The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1896-09-15

Brya1is letter Of acceptance of he Demo
cratic nomination
Hon. Stephen NJ White and Others,
Members Of the Notification Committee of
the Democratic National Convention-Gen-
tlemen: / accept the nomination rendered
by you on behalf of the Democratic party,
and in so doing, desire to assure you that
] fully appreciate the high honor which
nomination confers, and tho grave RESPONSE
bilities which accompany an election to
the presidency Of the United States. so
deeply am | 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 pe0-
pie, that | wish to enter the office, II
elected, free from any personal desire ex-
cept the desire to prove worthy the con-
fidence of my country. Human judgment
IS fallible enough when unbiased by selhsn
considerations and, in order that may not
be tempted to Use the patronage of the
office to advance any personal ambition,
hereby announce, with all the emphasis
which words can express, my fixed deter
animation not, under any circumstances, to
be a candidate for reelection if this cam
paign results in my election. | have care
fully considered the platform adopted by
the Democratic national convention, ana
unqualifiedly indorse each plank thereof.
Our institutions rest upon the PROPOSE
ton that ali men, being created equal. are
emit tied to equal consideration at the hands
of the government, Because all men are
created equal It follows that no citizen
has natural right to injure any other
citizen The main purpose of government
being to protect all citizens in the enjoy
men. of life, liberty ana the pursuit OF
happiness, this purpose must lead the gov
ernment first, to avoid acts OF affirmative
injustice and, second, to restrain each cltl-
zen from trespassng upon the rights OF
any other citizen.
A democratic form of Government is con-
tlucive to the highest civilizat III because
1t opea, before each individual the greatest
opportunities for development and stlmu-
lates to the highest endeavor by insuring
to each the full enjoyment of all the re-
wards of toll except such contribution as
is necessary to support the government
which protects him.
Democracy is Indifferent to pedgree-it
deals with the individual rather than with
his ancestors. Democracy ignores dl1fer-
pnces in wealth-neither riches nor poverty
can be invoked in behalf of against any
citizen. Democracy knows 10 creed, recos-
nizipg the right of each individual to Wof-
shin God according t. the dictates OF MS
own conscience 1t welcomes all to a COM
mon brotherhood, and guarantees equal
treatment to all, no matter III what church
or through what forms they commune with
their Greater
Having discussed portions of the platform
at the time Of It's adoption and again
when your letter of notification was for
mally delivered, it will not be necessary
at this time to touch upon all the subjects
embraced in the party's declaration.
Law and Order.
Honest differences of opinion have ever
existed and ever will exist as to the most
effective means of securing domestic tran
guilty, but no citizen fails to recognize at
all times and under all circumstances the
absolute Necessity for the prompt ana Wig
Orous enforcement of law and the preSerVa-
ton of the public peace. In a government
like ours law is but the crystalliZation or
rhe will of the people; without it the cltl.
zen is neither secure in the enjoyment OF
life and liberty nor protected IN the puf-
suit of happiness. Without obedience to
law government is impossible. The Demo-
cratic party is pledged to defend the con-
stitutlon and enforce the law of the United
States, and it is also pledged to respect and
preserve the dual scheme of government
Instituted by the founders of the republic
The name United States was happily
chosen 1t combines the idea Of national
strength with the idea of local self-goyern-
ment and suggests 'indissolube union
of indestructible states" Our Revolution
ary fathers, fearing the tendencies toward
Capitalization, as we'll as the dangers OF
dsintegration, guarded against both, ana
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 republican form
of government and is empowered to pro-
tect each state against invasion, 1t is not
authorized to interfere in the domestic af-
fairs of any state except upon the applica-
ton of the legislature of the state or upon
the application of the executive when the
legislature cannot be convened.
This prov sion rests upon the sound theory
that the people of the state, acting through
their legally chosen representatives,. are,
because of their more intimate acquaint-
ance 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 sef-government circumstances
would permit, and we cannot dispute the
correctness of the position taken by them
without expressing a distrust of the people
themselves.
Since government exists for the protec-
ton of the rights of the people and not
for their spolation, expenditure of public
money can be justified unless that cx'
penditure is necessary for the honest, eco
nomical and efficient administration of the
government In determining what appro-
priations are necessary the interest of those
who pay the taxes should be consulted.
rather than the wishes of those who receive
or disburse public moneys
Issue of Bonds
Al Increase in the bonded debt OF the
United States at this time is entirely
without excuse. Il issue of interest
bearing bonds within the last few years
las been defended on the ground that they
were necessary to secure gold with which
10 redeem United States notes aud treas.
ury notes but this necessity was imagin.
ary rathe' than real instead OF exercis-
inc the legal right vested in the United
States to redeem its coin in either gold OF
silver the executive branch of the govern
ment has followed a precedent established
nv a former administration and surren-
tiered the option to the holder OF the obi