The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-20
TO SILVER REPUBLICANS
Mr.. Bryan Makes Public His Letter
Of Acceptance.
The Candidate Expresses Gratificn-
ton Over the HOnor-Refers to
Platform OF the Party Adopted mt
Kansas City-His Position ms Re-
vealed in His Recent Utternnces.

| RoSHcS1Eh, N. l., OCt. lev Ia hu
Jennings Bryan today made public let
ter to the Notification Committee of tn
Silver Republicans. accepting the nomi
nation of that party for President OF TIL
United States. 1t Is as follows:
The Hon. Samuel w. Hopkins, Chair
man, and Others, Members Of the No
tifcation Committee of the Silver Lin
coin Republican Party:
lam in receipt of your letter formally
notifying me OF my nomination for the
Presidency by the Silver Lincoln Repub-
lican National Convention, held at Kan
sas City July 4 last. In accepting the
nomination I beg to express my hearty
appreciation of the support given oul
ticket by the members Of your party in
the campaign Of 1896, and OF the fidelity
shown by them during the four years
which have since elapsed. The evidence
OF confidence 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 principles 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 op-
posed to 1t on the trust question. which
| has increased in Importance since 1896,
and upon militarism and imperial SIN, the
| new questions which the Republican
| party has forced upon the public within
the last two years.
Your platform, Of which you enclosed
copy. is in its declaration SO similar to
the Democratic platform adopted at Kan
sas City that 1t Is not necessary for me
to take up the planks in detail. / enclose
the following documents, and make them
part of this letter:
II. My speech at Indianapolis, in rer!-:
to the Democratic Notification Committee,
dealing with Imperialism, militarism, and
the resolution expressing sympathy for 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 Populists occupy
common ground.
~ My speech delivered in st. Louis
the 18th of September on the trust ques-
ton.
These documents have already been
widely published in the press Of the coun-
try, and the members Of your party are
fully informed in regard to my views upon
the questions covered.
"In 1896 the money question was the
question OF paramount Importance, but
the Republican party. by its disregard OF
the principles OF our Republic, and by its
advocacy of policies repugnant to the doc
trine of self-g government, has left us no
choice but to summon all lovers OF the
Declaration OF Independence to the de-
fence OF that sacred document and the
Constitution framed in accordance with 1t,
In your letter you quote several appro-
pirate extracts from Lincoln's speeches.
l find in a speech by Lincoln in 1858
defence of the Declaration Of Independ
ence, accompanied by fervent and pa
triotic appeal to his countrymen not to
abandon the principles therein enunci-
ated. 1t is SO applicable to the present
time and SO in harmony with the refer
ence you have made to Lincoln's words
that l quote the following extract:
Now, my countrymen. If you have been
taught doctrines conflicting with the great
landmarks Of the Declaration of Indepen-
dence, If you have listened to suggestions
which would take away from its grandeur
and mutliate che fair symmetry OF its pro-
portions; If you have been inclined to be-
lieye that all men are not created equal in
t.l1se inalienable rights enumerated by our
ria.t Of liberty ct me entreat u 20
come back. Return to lie fouItain whose
waters spring close by the blood OF the
revolution. Think moth ng Of me; take no
thought for the political fate OF any man
whomsoever. hut come back to the truths
;Na- are IN the Declaration of lndepen-
dence You may 90 any tuius win me ,ou
choose, II you will but heed these sacred
principles. You may not only defeat me for
the Senate but you may take me and put
me to death. While pretending no indif-
ference to earthly honors. do claim TO be
actuated in this contest by something
higher than an anxiety for office. / charge
you to drop every paltry and insignificant
thought for any mans success. 1t is moth
ing am nothing; Judge Douglas is moth
emblem O. humanity-the Declaration of
American Independence
How harsh the contrast between the
lofty sentiments expressed by Lincoln and
the sordid, mercenary appeal now made
TO the people by the Republican party.
How great the chasm between the states
manship which would sacrifice life itself
in defence of that immortal document
which has been the model of Republics
ever since it was promulgated. and the
commercialsm which would sacrifice ev-
cry noble and holy purpose in pursuit of
new markets and would endorse the doc
trine that trade can be purchased with
human blood-a doctrine advanced by
those who want to give syndicates
chance to exploit distant colonies!
In response to the hope which you ex-
press permit me to assure you that my
political obligations are due entirely to
the plain people who ask no special privi-
leges at the hands of the Government
but demand only equality of rights and an
tn enjoy life, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness under the flag of
Republic. These people. the nations
wealth producers in time of peace and
the nations warriors in time of war. have
already done for me more than l can ever
repay. Whether l am elected or not, it
shall be my ambition to protect their
rights and advance their interests by |
every means within my power
wv. ]. BRYAN"