The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1896-09-16
FORMALLY ACCEPTS.
BRYAN'S LETTER TO THE DEMOCRAT.
lC NOTIFICATION COMMITTEES.

Ee Ealsss Up ths Pl@tform aud Carefully
Deals with It Section by section-An EN-
ceedlngly Strong Campaign Paper.
LINCOLN, Neb., Sept. 9.-Mr. Bryan
today made public his letter accepting
the Democratic nomination. It's full
text follows: Hon. Stephen NJ. White
and other members of the noti6ca-
ton committee Of the Democratic
committee.
Gentlemen: I accept the nomina-
tion rendered by you on behalf of the
Democratic party, and in so doing de-
sire to assure you that | fully appreci-
ate the high honor which such nomina-
ton confers and the grave responsible
ties which accompany an election to
the Presidency Of the United States.
So deeply am I impressed with the
magnitude of the power vested by the
Constitution in the chief executive Of
the nation and with the enormous in
Auence which be can WELD Sfor the
benefit or injury of the people that
l wish to enter the office, if elected,
free from any personal desire, except
the desire to prove worthy of the con-
fdence of nay country. Human judg-
ment is falliole enough when unbiased
by selfish considerations, and in order
that I may not be tempted to use the
patronage of an Office to advance any
personal ambition, thereby announce,
with all the emphasis which words
can express, my fixed determination
not, under any circumstances, to be a
candidate for reelection ia case the
campaign results in my election.
I have carefully considered the plat
form adopted by the Democratic ma
tional convection and unqualifedly
endorse every plank therein.
Our institutions rest upon the posi-
ton that all men, being created equal,
are entitled to equal consideration at
the hands of the government. Because
all men are created equal it follows
that no citizen has a right to injure
another citizen. The main purpose OF
government being to protect all clti
zens in the enjoyment of life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness, this pur-
pose must lead The government, first,
to avoid acts OF Affirmative injustice,
and, second, to restrain each citizen
from trespassing upon the rights of
any other citizen. A Democratic
form of government is conductive to
highest civilization because it opens
before each individual tue greatest op,
portunities for development and stimu-
lates to the highest endeavor by insur-
ing to each. the full enjoyment o; all
the rewards Of toll, except such contri-
button as is necessary to support the
government which protects him. De-
mocracy is Indifferent to pedigree-it
deals with the individual rather than
with his ancestors. Democracy ignores
differences in wealth-neither riches
nor poverty can be involved in behalf
of or against any citizen. Democracy
knows no nocreed--recognizing the RI ght
of each individual to worship God ac-
cording to the dictates Of his own con-
science, it.welcomes all to common
brotherhood and guarantees equal
treatment 10 all, no matter in what
character or through what forms they
commune with their Creator.
Having discussed portions of the
platform at the time of its adoption
and again when its letter of notification
was formerly delivered, it will not be
necessary at this time to touch upon
all the subjects embraced in its declara-
tions. Honest differences of opinion
have eyer existed and ever will exist
as to the most effective means of secur-
ing domestic tranquility, but no citizen
fails to recognize at all times and un-
der all circumstances the absolute ne
cessity for the prompt and vigorous
enforcement OF law and the preserva-
ton of the public peace. In govern
ment like ours, law is but the crysta-
ization of the will OF the people; with
out 1t the citizen is neither secure in
the enjoyment of life and liberty, nor
protected in the pursuit of happiness.
Without obedience to law, govern
ment is impossible. The Democratic
party is pledged to defend the Consti-
tuition and enforce the laws of the
United States, and it is also pledged to
protect and defend the dual scheme of
government instituted by the found
ers of the republic, The name United
States was happily, chosen. It COM
bines sthe idea Of national strength
with the idea of local self-government
and suggests an ''indissoluble union OF
indestructible States"
Our wise forefathers, fearing the
tendency toward Capitalization as well
as the dangers OF disintegration, guard
ed against both, and national safety as
well as domestic security is to be
found in the careful observance of the
limitations which they impose. 1t
will be noticed that while the United
States guarantees to every State a re-
publican from government and is en-
powered to protect each State against
invasion, it is not authorized to inter
fere in the domestic affairs of any State
except upon application of the legisla-
ture of the State, or upon the appllca-
ton of the executive when the legisla-
ture cannot be convened. This provi-
sion rests upon the sound theory that
the people of the State, acting through
their legally chosen representatives,
are because of their more intimate &C.
quaintance with local conditions, bet.
ter qualified than the President to
Judge of the necessity for federal inter
ference. Those who framed our Con-
stituti IN wisly determined to make as
broad an application of the principles
of local self-government as circum-
STAGES would permit, and we cannot
dispute thecorrectness of the position
taken by them without expressing
distrust of the people themselves.
Since governments exists for the
protection Of the rights Of the people
and not for their spoliation, no ex-
penditure Of public money can be JUS
tilted, unless that expenditure is nec-
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