The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1896-09-12
Bryan's Letter OF Acceptance.

G"entlemen-I accept the
rendered by you on behalf of h demo
cratic party, and i'll so doing desire tt
assure YOU that 1 fully appreciate TIT
high honor which such a nomlnatlol
confers and the grave responsibilities
which accompany an election TO tne
presidency of the United States. 81
deeply am | impressed with the magnl'
nitnde of the power vested by the CON
~stitution in the chief executive OF the
nation, and with the enormous influence
which he can WELD for the Deneht Oh
injury of the people, that | wish to entel
the office, if elected. free from every
personal desire except the desire tc
prove worthy the confidence or my
country. Human judgment is fallible
enough when unbiased by selfish con
sideratiCns, and III order that L may not
be tempted to use the patronage OF the
office to advance any personal amDltlon'
l hereby announce, with all II en-
phasis which words can express, my
liked determination not under any clr-
cumstanceS to be a candidate for re-
election in case this campaign results III
my election.
l have carefully considered the plat
form adopted by the democratic national
convention and unqualifiedly lndorse
each plank thereof.
Our institutions rest upon the prOpo-
sition 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 natural right to inlure any
other citizen. The main purpose of the
government being to protect all citizens
in the enjoyment of life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness, this purpose must
lead the government, first, to avoid acts
of affirmative injustice, and, second, to
restrain each citizen from t~respassing
upon the rights of any other citizen.
A democratic form of government is
conducive to the highest civilization
because it opens before each individual
the greatest opportunities for develop
ment and stimulates to the highest
endeavor by insuring to each the full
enjoyment of all the rewards of toll
except such contribution as is necessary
to support the government which pro-
tects him. Democracy is indifferent to
pedigree-it deals with the individual
rather than with his ancestors. Denoc-
racy ignores differences in wealth.
neither riches nor poverty can ne
invoked in behalf of or against any
citizen. Democracy knows no creed
recognizing the right of each individual
to worship God according to the dictates
of his own conscience. 1t welcomes all
to a common brotherhood and guaran-
tees equal treatment to all, no matter
in what church or through what forms
they commune with their Creator.
Having discussed portions of the plat
form at the time of its adoption, and
again when your letter of notification
was formerly delivered, 1t will not be
necessary, at this time, to touch upon
all the subjects embraced in the party's
declaration.
A DUAL GOVERNMENT.
Honest differences of opinion have
ever existed, and will v exist, as to
the most effective means of securing
domestic tranquility, but no citizen
fails to recognize at all times and under
all circumstances the absolute necessity
the prompt and vigorous enforce
of law and the preservation of the
peace. In a government like
ours law is but the specialization OF the
will of the people; without it the citizen
is neither secure in the enjoyment of
life and liberty nor protected in the pur-
suit of happiness. Without obedience
to law government is impossible. The
party is pledged to defend
the constitution and enforce the laws
of the United States, n it is also
pledged to respect m preserve the dual
of government instituted by the
founders of the republic. The name,
United States, was happily chosen. 1t
combines the idea of national strength
with the idea of local self-government,
and suggests ian indissolvble union OF
lndestructible states" Our revolution
airy fathers, fearing the tendencies
Capitalization, as well as The
dangers of disintegration, guarded
both, and national safety, as
well as domestic security, is to be found
in the careful observance of the llmlta-
lions which they imposed.
1t will be noticed that, while the
States guarantees to every state
a republican form of government, and is
to protect each state against
INVASION, is not authorized to interfere
the domestic affairs of any state
except upon application of h legisla-
lure Of the state or upon application OF
he executive when the Legislature can
not be convened.
This provision rests upon the sound
.heory that the people of the state, act
ng through their legally chosen repre-
are, because of their more
intimate acquaintance with local condi-
ions, better qualified than the presi-
lent to judge of the necessity of federal
Those who framed our con-
wisely determined to make as
broad an application of the principles of
ocal self-government as circumstances
would permit, and We cannot dispute
he correctness of the position taken by
hem without expressing a distruSt of
he people themselves.
ECONOMY.
Since government exists for the pro-
of the rights of the people and
for their spOilatiOn, no expenditure
If public money can be Justified unless
hat expenditure is necessary for The
lOnest, economical and efficient admin
stration of the government. In deter
AIRY the interest of those who pay the
axes should be consulted, rather than
he wishes of those who receive or dis
,urss public moneys.
BONDS.
An increase in the bonded debt of the
United States at this time is entirely
Without excuse. The issue of interest
,earing bonds within the last few years
as been defended on the ground that
hey were necessary to ecure gold with
which to redeem United States notes
nd treasury notes, but this necessity
as been imaginary rather than real.
of exercising the legal right
ested in the United States to redeem
coin notes in either gold or silver. the
xecutiVe branch of the government has
Ollowed a precedent established by a
Ormer administration and surrendered
he option to the holder of the Obliga-
ions. This administrative policy leaves
he government at the mercy of those
Tho find a pecuniary profit i'll bond
sues. The fact that the dealers in
honey and securities have been able to
eplete or protect the treasury according
} their changing whims, shows how
.ngerOus it is to permit them to eXer-
ise a controlling influence OVer the
'easury department. The government
[ the United States, when administered
/ the INTEREST of all the people, is able
} establish and enforce its financial
Olicy, not only without the aid of
indicates, but in spite of any Opposi-
which syndicates may present. TO
ssert that the government is dependant
pom the good will or assistance of any
OrtiOn of the people other than a con- {
itutional majority is to assert that we
ave a government in form but without
tai force.
NATIONAL BANK CURRENCY. ,
The position taken by the platform [
yainst the issue of paper money by {
ational banks is supported by the high '
It democratic authority, as well as de- {
anded by the interests of the people. !
he present attempt of the national :
inks to force the retirement of United =
,ates notes and treasury notes in order
secure a basis for a larger issue of d
30 .lI-NAAA- NI4 10. 1901