The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-08-20
Mr.. BRYAN RESPONDS
TO NOTIFICATION SPEECH

Lincoln, Neb., special: In accepting
the democratic nomination for president
today, William Jennings Bryan made
a comparatively brief. address. He
criticised the position OF his republican
opponent, Judge Taft, IN the leading
questions at issue and assailed the rec
ord OF the republican party In national
affairs. Utterances upon the tariff, the
currency and other important matters
were left for more detailed discussion In
later speeches. Mr.. Bryan said In part:
Mr.. CLAYTON and Gentleman Of the Noti-
hcation Committee I cannot accept the
nomination which you officially tender,
without first acknowledging my deep in
debtedness to the democratic party for
the extraordinary honor which 1t has con-
ferred upon me. Having twice before been
q candidate for the presidency, in cam
paigns which ended In defeat, q third
nomination the result Of the free and
can only be explained by q substantial
and undlsputed growth in the principles
and policies for which I with q multitude
clplcs n policies a. given me what
ever political strength I possess, the ac-
ton OF the convention not only renews my
faith In them, but strengthens my attach
ment to them.
A Platform 10 Binding.
I shall. In the near future, prepare a
more formal reply to your notification,
and. In that letter OF acceptance, will deal
with the platform In detail. It is suff-
am In hearty accord with both the letter
and the spirit Of the platform. ] indorse II
IN whole and In part, and shall IL elected,
me. And I may add, a platform Is bind
Ing a. to what 1t omlts as well as to
What IL contains. According to the demo-
cratic idea, the people think for them
their wishes. The voters are the sover-
eigns; the officials are the servants, en-
ployed for q fixed time and at a stated
salary to do what the sovereigns want
eigns raj II done. Platforms are en-
tirely In harmony with this democratic
idea. A platform announces the party's
position on the questions which are at is
sue and an official is not at liberty to
use the authority vested I'm him to urge
personal Views which have not been sub
,mitted to the voters for their approval. If
one is nominated upon a platform which
Is not satisfactory to him, he must, IL
candid, either decline the nomination, or,
In accepting 1t, propose an amended plat
form In lieu OF the one adopted by the con-
vention. No such situation, however, con-
fronts your candidate, for the platform
upon which l was nominated not only con-
It specifically outlines all the remedial
legislation which we can hope to secure
during the next four years.
Republican Challenge Accepted.
The distinguished statesman who re-
Ceived the republican nomination for
president said, in his notification speech:
1.-THE strength Of the republican cause In
the campaign at hand Is the fact that we
represent the policies essential to the
reform Of known abuses, to the continue
ance OF liberty and true prosperity, and
that we are determined, as our platform
unequivocally declares, to maintain them
and carry them on
accept the challenge, and charge that the
republican party Is responsible for all the
abuses which now exist In the federal gov
ernment, and that 1t Is impotent to ac-
complish the reforms which are impera-
lively needed. Further, / cannot concur
IN the statement that the republican plat
form unequivocally declares for the re-
forms that are necessary; on the contrary,
1affrm that It openly and notorfously dis
appoints the hopes and expectations OF re-
formers. whether those reformers be re-
publicans or democrats. So Tar did the re-
publican convention fall short OF It's duty
that the republican candidate felt II nee
essary to add to his platform in several
smportant particulars, thus %rebuking the
leaders of the party, upon whose co-ope
alton he must rely for the enactment OF
remedial legislation.
AS I shall, In seperate speeches, discuss
the leading questions at issue. / shall at
this time confine myself to the paramount
question, and to the far-reaching purpose
OF our party, as that purpose ts set forth
In the platform.
Shall tho People Ruler
Our platform declares that the over
shadowing issue which manifests itself In
all the questions now under discussion, Is
"ShalI the people ruler" No matter which
way we turn; no matter to what subject
we address ourselves, tho same question
confronts US: Shall the people control
their W government, and use that gov-
ernment for the protection OF their rights
and FOR the promotion of their welfare? |
or Shall the representatives OF predatory
wealth prey upon a detenseless public.
while the Offenders secure Immunity from ,
srihservient officials whom they raise to
power BY INSCRIPTIONS methodist This Is
the issue raised by tho known abuses"
to which Mr.. Taft refers.
Tho Presidents Indictment.
~ a massage sent to congress last Jam
varv President Roosevelt said: THE at
lacks hy these great corporations on the
observation-disclosures actions have been given
yvfda circulation throughout the coun-
try. IN the newspapers and otherwise. by
those writers and speakers b con-
sTiolaIv ar unconsciously, act az the rep
5a-., ~ predatory wcQlkh-of the L