The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-09-09
BRYAN'S LETTER
In Which He Accepts the Dem
Ocratic Nomination,
Places Himself Clearly Upon
Each Plank
ADOPTED AT CHICAGO.
Strongly FaYOrs Arbitration
For Labor Disputes.
Opposed to Any Further Issues
Of Bonds.
ADOPTED AT CHICAGO.


fcation committee of the Democratic
national convention;
Hon. stephen NJ White and others,
Members of the Notification Commit
tee Of the Democratic National Con-
vention:
Gentlemen: I accept the nomination
rendered by you on behalf of the Dem
ocratfc party, and in so doing desire
to assure you that I fully appreciate
the high honor which such a nomina-
ton confers and the grave responsible
tiles which accompany an election to
the presidency Of the United States. So
deeply am impressed with the magni-
tude Of the power vested by the con-
stitutfon in the chief executive Of the
nation and with the enormous fnfu-
ence which he can WELD for the benefit
or injury Of the people that I wish to
enter the Office, If elected, free from
every personal desire except the desire
to prove worthy the confidence OF my
country. Human judgment isH fauible
enough when unbiased by selfish con
siderations, and in order that I may
not be tempted TO use the patronage Of
the Office to advance my personal am
bition, I hereby announce, with all en-
phasis which words can express, my
fixed determination not, under any
circumstances to be a candidate for re-
election in case this campaign results
In my election
I have carefully considered the plat
form adopted by the Democratic ma
tional convention and unQualidedly en-
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
ell men are created equal it follows that
no citizen has a natural right to injure
any other citizen. The main purpose
Of government being to protect all
citizens in the enjoyment Of life, lib
erty and the pursuit Of happiness. this
purpose must restrain him from tres
passing upon the rights Of any other
citizen.
A Democratic form Of government is
conducive to the highest civilization,
because it opens before each individ-
ual the greatest opportunities for de-
velopment and stimulates to the high
est endeavor by insuring to each the
full enjoyment of all the rewards of
toll except such contribution as it is
necessary TO support the government
which respects him Democracy IS in
different to pedigree-it 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 knows no
creed-recOgnizing the right of each
individual to worship God according
to the dictates Of his own conscience.
It welcomes all to a common brother
hood and guarantees equal treatment
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 notifca-
ton was formally delivered, it will not
be necessary at this time to touch upon
all the subjects embraced in the par
tvs declaration.
A DUAL GOVERNMENT.
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 recognize at all times and under all
circumstances the absolute necessity
for the prompt and vigorous enforce
ment of law and the preservation of
the public peace. In a government like
ours law is but the capitalization of
the viii Of the people; without it the
citizen is neither secure in the enjoy
ment Of life and liberty nor protected
in the pursuit of happiness without
obedience to the law this is impossible.
The Democratic party is pledged to
defend the constitution and enforce the
laws of the United States and it IS also
the scheme of the government insti-
tuted by the founders of the republic.
The name. United States, was happily
chosen. It combines the idea Of nation
al strength with the idea of local self
government and suggests An tndis-
soluble union Of indestructib1e states"
Our revolutionary fathers, fearing the
tendencies toward 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.
It viii be noticed that, while the Uni
ted States guarantees to every state 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 ap-
pication Of the executive when the leg
stature can not be convened.
This provision rests upon the sound
theory that the people of the state, act
ing through their legally chosen rep
resentatives, are, because Of their
more intimate acquaintance with local
conditions better qualified than the
president to judge of the necessity for
federal assistance Those who framed
our constitution wisely determined to
make as broad an application Of the
principles of local self government as
circumstances would permit, and we
can not dispute the correctness of the
position taken by them without ex-
pressing distrust of the people them
selves
ECONOMY.
Since governments exist for the protec-
ton Of the rights of the people and not
for their spodation no expenditure OF