Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-09-10
BRYAN'S LETTER.
Democratic Presidential Can
didate Has His Say.
Declares for Greenbacks and Against
Bonds and National Banks.
Opposes Civil Service Reform and Says He'll
Not Run Again.

Lincoln, Neb., Sept. 9.-Mr. Bryan.
today. made public his letter accept
ing the Democratic nomination. It's
full text follows:
| Hon. Stephen NJ. White and Other
| Members of the Notification Com
| mittee of the Democratic National
| Convention:
| Gentlemen:
! accept the nomination rendered by
| you on behalf of the Democratic party.
| and in 50 doing desire to assure you
| that | fully appreciate the high honor
| which such nomination conferS and
| the grave responsibilities which ac-
| company an election to the Presidency
| of the United States. SO deeply am L
| 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, thatI wish to enter the office. fl
| elected, free from any personal desire,
| except the desire to prove worthy of
| the confidence to my country. Human
judgment is infalible enough when
unbiased by selfish considerations, and
| IL order that | may not be tempted to
use the patronage of an office to ad-
vance any personal ambition. | here
| by announce, with all the emphasis
which words can express, my fixed de-
| termination not under any circum-
stance to be q candidate for reelection
| in case this campaign results in my
| election.
| | have carefully considered the plat
| form adopted by the Democratic ma
| lional convention and unqualifledly en-
| dorse every plank thereon. Our insti-
| tutions rest upon the proposition that
| III men. being created equal. are en-
| titled to equal consideration at the
| hands OF the government. Because all
| men are created equal ii follows that
| 40 citizen has a natural right to injure
| another citizen. The main purpose of
| government being to protect all citi-
zens in the enjoyment of life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness, this pur-
| pose must lead the government, first
| to avoid acts of affirmative injustice
| and, second. to restrain each citizen
from trespassing upon the rights of
my other. y Democratic form of gov
eminent is conducive to the highest
civilization because it opens before
each individual the greatest opportu-
mites for development and stimulus
20 the highest endeavor by insuring to
4ach the full enjoyment of all the re-
wards of toll. except such contribu-
zion as is necessary to support the gov
trnment which protected him. De-
mocracy is Indifferent to pedigree. it
ieals with the individual rather thar
With his ancestors. Democracy ig-
nores differences in wealth, neither
riches nor poverty can be invoked in
behalf of or against any citizen. De-
mOCracy knows no creed: recognizing
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 guaran-
tees equal treatment to ALL no matter
in which church or through what
forms they commune with their Gre
ator. Having discussed portions of the
platform at the time of its adoption
ind again when your letter of Motif
cation was formally delivered: it will
not be necessary at this time to touch
upon all the subjects embraced in the
partys declarations.
Honest differences of opinion have
existed and ever will exist as to the
most effective means of securing do
mcstic tranquility, but no citizen fails
TO recognize at all times and under all
circumstances the absolute necessity
Tor the prompt and vigorous enforce
mcnt of laws and the preservation of
the public peace. In a government
like ours. law is but the crystalization
of the Will of the people; without it
the citizen is neither secure in the en-
1oyment in the life and liberty nor
protected in the pursuit of happiness.
Without obedience to law, government
is impossible.
The Democratic party is pledged to
defend the constitution and enforce the
laws of the United States and it is al
50 pledged to protect and defend the
dual scheme of government instituted
by the founders of the republic; the
name United States was happily chosen
Il combines the idea of national
strength with the idea of local self
government and suggests AN indis-
soluble union of indcStructiblc tend
cncy toward Capitalization as well as
the dangers of disintcEration, guarded
against both. and national safety as
we'll as domestic security is to be found
IN the careful Observance of the limi-
tations which they impose. 1t will be
noticed that while the United States
to reinstate a 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 application of the Legislature of
the state or upon the application of
the executive when the Legislature
cannot be convened This provision
rests upon the sound theory that the
people of the state, acting through
heir legally chosen representatives.
are, because of their more intimate ac-
Quaintance with local conditions, bet
ter qualified than the President to
Judge Of the necessity for federal as
sistance Those who framed our con-
wisely determined to make as
broad an application of the principles
Of local self government as circum-
stances would permit and we cannot
dispute the correctness of the position