The record-union., 1896-09-10
Of the Democratic Nomination
for President.
Confines Himself Mainly to the Finan-
cial Question
unqualifedly lndorses Every Plank in The
Chicago Platform.

Chicago Platform.
LINCOLN, Neb. Sept 9.-William
Jennings Bryan to-day gave out his let
ter Of acceptance of the Presidential
nomination of the Chicago convention of
the Democracy. The full text follows:
Hon. Stephen M. White and others,
members Of the Notification Committee
of the Democratic National Convention
Gentlemen: l accept the nomination
rendered by you on behalf 0 fthe Demo
cratic party, and in so doing desire to as
sure you that fully appreciate the high
honor which such a nomination confers
and the grave responsibilities which ac-
company 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 or injury of the
people that ! wish to enter the office, if
elected, free from every personal desire
except the desire to prove worthy the
| confidence of my country. Human judg-
ment is fallible enough when unbiased
/ by selfish consideration, and In order
I that I may not be tempted to use the
/ patronage of the office to advance any
! personal ambition, / hereby announce,
with all the emphasis which words can
express, my fixed determination not,
under any circumstances, to be a candi
date for reelection in case this cam
paign results in my election.
have carefully considered the plat
| form adopted by the Democratic Ma
tional Convention and unqualifiedly in
dorse 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 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
pursuit of happiness, this purpose must
\ lead the Government, first, to avoid acts
of affirmative injustice, and. second, 10
restrain each citizen from trespasslng
/ upon the rights of any other citizen.
| A democratic form Of government is
| conducive to the highest civilization, be-
cause it opens before each individual the
greatest opportunities for development
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 protects him.
Democracy is Indifferent to pedigree.
i Tt deals with the individual rather than
4 with his ancestors. Democracy ignores
differences in wealth; neither riches nor
poverty can be invoked in behalf Of or
against any citizen. Democracy knows
no creed--recognizing the right OF each
individual to worship God according 70
the dictates Of his own conscience. 1t
welcomes all to a common brotherhood
H and guarantees equal treatment tc all,
20 matter In what church or through
what forms they commune with their
Creator.
Having discussed portions of the plat
form at the time of it's adoption, and
4 again when your letter of notification
was formally delivered, it will not be
i necessary at this time to touch upon all
the subjects embraced in the party's
declaration.
A DUAL GOVERNMENT.
i Honest differences of opinion have ever
| existed and ever will exist as to the most
| effective means of securing domestic
tranquility, but no citizen fails to recog-
nize at all times and under all circum-
stances the absolute necessity for the
prompt and vigorous enforcement OF
law and the preservation of the pubic
neace. In a government like ours law
is but the crystallization of the Will or
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
Il Democratic party is pledged to defend
the Constitution and enforce the laws
oe the United States, and it is also
pledged to respect and preserve the dual
scheme of government instituted by
the founders of the Republic. The name
Of the United States was happily
chosen. 1t combines the idea Of ma
tional strength with the idea Of local
self f-government and suggests IAN in
dissoluble union of indestructible
States Our revolutionary fathers,
fearing the tendencies toward CEN
tralization, as we'll as the dangers OF
disintegration, guarded against BOTH
and national safety as we'll 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 affairs OF any
State except upon the application OF the
Executive when the Legislature cannot
he convened.
This provision rests upon the sound
theory that the people Of the state,
acting through their legally chosen rep
resentatives are. because Of their more
intimate acquaintance with local con-
ditions better qualified than the Presi-
dent to Judge Of the necessity for Fed
eral assistance. Those who framed our
Constitution wisely determined to make
! as broad an application of the principles
ct local self-government. as circum-
stances would permit, and we cannot
dispute the correctness of the position
taken by them without expressing a
distrust Of the people themselves.
ECONOMY
Since governments exist for the pro-
lection Of the rights of the people and
not for their spoilation, no expenditure
, of public money can be justified unless
that expenditure is necessary for the
honest, economical and efficient admin