner
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VOL. 15, NO. H
Time for Mediation
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Statement given to the press by Mr. Bryan,
ftt Washington, December 5:
"I hope that the congross which meets to
morrow will at once assure the President of its
readiness to support him in any effort which he
may see fit to make to hasten the restoration of
peace in Europe. Ho offered mediation at the
beginning of the war, but that was sixteen,
months ago. Since that time more than two mil
lion men have been killed; more than five mil
lion have been wounded, and more than twenty
billions of dollars have been expended. In hor
rible detail and extent of suffering the war has
surpassed anything known to history.
"An offer of mediation is not only amply jus
tified on the ground of humanity, but it is de
manded. If, however, other reasons are desired
they can bo found in our obligations to the other
neutral nations. All of tho neutral nations are
suffering because of this war which obstructs
tho highways of tho world, interferes with neu
tral trado and scatters injury everywhere.
"Tho noutral nations are the innocent by
standers whose people are being killed, uninten
tionally, of course, but killed. These neutral
nations are compelled to bear burdens of taxa
tion that would not be necessary but for this
war, and all of them are jn danger of being
drawn into the conflict some of them are al
most forced into it. Our nation not only shares
the sufferings of other neutral nations, but has
an additional reason for desiring the restoration
of peace, namely; that the war is being used as a
reason for demanding a change in our national
policy which lowers our ideals and puts us into
a mad rivalry with Europe in the increase of our
military and naval expenditures.
"To be the means of bringing the war to an
end would not only add to our moral influence,
but it might save the country a billion or more
In taxes and it would put an end to the manu
factured scares which are being used to frighten
the public. The other nations wait on us.
"There is abundant reason to believe that tho
President, either alone or in conjunction with the
executives of tho other neutral nations, can se
cure from tho nations at war a statement of tho
terms upon which peace is possible, and such a
statement would bo the beginning of an exchange
of views which would lend to a treaty. If one
belligerent nation sets tho example public opinion
will compel tho others to speak;. Tho terms must
bo announced sometime: .why not now? To ask
for a statement of those terms is merely to ask
tho belligerent nations to say for what they are
fighting. Each of tho governments at war cer
tainly knows what it is that it demands other
wise it could not justify a continuation of tho
slaughter. And if tho belligerent nations know
for what they are fighting, why not tell tho
world? In this day and ago no nation can afford
to wage war for secret reasons, especially when
In doing so it necessarily brings injury to neu
tral nations.
"Hero is a question which the neutral nations
certainly have a right to ask; What are you
fighting about? In other words, what Is it that,
being done, the world can have peace? Pub
licity will in itself sift out unworthy motives
and unreasonable demands. When the world
knows what each nation demands as a condition
precedent to peace, tho responsibility can be lo
cated and moral pressure can be brought to bear
In favor of a peace that will rest upon reason
and give promise of permanence.
"To say that this war must necessarily con
tinue any length of time, even for a day, is equiv
alent to saying that there aro questions which
.can be settled only by tho sword, and to say that
"is to deny the coming of the day when war will
be no more. To deny this possibility of an era
'of peace, based upon love arid' brotherhood, is to
challenge Christian civilization and advocate a
return to savagery. If an era of peace is pos
sible, to delay its coming is inexcusable."
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It is unfortunate that the President's
recommendation for a larger army and
navy should go to congress at this season
of the year, it is not a pleasant Xmas
greeting to send to a war-burdened world.
The
Merry
Commoner
wishes a
Christmas
and a
HappyNewYear
to Everyone, Every
where, and ror-ever.
THE NAVY'S GROWTH
On another page will be found the statistics
showing the navy's growth.
In 1891 the navy had 1,483 officers, exclusive
of 239 naval cadets at naval academy. The num
ber of enlisted men allowed in 1891 was 8,250,
and the amount appropriated that year was
$24,610,501.64. In 1915 the officers numbered
3,403; the naval cadets numbered 912; the en
listed men numbered 52,561, and the amount
appropriated was $145,734,163.03.
In other words, we now have a little more than
twice as many officers as in 1891; more than
three times as many naval cadets; more than six
times as many enlisted men and nearly six times
as large an appropriation. That is growing some
in twenty-four years and yet the jingoes rid
icule our navy.
Wanted: A scare more idiotic than "the pipo
dream" published on another page. Ten cents
will be given for the most insane story submitted
before January 1st.
AND STILL THEY GROW
A recent interview given out by John Hays
Hammond, Jr., described as "Aero-nautical divi
sion of the Naval Advisory board," announces
that we should have "at least two thousand aero
planes ready to be sent into the air at a moment's
notice." And then he adds: "It will take ten
years to build up our defenses. When the war
began France had 25,000 officers; now she has
100,000, and that is not enough. At least that
number would be necessary to put the United
States in condition to meet a first-class power."
