Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-09-11
BRYAN'S LETTER.
Full Text of His Formal &c.
csptance.
QUESTION DISCUSSED

His Position on the Second Term Of the
President the Bond Issue and Arbitra-
ton In Labor Disputss-An Able and
stnte.m.nIiks Document.
The .ull text Of W. j. Bryan's let
ter 81 acceptance OF the democratic
presidential nomination, an extended
synopsis Of which appeared in The
ARGUs telegraph columns OF Wednes-
day. is as follows, the letter being
addressed TO Hon. Stephen NJ. White
and others. members Of the notiiica-
ton committee Of the democratic
national conventions:
Gentlemen: 1 accept the nomina-
ton rendered by you on behalf of the
Democratic party, and in so doing
desire TO ASSURE you that / fully appre-
ciatc the high honor which such a
nomination confers and the grave re-
sponsibilities which accompany an
election to the presidency of the Unit
cd States. So deeply am 1 impressed
| with the magnitude of the power vest
ed By the constitution in the chief ex-
| eCUtive of the nation and with the
enormous influence which lie can
WELD for the benefit or injury of the
people that / wish to enter the Offices,
| II elected, free from every personal
| desire except the desire to prove
| worthy the confidence OF my country.
nu:nan Judgment is fallible enough
when unbiased 10y selfish corsidera-
| tons. auG in order that l may not be
tempted to use the patronage of the
Office to advance any personal ambi-
ton. ! hereby announce. with all the
emphasis which words can express.
my fixed determination not under any
| circumstances to be 4 candidate for
recollection in case this campaign re-
suits in my election.
Platform Endorsed.
| / have carefully considered The plat
form adopted 10y the Democratic ma
tiural convention and unqualiiiedly in
Gursc each plank thereof. Our institu-
lions rest upon the proposition that all
| tlor. 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 injure
any other citizen. The main purpose
81 government being to protect all
! citizens in the enjoyment of life. lib
,fty and the pursuit of happiness, this
purpose must lead the government
aryt to avoid acts of affirmative in
| Justice. and second. to restrain each
citizen from trespassing upon the
! rights of any other citizen.
& Democratic form of government Is
conducive to- the highest civilization
brCaus" il opens before each individ.
uIl tho greatest opportunities for de-
vclupmcnt and stimulates to the high
t.t cnicavCr 10y insuring to each In,
fun enjoyment of all the rewards o
tel! except such contribution as i!
necessary to support the government
which protects him. Democracy is in
different to pedigrec-it deals with tn,
individual rather than with his an
ccstOrs. Democracy ignores differ
cHCcs in wealth-neither riches no
poverty can he invoked in behalf o
! or AGAINST the right of each individual
to Worship God according to the die
TAI, = OF his own conscience; ii vel
comes all To common brotherhood
and guarantees equal treatment Z
all, no matter in what church o
! through what forms they commun
. with their Creator.
a Dual Government.
Having discussed portions of tn
I platform at the time of its adoptio
: and again when your letter of Motif
! ton was formally delivered, it will no
, he necessary at this time to touc
upon all the subjects embraced in tn
| party's declaration.
Honest differences of opinion hav
: | ever existed and ever will exist as I
the most effective means of securin
| domestic tranquility. but no citiZe
, fails To recognize at all times and vi
der all circumstances the absolut
necessity for the prompt and vigorou
enforcement OF law and the preserva
ton of the public peace. In n gov
eminent like ours law is but the cry.
Utilization OF the will Of the people
without 1t the citizen is neither 81
cure in the enjoyment of life and Ill
erty nor protected in the pursuit
happiness. Without obedience to Ia
government is impossible. The Den
ocratic party is pledged to defend Il
constitution ana enforce the laws
the United States. and il is al!
pledged to respect ard preserve Il
dual scheme of government institut,
10y the founders of the republic. IL
name. United States. was happi
chosen. 1t combines the idea of n
ucnal strength with the idea Of loo
scif-Covcrnmcnt and suggests IAN i
dissoluhle union OF indestructil
I states"
Guarded Against Roth.
our revolutionary fathers fearing {
I tendencies towards Capitalization.
IE well as the dangers Of disintesratic
guarded against both. and nation
safety. as Wei as domestic sec,ir,-
q rs To be found in the careful obser
- :.nce OF The limitations which In
irarose. Ii will be noticed that. VIII
The United States guarantees to eye
" state a republican form of COVER
iuCnt and u empowered to prnt,
~ each state against invasion. 1, is 7
Sts authorized to interfere in the dom,
tic affairs OF any stat except uDon q
! or upon the application of the exc,
or upon the application of theexe,
y tive when the legislature cannot
~ . convened.
~ This provision rests upon the sou
u theory that the people of the Uni
AZ. States. acting through their lega
chosen representatives. are. because
o. their more. Intimate aCuuafr1-a r,g., A.,