JFK+50: Volume 7, No. 2435
BRYAN SAYS CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT CREATES WRONG IMPRESSION AMONG OUR ENEMIESChicago, Illinois (JFK+50) One hundred years ago this evening, September 17, 1917, William Jennings Bryan, speaking to an audience of 1000 at the International Lyceum Association convention meeting at the La Salle Hotel here in the Windy City, declared...
"The citizen who insists...upon exercising his 'right of free speech' in criticizing the government is not a law abiding American but a promoter of anarchy. There is little actual disloyalty. Patriotism...always exists, but it takes the fire of a national crisis to bring it out."
Bryan said that criticism of the nation's government is not appropriate during wartime. He argued that such criticism gives our enemies the wrong impression.
Mr. Bryan said...
"After Congress has acted in declaring war, it is a matter of law, and the man who criticizes this is not law abiding. He is resorting to anarchy."
*William Jennings Bryan (1860-1925) was born in Salem, IL & graduated from Illinois College in 1881. He studied law at Union Law College of Chicago.
WJB, having moved to Nebraska, was elected to the US House of Representatives in 1890 and was an unsuccessful candidate for POTUS in 1896, 1900 & 1908.
One of the most notable orators in US history, he gave the "Cross of Gold Speech" at the Democratic Convention of 1896. He died shortly after serving in the prosecution of John T. Scopes in the Monkey Trial of 1925.
SOURCE
"Not Pacifists, But Anarchists, Bryan Calls 'Em", Chicago Daily Tribune, September 18, 1917.
William Jennings & Mary Bryan
New York City
June 19, 1915
Bain News Service Photo
