Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-10-20


mailed, today. by Mr. Bryan:
Buffalo, N. y. Oct 10. 1900.
Hon Samuel w. Hopkins. chairman,
and others of the notification commit
tee of the Silver Lincoln Republican
party:
! "Gentlemen-1 am in receipt Of your
letter formally notifying me of my
nomination for the Presidency by the
Silver Lincoln Republican national con-
vention held at Kansas City, July 4
last. In accepting the nomination, l
beg to express my hearty appreciation
of the support given our ticket by the
members of your party in the campaign
of 1896 and of the fidelity shown by
them during the four years which nave
since elapsed. The evidence of conf
dence and good will manifested anew
at the last national convention places
me under renewed obligations There
is a consistency about the human mind
which leads an individual to apply old
principals to new conditions and / was
therefore not surprised to find that
those who left the Republican party in
1896 on the money question are noW
opposed TO it on the trust question,
which has increased in independence
since 1886, and upon militarism and i'm
! perialsm, the new questions which the
Republican party has forced upon the
public within the last two years.
Your platform of which you enclose
| a copy. is in its declarations some SINH
lar to the Democratic platform adopted
at Kansas City, that il is not neces-
sary for me To take up thep tanks in
detail ! enclose the following docu-
ments and make them a part of this
| letter:
my speech at Indianapolis in re-
ply to the Democratic notification com
mittee dealing with imperialism. mill
tarism and the resolution expressing
sympathy with the Beers.
''2-My letter formally accepting the
Democratic nomination, covering other
planks of the platform.
"3-My speech accepting the Populist
nomination. dealing with those issues
upon which the Democrats and POpu-
lists occupy common ground.
my speech delivered at ST. Louis
the 18th of September. on the trusts
question.
These documents have already been
widely published in the press of the
country. and the members of your par
ty are fully informed in regard to my
views on the question covered.
In 1896 the money question was the
question of paramount independence,
but the Republican party, by its de-
sign of the principles of our republic
and by its advocacy of policies repug-
nant to the doctrine of self-goVern-
ment, has left US no choice but to sum
mon all lovers of the Declaration of
Independence TO the defense of that
sacred document ana the constitution
fromed in accordance with it.
In your letter you quote several ap
propriate extracts from Lincoln
speech. / find in a speech by Lincoln
in 1858 a defence of the Declaration of
INDEPENDENCE. accompanied by a fer
vent and patriotic appeal to his coun-
trymen not to abandon the principles
therein enunciated. 1t is so applicable
10 the present time and 50 in harmony
with the references you have made 70
Lincoln's words. that | quote the fol-
lowing extract:
Now. my countrymen, if you have
been taught doctrines conflicting with the
great landmarks of the Declaration OF In
depeuderce. if YOU have listened to suG-
geStionS which would take away from rs
grandeur ana muti.ate the fair SymmctF5
g. HTUUtTtlbiS.
clined to believe. that all men are not ere
atcd equal in those inHhtr1bie rights
enumerated by Our charter OF liberty, let
me enireat ypu to come back Return u
the fountain whose waters spring close /
bv the hlood Of The Revolution Think |
nothing Of me take M Thought fnT tht
political fate Of any man Wholn9"tN '.,
but come pack to the tru,hs that are IN
the Declaration Of independence. You !
may DO anything win me you choose. 7
you will but SO heed these sacred p4lh-
gtVt ~ .
the Senate. but you may take me ana pul /
me to death. v nils pretending no lnail
ference q earthly Apa"rs. ~ c.alih ~ nt
acruated in this contest ~ somethlHS
higher than anxiety for office. charge |
YOU to drop every paltry and INSIGNIFICANT
thought for any mans success. \ II
rnthinr. I'M nothing: Judge Douglas is
nothing. But do not destroy that immor-
tai emblem of humanity. the Dec!aratl9h
of American Independence TOW harsh
the contrast between the lofty sentiments |
expressed by Lincoln and the sordlq |
mercenary appeal now made to the ptonle
by the Republican party How great ile
chaSrn between the StatcSmanShlp ~Alcn |
would sacrifice life Itself In defence 81
that immortal document which has been
the model of Republicans ever since II
was promulgated and the commerciahsn
which would sacrifice every noble ana
holy purpose in pursuit OF ne" marktia
and would endorse the doctrine th9t trace
can be purchased with human biood-a
doctrine advanced by those who want 70 |
give syndicates a chance 10 exploit dls-
tant colonies.
nress permit me to assure you that my
political obligations are due entirely 70
the plain people who ask no special priv |
lege at the hands Of the government, but
demand only equality of rights and an |
onu0rtunity to enjoy life. liberty and the |
pursuit 81 happiness under the flag Of a |
republic. -,
ducers in time of peace and the nation 5 !
warriors in time of war. have ALREADY |
done for me more than | can ever repay. |
whether l am elected or not, il shall be |
nv ambition 10 protect their rights ana |
advance their interests by every means |
within my power
'Nerytruy yours.