The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-09-16
FORMALLY ACCEPTS.
BRYAN'S SLETTERTOT THE DEMOCRAT
iC NOTIFICATION COMMITTEE.

He Takes Up the Platform and Carefully
Deals With 1t Section by section-An En-
ceedingly Strong Campaign Paper.
LINCOLN, Neb., Sept. 9 Mr.. Bryan
today made public his letter accepting
the Democratic nomination. lis full
text follows: Hon. Stephen Nj. White
and other members of the notitica.
ton committee of the Democratic
committee.
Gentlemen l accept the nomina-
tion rendered by you on behalf of the
Democratic party, and in so doing de-
sire 10 assure you that l fully appreci
ale the high honor which such nomina-
tion confers and the grave responsible.
lies which accompany an election to
the Presidency of the United States.
60 deeply am I impressed with the
magnitude of the power vested by the
Constitution in the chief executive OF
the nation and with the enormous in
fluence which be can WELD for tine
benefit or injury of the people that
! wish to enter the office, il elected,
free from any personal desire, except
the desire to prove worthy of the con-
fidence of my country. Human judg-
ment is falliDle enough when unbiased
by selfish considerations, and in order
that I may not be tempted to use the
patronage of an 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
candidate for re. election in case the
campaign results in my election.
have carefully considered. the plat,
form adopted by the Democratic ma
tional convention and unqualiliedly
endorse every plank therein.
Our institutions rest upon the posi-
ton that all men, being created equal,
are entitled to equal consideration at
thehands of the COVE rnment. Because
all men are created equal it follows
that no citizen has a right to injure
another citizen. The main purpose of
government being to protect all clti'
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
any other citizen. A Democratic
form of government is conductive to
highest civilization because it opens
before each individual tue greatest op.
portunities for development and stimu-
lates to the highest endeavor by insur.
ing to each, the full enjoyment o. all
the rewards of toll, except such contri-
button as is necessary to support the
government which protects him. De-
mocracy 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 involved in behalf
of or against any citizen. Democracy
knows no creed-recognizing the right
of each individual to worship God &C.
cordipg to The dictates OF his own con-
scie1 ce, il. welcomes all TO common
brotherhood and guarantees equal
treatment TO all, no matter in what
character or through what forms they
commune with their Creator.
Having discussed portions of the
platform at the time of lis adoption
and again when its letter of notification
was formerly delivered, it will not be
M cessary at this time to touch upon
all the subjects embraced in its declara,
tions. Honest differences of opinion
have eyer existed and ever will exist
as 10 The most effective means of secur-
ing domestic tranquility, but no citizen
fails to recognize at all tics;s and un-
der aialeacumstance the absolute ne.
cessity for the prompt and vigorous
enforcement of law and the preserva.
tion Of the public pesc,. In a govern
ment like ours, law is but the crysta
lization of the will of the people; with.
out 1t the citizen is neither secure in
the enjoyment of life and liberty, nor
prott ctt d in the pursuit OF happiness.
Without obedience to law, govern.
ment is impossible. The Demo cratic
party is pledged 10 defend the Consti-
tuition and enforce the laws of the
United States, and it is also pledged to
protect and defend the dual scheme of
government instituted by the found.
ers of the republic. The name United
States was happily chosen. II com
bines the idea Of national strength
with the idea of local self.government
and suggests an ''indissoluble union of
indestructible States"
Our wise forefathers, fearing tue
tendency toward cent? alization as we'll
IS the dangers of disintegration, guard,
ed against both, and national safety as
well 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 re-
publican from government and is en-
powered to prote ct each State against
invasion, it is not authorized to inter.
fere in the domestic affairs of any State
except upon application of the legisla,
ture of the State, or upon the applica.
ton OF the executive when the legisla-
ture cannot be convened. This provi
sion rests upon the sound theory that
the people of the State, acting through
their legally chosen representatives,
are be cause of their more intimate &C
quaintance with local conditions, bet.
ter qualified than the President to
judge of the necessity for federal inter
ference. Those who framed our Con,
stituti IN wisly determined TO make as
broad an application Of -the pr:aai ifssllees
of local self government as circum
STAGES would permit, and we cannot
dispute the c c)rrctness of the position
taken by them without expressing a
distrust Of The people themselves.
L.. LIZ. La