Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-09-18
FORMAL ACCEPTANCE.
CHARACTERISTIC LETTER OF THE
MAN OF THE PEOPLE.

CHARACTERISTIC LETTER OF THE
MAN OF THE PEOPLE.
Will Fill the Office If Elected i'll
Accord With the Issues of Tho
Campnign-The Country First and
Last.
Hon. W. J. Bryan has written the
following letter OF acceptance:
Hon. Stephen NJ. White and others
members OF the notification commit
tee OF the Democratic National Con.
vention:
GENTLEMEN: | accept the nomina
ton rendered by you on behalf OF the
Democratic party and in SO doing de
sire to assure you that / fully ap'
preciate the high honor which such a
nomination confers and the grave
responsibilities which accompany an
election to the presidency OF the
United States. So deeply am | i'm
pressed 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 yield for the benefit or injury of
the people that wish to enter the Of
flee, il elected, free from every per-
sonal desire except the desire to prove
worthy the confidence of my country.
Human judgment is fsllible enough
when unbiased by selfish considera-
ton, and in order that | may not be
tempted to use the patronage of the
Office to advance any personal ambi-
ton, l hereby announce with all the
emphasis which words can express,
my fixed determination not under any
circumstances to be q candidate for
reelection in case this campaign re-
suits in my election.
l have carefully considered the plat
form adopted by the Democratic Ma
tional Convention and unqualifedly
indorse each plank thereof.
Our institutions rest upon the
proposition that all men being Gre
ated equal are entitled to equal con-
sideration at the hands OF the govern
ment.
Because all men are created equal
it follows that no citizen has q ma
tional right to iniure any other citi-
zen. The main purpose OF the gov
ernment 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, TO restrain each citizen from
trespassing upon the rights OF any
other citizen. A Democratic form of
government is conducive to the high
est civilization because it opens before
each individual the greatest oppor-
tunities for development and stimu.
lales to the highest endeavor by in
suring to each the fullest enjoyment
OF all the rewards of toll, except such
contribution as is necessary to sup
port the government which protects
him.
Democracy is Indifferent to pedigree.
It deals with the individual rather
than 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-recog-
nizing the right OF each individual to
worship God according to the dictates
of his own conscience, it welcomes all
to a common brotherhood and guar
antees equal treatment to all, no mat
ter in what church or through what
forms they commune with their cre-
ator.
Having discussed portions of the
platform at the time of it's adoption
and again when your letter of notifica-
ton was formally delivered, it will not
be necessary at this time to touch
upon all the subjects embraced in the
party's declaration.
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 un.
der all circumstances the absolute me-
cessity for the prompt and vigorous
enforcement of the law and the pres
ervation of the public peace. In q
government like ours, law is but the
crystalization OF the will of the peo-
ple; 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
government 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 protect and preserve
the dual scheme of government insti-
tuted by the founders OF the republic.
The name of the United States was
happily chosen. 1t combines the idea
of national strength with the idea OF
local self government and suggests
"an iudissoluble union OF indestructi-
BILE States" Our revolutionary
fathers, fearing the tendencies towards
Capitalization, as we'll as the dangers
NJ 1;s;n fouvatiOr1 guarded against