The Democratic advocate., 1896-09-19
WESTMINSTER Md SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1e, 1885,
w.JBRYAN ACCEPTS THE TRUST
Indorses Every Plank in the Demo
cratic Platform Finance the Chief
Issue of the Campaign-win Not
Take Second Term.

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LINCOLN, NEB., Sept 9-Mr Bryan
today made public his letter of acceptance.
The full text is as follows
Hon. Stephen NJ White and Others,
Members of the Notification Committee of
the Democratic National Convention
Gentlemen-I accept. the nomination
rendered by you on behalf of the Demo-
cratic party, and in so doing desire to as
sure you that l fully appreciate the high
honor which such nomination confers, and
the grave responsibilities which accompany
an election to the Presidency of the United
States So deeply am impressed with
the magnitude of the power vested by the
Constitution in the Chief Executive of the
nation and with the enormous influence
which he can WELD for the benefit of injury
of the people, that wish to enter the of
fee, if elected, free from every personal
desire except the desire to prove worthy
the confidence of my country. Human
Judgment is falhble enough when unbiased
by selfish considerations, and in order that
| may not be tempted to use the patronage
of the Office to advance any personal ambi-
ton, hereby announce, with all the en-
phasis which words can express, my fixed
determination not under any circumstances
to be candidate for reelection in case this
campaign results in my election.
have carefully considered the platform
adopted by the Democratic National Con-
vention and unqualiiedly indorse each plank
thereof. Our institutions rest upon the
proposition that all men, being created
equal, are entitled to equal consideration at
the hands of the Government. Because
all men are created equal, it does not follow
that citizen has natural right to injure
any other citizen. The main purpose Of
government being to protect all citizens in
the enjoyment of life, liberty, and the pur-
suit of happiness, this purpose must lead
the Government, first, to avoid acts of af-
firmatiye injustice; and, second, to restrain
each citizen from trespassing on the rights
of any other citizen. A democratic form
of Government is conducive to the highest
civilization because it opens before each in
dividual the greatest opportunities for
development, and stimulates to the highest
endeavor, by insuring to each the full en-
ioyment of all the rewards of toll, except
such contribution as is necessary to support
the Government which protects him. De-
mocracy is Indifferent to pedigree-it deals
with the individual rather thar with his
ancestors Democracy ignores differences
in wealth-neither riches nor poverty can
be invoked in behalf of or against any cit
izen. Democracy knows no creed-recog-
nizing the right of each individual TO wor-
ship God according to the dictates of his
own conscience, it welcomes all to a common
brotherhood and guarantees equal treat
ment to all, no matter in what church OF
through what forms they commune with
their Creator Having discussed portions
of the platform at the time of its adoption
and again when your letter of notification
was formally delivered, it will not be nee
essary at this time to touch upon all the
subjects embraced in the party's declara-
ton.
Honest differences of opinion have ever
existed and ever will exist as to the most
effective means of securing domestic tran
guilty, but no citizen fails to recognize at
all times and under all circumstances the
absolute necessity for the prompt and Wig
orous enforcement of law and the preserya-
ton of the public peace. In a government
like ours law is but the crystallization of
the will of the people; without it the citizen
is neither secure in the enjoyment of life
and liberty, nor protected in the pursuit Of
happiness. Without obedience to law gov
ernment is impossible. The Democratic
party is pledged to defend the Constitution
and enforce the laws of the United States,
and it is also pledged to respect and pre-
serve the dual scheme of government insti-
tuted 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-goyern
ment, and suggests ian indissoluble union
of indestructible states. Our revolu-
tionary fathers, fearing the tendencies to-
ward Capitalization, as well as the dangers
of disintegration, guarded 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 republican form
of government and is empowered to protect
each State against invasion, it is not
authorized to interfere in the domestic af-
fairs of any State except upon application
of the Legislature of the State or upon the
application of the Executive when the
Legislature cannot convene This provision
rests upon the sound theory that the people
of the State, acting through their legally
chosen representatives, are, because of their
more intimate acquaintance with local con-
ditions, better qualified than the President
to Judge of the necessity for Federal assis-
tanee. Those who framed our Constitution
wisely determined to make as broad an ap-
plication of the principles of local self-gov
ernment as circumstances would permit,
and we cannot dispute the correctness of
the position taken by them without express
ing distrust of the people themselves.
As governments exist for the protection
of the rights of the people and not for their
spoliation no expenditure of public money
can be justified unless that expenditure is
necessary for the honest, economical and
efficient administration of the Government
In determining what appropriations are
necessary, the interest of those who pay
the taxes should be consulted rather than
the wishes of those who receive or disburse
public money.
An increase in the bonded debt of the
United States at this time is entirely with
out excuse. The issue of interest bearing
bonds within the last few years has been
defended on the ground that they were
necessary to secure the gold with which to
redeem United States notes and Treasury
notes, but that necessity has been imaginary
rather than real Instead of exercising
the legal right vested in the United States
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