The Daily News. SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 1915. MR. BRYAN'S RESIGNATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 313, 12 June 1915, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 1915. MR. BRYAN'S RESIGNATION.

The pressure of public, opinion in tho United States has at last lieen productive of sonic result, but whether it will seriously all'eot American action is quite another matte) 1 . The parting of the ways between the. President and Mr. liryan siror-c through a dill'erenee, of opinion over the last 'American Xotc: to Uermany. 'lt does not seem to be A matter over which a split in the Cabinet would ariM', for ilie American Xotes have not been remarkable for .their indication of anything but indefiniteness—alternately blowing hot and cold, yet always partaking more of the nature of homilies than expressive of a ]policy which the Government intended • to enforce at all costs. The nourishing of the Monroe Doctrine in the face of

Germany, and the constant reiteration that America ia essentially a paaeSloving nation and pledged to neutrality, have become nauseous. What cares Germany for the Monroe Doctrine? She ridicules it and regards it with contempt, and aa for neutrality she will only see it with one eye, and that the German. America has nothing at stake but the big profits of some of her monopolies—her oil kings, her copper kings—and it is England that is now fighting America's .battle as well as her own. For months past the American Government has been exchanging Notes—sometimes with England and at other times with Berlin—on matters connected with the war as affecting the United States' principles—such aa they are. President Wilson has maintained a sphinx-like attitude, and Mr. Bryan alone has appeared in the limelight. The Secretary of State was prepared to indulge in a moderate bluff, and actually signed a Note that contained a veiled threat against Germany..though couched in the usual deprecatory terms. Meanwhile, the real voice of America was making itself heard, in no uncertain way, in a demand for action in the cause of humanity. Former Presidents, such as John Quincy Adams and Monroe, while maintaining neutrality, did not conceive themselves debarred from using generous and superlative words to a small nationality (the Greeks) struggling against a, powerful military State, yet to-day the President and his Ministers can gaze unmoved on the events-writ-ten large in fire and blood aoross the face of the Kingdom of Belgium—which place Germany on a level with a common band of murdering and pillaging outlaws. And Belgium's awful plight was the consequence of upholding the beloved fetish of America— neutrality and independence. No wonder public opinion in the United States waxed indignant at seeing that America was, not only losing friends, but also suffering in reputation, and laying up grave trouble for herself in the future. Whether Mr. Bryan is mainly responsible for the sorry exhibition America has made of herself remains to be seen. That he was bent on keeping the country at peace, however much the stain of dishonor might besmirch the fair name of the land of the Stars and Stripes, is certain, and the time came when the President had to try and rehabilitate himself as a worthy occupant of the position lie holds, and Mr. Bryan steps down to give his chief a free hand. For the first time there appears to be a definite pronouncement that Americans' on unarmed merchantmen "must" be transferred to a place of safety before the prize is destroyed. The inference is that America will compel Germany to obey this mandate. Recent events have shown that a trial of strength between Germany and America cannot he thrust aside. At present the United States stands unarmed, unready and undefended—an invitation to aggression and attack. Mr. Bryan's resignation may have no bearing on- what the future has in store for America, but it should be remem. bered by the Government of that country that it is England and her Allies who are putting up the wall to protect America, and it is their success alone that can prevent Germany from carrying out her, plans for the invasion of that country-jplans which are known ] to be as complete as those for the destruction of England. President Wilson can now take up ah attitude worthy of the great country over which he presides There is a feeling in America ; that anything may happen at any time, and it behoves the President to put his house in order and not alienate the friendship of those nations to whom he can look for support in a time of peril. (By this time he should know only too well that America's interests are not likely to be promoted by truckling to Germany.