And still they grow: 100,000 officers for our
army; where will it end? The very extrava
gance of the claims of the jingoes will disgust
the public and create a sentiment which will
eventually put a stop to frenzied preparedness.
Why not raise the additional war revenue
needed by putting a head tax on jingo editors
who advocate war before giving their names to
tho recruiting officers?
SECRETARY DANIELS' MISFORTUNE
For a second time Secretary Daniels has suf
fered from fire his newspaper being again
destroyed. The sympathy of The Commoner
is extended. It is gratifying to hear that in
spite of two severe losses the secretary is un
daunted and will begin rebuilding at once. He
is to be congratulated on his courage, and his
readers upon the advantage of having his paper
Btill as a daily visitor.
THE PATRIOTISM OF PELF
By a coincidence neither' strange nor striking
the , New York Tribune represents two elements
,,oi-the American people who are traveling "to
gether the jingo who wants war, and the man
ufacturer of munitions who will make the nrdfot
out of war. .
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YThe fact that there was one Judas among the
twelve reconciles us, to the occasional minister
who joins tho jingoes. '
The Peace Mission
After a conversation with Mr. Ford Mr nrv
an gave out the following statement: '
"I came to New York as I stated'in my toin.
gram, to explain to Mr. Ford more fully than t
could by wire my reason for believing that iBJ
now, I can render larger services here opposine
the attempt to increase the appropriations for
the army and navy than I could by goinir with
him on tho Peace ship. h m
"I have seen Mr. Ford and laid my reasons
before him, and he recognizes the weight of
those reasons. I desire to add that I am in
hearty sympathy with the effort which he is
making, and hope to join the party at The
Hague. As tho date of their arrival at Tho
Hague is not yet known, I can not fix the date
for my departure.
"Mr. Ford is making an earnest and unselfish
effort in behalf of peace, and he ought to have
the good wishes and sympathetic support of all
who desire peace, even though some may not
fully share his faith in the immediate success of
the trip. Of course those who want the war to
continue ridicule the effort, especially those who
speak for the big munition factories which are
exporting war material at a large profit. This
was to be expected. Ridicule is the favorite
weapon of those who desire to oppose any move
ment when they find themselves unable to sup
port their opposition with argument. IP ANY
OF THE PEOPLE ON THE ARK HAD BEEN
MAKING MONEY OUT OF THE FLOOD, THEY
"WOULD PROBABLY HAVE RIDICULED NOAH
FOR SENDING OUT THE DOVE. Success
to Mr. Ford and his companions. May they re
turn with an olive leaf."
"W. J. BRYAN."
Why not drain' all the swamps? The ditches
will make excellent trenches if we are ever at
tacked. ! - ,...,. . ;1
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New year's is coming why not swear- off
from the jlngo-jolo prep-pare habits. '
ROOSEVELT A PRODIGAL
Mr. Medill McCormick of the Chicago Tribune,
vice-chairman of the Progressive National com
mittee, is reported to have announced, on re
turning from Oyster Bay, that he would work
with the republican party in 1916. The Phila
delphia Inquirer accepts this as an indication
that Mr. Roosevelt will also support the repub
lican ticket and that the chief 'business of the
Progressive National convention, if one is held,
will be to endorse the republican, ticket and platform.
LIBELING THE NATION
Former Ambassador Choate, now president of
one of the organizations urging frenzied pre
paredness, says that the United States is the
"most hated of the nations." This is an inex
cusable falsehood, and the fact that so prominent
a man would resort to it shows how fatal jingo
ism is to both truth and common sense.
LEADER KITGHIN'S UNANSWERABLE AR
GUMENT On another page will be found House Leader
Kitchin's unaswerable argument against the
proposed increase in appropriations for the
army and navy. Read it, and then show it to
your neighbors.
Is the Chicago Tribune so anxious to have a
war somewhere that, having failed to induce this
government to interfere forcibly in Mexico, it w
driven to oppose peace in Europe in order that
.it may continue to regain its readers with the
bloody details of the royal sport of man-killing.
In order to raise money for the proposed mil
itary program, it is proposed to put a tax or
: twenty-five cents a ton ' on "fabricated steel.
:Why not put a small tatf on "fabricated war
yarns" and raise the whole amount?
Strange that the preparedness program should
be described as patriotic as soon as it became
evident that it could not be carried througn
with democratic votes. Why are not democratic
reforms aleo called patriotic?
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Instead of talking about. Increased
armaments in tills day of world woe, is
it not time for this republic to speak out
plainly what it proposes to do in tho in
terests of the world's peace, in which our
tiwn peace is I)Ound up?
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