The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-09-16
Bryan Formally Accepts.
His Letter to the Notification
Committee.
Takes Up the Platform and Cart1lly
Deals With It Section by Section.
IN Exceedingly Strong
Campaign Paper.

Campaign Paper.
LINCOLN, Neb., Sept. 9.-Mr. Bryan
today made public bis letter accepting
the Democratic nomination Its full
text follows:
Hon. Stephen NJ White aud other
members Of the notification commit
tee of the Democratic committee.
Gentlemen | accept The nomination
rendered by you on behalf of the Demo
cratic party, aud in SO doing desire to
assure you that ! fully appreciate the
high honor which such nomination con-
fers aud the grave responsibilities which
accompany an election to the Presl-
dency of the United States. So deeply
am impressed with the magnitude of
the power vested by the Constitution in
the chief executive of the oation and
With the enormous influence which be
can WELD for the benefit or injury OF
the people that wish to enter the Office,
if elected, free from any personal desire,
except the desire to prove worthy of the
confidence Of my country Human
Judgment is fallible enough wben un-
biased BY selfish considerations. and in
order that may not be tempted to use
the patronage of 40 Office TO advance
aoy personal ambition. / hereby
announce, with all the emphasis which
words can express, my 6xed determine
tion not, ander any circumstances, to
be candidate for reelection ia case
the campaign results in my election.
have carefully considered the plat
form adopted by the Democratic oa-
sional convention and uuquali6edly en-
dorse every plank therein.
Our institutions rest upon the posi-
tion 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 60 citizen has right to inJure
another citizen. The main purpose of
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
srespassing upon the rights of another
citizen. A Democratic form of gov
ernmeut is conducive to highest c;vili-
cation because it opens before each indi-
vidual the greatest opportunities for
development and stimulates to the high
est endeavor by insuriog to each the
full enjoyment of all the rewards OF
toll, except such contribution as is
necessary to support the government
which protects him Democracy is in.
different to pedigree-is deals With the
individual rather than with his ances-
tors. Democracy ignores differences
in wealth-neither riches nor poverty
can be invoked in behalf Of or against
any citizen. Democracy kuows no
creed-recognizing the right of each
individual to worship God according to
the dictates of bis own conscience, it
welcomes all to common brotherhood
and guarantees equal treatment to all.
no matter 10 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 whea it's letter Of notification was
formerly delivered, it will not be neces-
sar7 at this time to touch upon all the
subjects embraced in its declarations.
Honest differences of opinion have ever
existed aud ever will exist as to the
most effective means of securing domes-
sc tranquility, bat no citizen fails to
recognize at all times and under all
circumstances the absolute necessity for
the prompt and vigorous enforcement of
law and the preservation of the public
peace. 10 government like ours. law
is but tue crystalization Of the will Of
the people; without it the citizen is
neither secure in the enjoyment of life
and liberty, nor protected Ia the pur-
suit of happiness. Without obedience
to law, government is impossible The
Democratic party is pledged to defend
and protect the dual scheme Of govern
nent instituted by the founders of the
republic The name Uoited States was
happily choseu. 1t combines the idea
of national strength with the idea Of To-
Ga. ssls;gozsrnment. and suggests an