The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-08-13
BREAN7S tCCEPTAyGE
The Candidates Speech at Madi-
son Square Garden.

future day and in u formal letter, accept
the nomination which is now rendered by
the notification committee, and | shall at
that time touch upon the issues presented
by the platform. 1t is fitting, however,
hat at this time, in the presence of those
here assembled, l speak ut some length in
regard to the campaign u'0n which we
are now entering. We Go not under
estimate the forces arrayed against us,
nor are we unmindful Of the Importance
Of the struggle in which we are engaged,
but relying for righteousness of u cause
we shall defend with all possible vigor the
positions taken by our party. We are not
surprised that some of our opponents. in
the absence Of better argument, resort to
abusive epithots, but they may rest assured
that no language, however violent, no
invectives, however vehement, will lead
us to depart a single hairs breadth from
the course marked out by the national
convention. The citizen, either public or
private, who assails the character and
questions the patriotism of the delegates
assembled in the Chicago convention,
assails the character and questions the
patriotism of the millions who have ar
rayed themselves under the banner there
raised.
1t has been charged by men sta nding
AABn III lDtSt DOllbACdl ClIOlCS bhhu IA
platform is a menace to private security
and public safety, and it has been asserted
that those whom l lave the honor, for the
time being, to represent, not only med
itate an attack upon the rights of prop
erty, but are the foes of social order and
national honor.
Those who stand upon the Chicago plat
form are prepared to make Known and to
defend every motion which influences
them, every purpose which animates them,
and every hope which inspires them. They
understand the genius of our institutions,
they are staunch supporters of the form Of
government unde which we live and they
build their faith upon foundations laid by
others. Andrew jackson has stated, with
admirable clearress and with an emphasis
which cannot be surpassed, both the duty
and sphere of government. He said: DIS
tinctions in society will always exist un-
der every Equality of tai
ents, of education or of wealth cannot be
produced by human institutions. In the
full enjoyment of the gifts of Heaven and
the fruits of superior industry, economy
and virtue every man is equally entitled
to protection by law"
We Yield to None.
We yield to none in our devotion to the
doctrine Just enunciated. Our campaign
has not for its object the constitution
of society. We cannot insure to the
vicious the fruits of a vlrtuous life; we
would not invade the home of the provi-
dent in order to supply the wants of the
spendthrift we do not propose TO trans
fer the rewards of industry TO the lap of
Incidence. Property is and will remain
the stimulus to endeavor and the compen-
sation for toll. We believe, as asserted in
the Declaration of Independence, that all
men are created equal: but that does not
mean that all men are or can be equal in
possessions, in ability or in merit; it sim
ply means that all shall stand equal be-
fore the law, and that government officials
shall not, in making, constituting or en-
forcing the law, discriminate between cit
liens.
l assert that property rights, as well q,
the rights of persons, are safe in the hand:
of the common people. Abraham Lin.
coin, in his message TO congress in DeCem'
Der, 1861, said: mo men living are more
worthy to be trusted than those who tot.
up from poverty none less inclined Il
take or touch which they have not hon.
,estly earned" l repeat his language with
unqualified approval, and join with hin
in the warning which he added, namely
Let them beware of s~urrendering a po
litical power which they already possess
and which power, if surrendered, will
surely be used to close the doors of ad
vancement against such as they, and TO f2
new disabilities and burdens upon them
till all of the liberty shall be lost"
We are not surprised to find arrayet
against us those who are the beneficiariel
of government Notwithstanding have reaC
our platform. Nor are we surprised tt
learn that we must in this campaig n fac,
the hostility of those who find a p~ecuniar,
advantage in advocating the doctrine o
non-interierence when great aggregation.
Of wealth are trespassing upon the right
of individuals. We welcome such oppO
sition-it is the highestindorsement whicl
could be bestowed upon us, We are con
tent TO have the cooperation of those VIII
desire to have the government admins
tered without fear or favor. 1t is not til
wish of the general public that trust
should spring into existence and overrid
the weaker members of society; it is no
the wish of the general public that thes
trusts should destroy competition ant
then collect such tax as they win from
those who are at their mercy, nor is il tn
fault of the general public that the in
strumentalities of government have beer
so often p%rostituted TO purposes of private
gain.
Government Should Avoid Wrong Doing
Those wno stand upon the Chicago plat
form believe that the government SHOULD
not only avoid wrong doing, but that i
should prevent wrong doing, and they be
lieve that the law should be enforced aliki
against all enemies Of the public veal
They do not excuse petit larceny, but the!
declare that grand larceny is equally
crime they do not defend the occupation
of the -highwayman who robs the unsu
pecting traveller, but they include among
the transgressors those who, through tn
more polite and less hazardous means o
legislation, appropriate to their W us
the proceeds of the toll of Others. The com
mandment, "Thou shalt not steal - thun
dered from Sinai and reiterated in the leg
islation of all nations, is no respecter o
persons. 1t must be applied to the grea
as well as the small, TO the strong as wei
a.. II -. A. AomaAr