Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-09-27
.BRYAN'S LETTER
OF ACCEPTANCE
FAvoRs FREE COINAGE AT THE
RATIO OF 10 TOT.
Col. w. y. Bryan In His Omc,.l LET.
ter Of Acceptance Hits the Trusts
-Is mo- Enemy to Corporations
Calls Imperialism the Paramount
Issue.


ton for president was given out to-day
and is as follows:
Hon. James D. Richardson, Chairman
and Others of the Notification Committee
OF the Democratic National Convention
Gentlemen: In accepting the nomination
rendered by you on behalf of the Demo-
cratic party, beg to assure you of my
appreciation Of the great honor conferred
upon me by the delegates in convention
assembled, and by the voters who gave
instruction to the delegates.
I am sensible of the responsibilities
which rest upon the chief magistrate of
90 great nation, and realize the far
reaching effect of the questions involved
in the present contest.
Wants Only One Term.
In my letter Of acceptance Of 1896. I
made the following pledge:
$50 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
fiuence which he can yield for the BEN
eft or injury of the people, that I wish
to enter the Office, If elected. free from
any personal desire, except the desire to
prove worthy Of the confidence of my
countrymen Human judgment Is fall
ible enough when unbiased by selfish con-
sidera tons. and, in order that I may not
be tempted to use the patronage of the
ONCE to advance any personal ambition.
I hereby announce with all the emphasis
which words can express, my fixed de-
termination not. under any circumstances,
to be candidate for reelection, in case
this campaign results in my election
Further reflection and observation con-
strain me to renew this pledge.
With the Chicago Platform Added.
The platform adopted at Kansas City
commands my cordial and unqualified
approval. 1t courageously meets the is
sues now before the country, and states
clearly and without ambiguity the party's
position on every question considered
Adopted by convention which assembled
on the anniversary of the signing of the
Declaration of Independence. it breathes
the spirit Of candor, independence and
patriotism which characterizes those who,
at Philadelphia in 177G, promulgated the
creed Of the republic.
Having in my notification speech, dis
cussed somewhat at length the par
amount issue, imperialism, and added
come observations on militarism and the
Boer war it is sufficient at this time to
review the remaining planks of the plat
form
AS to Trusts.
The platform very properly gives
prominence to the trust question. The
appalling growth of combinations in re-
straipt of trade during the present ad-
ministration, proves conclusively that the
rtv oLs
or ability to deal with the question eff
fectively. If, as may be fairly assumed
from the speeches and conduct of the
Republican leaders, that party does not
intend to take the peoples side against
these organizations, then the weak and
qualified condemnation of trusts to be
found in the Republican platform is de-
signed to distract attention while in
dus trial despotism is completing its work.
"A private monopoly has always been an
outlaw No defense can be made of an
Industrial system in which one, or few
men, can control for their own profit
the output or price of any article of
merchandise. Under such system the
consumer suffers extortion, the producer
of raw material has but one purchaser,
and must sell at the arbitrary fixed price,
is powerless to protest against injustice
either in wages or conditions of labor;
the small stockholder is at the mercy
of the speculator, while the travelling
salesman contributes his salary to the
overgrown profits of the trust. Since
but a small proportion of the people can
share in the advantages secured by pri-
vate monopoly, 1t follows that the re-
mainder of the people are not only ex-
cluded from the benefits, but are the
helpless victims of every monopoly or
ganized. 1t is difficult to overestimate
the immediate injustice that may be done
or to calculate the ultimate effect of
this injustice upon the social and political
welfare of the people, Our platform,
after suggesting certain specific remedies,
pledges the party to an unceasing war
fare against private monopoly in nation,
state and city. I heartily approve of this
promise. If elected, it shall be my earnest
and constant endeavor to fulfill the prom
Use in letter and in spirit. I shall select
an attorney general who will, without
fear or favor, enforce existing laws.
shall recommend such additional legsla-
ton as may be necessary to dissolve
every private monopoly which does bust
ness outside the state of Its origin; and,
If contrary to my belief and hope, con-
stituional amendment is found to be
necessary, I shall recommend such an
amendment as will, without impairine
any of the existing rights Of the states.
empower congress to protect the people
of all the states from injury at the
hands of individuals or corporations en-
gagged in interstate commerce.
Protection Denounced.
The platform accurately describes the
Dingley tariff law when 1t condemns it
as a trust breeding measure, skillfully
devised to give to the few favors which
they do not deserve, and to place upon
the many burdens which they should not
bear" Under Its operation trusts can
plumber the people Of the United States,
while they successfully compete in foreign
markets with manufacturers of other
countries. Even those who Justify the
general policy Of protection will find it
difficult to defend tariff which enables
trust to Sexact an exorbitant toll from
the citizen.
The Democratic party makes no war
upon honestly acquired wealth; neither
docs 1t seek to embarrass corporations A
engaged In legitimate business, but it