Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-08-21
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYANS
Speech OF ACCEPTANCE

William Jennings Bryan today recelV-
ed from Henry d. clayton. of Ala
bama, formal notification of his nomi-
nation for the presidency of the United
States,
Mr.. Bryan's speech of acceptance in
full was as follows:
%fcatlon Committee: l cannot accept .the
nomination which you officially tender
without first acknowledging my deep III
debtedness TO the democratic party FOR ths
extraordinary honor which Il mas coh1eflSu
upon me. Having twice before been emn a can,
which ended IN defeat, Il third nomination;
the result of the free and voluntary act OF
planned by a substantial and undisputed
growth in the principles ana policies Tor
c~ontended. As these principles and poll,
cies have given me whatever pohtlcal
but strengthens my attachment to them.
l shall, in the near futafe prepare srd =
in that letter of acceptance, will deal with
the platform in detail. 1T is sufficient: at
accord with both the letter and the spirit
of the platform: ! indorse it In whole and
in part. and shall, if elected, regard its
may add, q platform is binding as to what
1t omits as well as to what 1T contains.
think for themselves and select officials to
carry out their wishes. The voters are the
sovsreig9s; the officials are the s : '
salary to do what the sovereigns want
done: and to do it in the w way the the . sTJre.
iy in harmony with this democratic idea.
A platform announces the party,'s position
an official is not at liberty to use the au,
thority vested in him to urge personal
the Sot Mri'f for H" thcir not ap Prov If one is
nominated upon a platform which IS not
satisfactory to him, he must, if candid,
ceptlng it, propose an amended platform
In lieu Of the one adopted by the conven-
ton. No such situation, however, con-
fronts your candidate. for the platform up
on which was nominated not only con-
tains nothing from which dissent, put
1t specifically outlines all the remedial leg
iSlatiOn which we can hope to secure dur
Ing the next four years:
The distinguished statesman who re
ceived the republican nomination for presi-
dent said, in his notification speech: Inc
sarHnSfiR Of at h 6hf rf IS the Fact e that w 'e r sne
resent the policies essential to the reform
of known abuses, to the continuance OF lih,
erty and true prosperity, and that We are
determined, as our platform unequlVocAlly
declares, to maintain them and carry them
In the name of the democratic party, !
republican party is responsible for all the
abuses which now exist III the federal gov
eminent, and that it is impotent to accom-:
plish the reforms which are imperativeiy
statement that the republican platform un.
equivocally declares for the reforms that
are necessary on lue toHlIdAH, l -
that it openly, and VIGOROUSLY, dissppoints
the hopes and expectations OF reformers.
whether those reformsrs be repHhiesns so or
vention fall short of its duty that the re,
publican candidate felt it necessary to add
to his platform in several Important par
ticulars. thus rebuking the leaders OF the
party. upon whose cooperation he must
RELY for the enactment of remedial leslsla-
As shall, in separate speeches, discuss
the leading questions at issue, | shall at
fliS Tina rnnfra myself TO the para mount
question, and to the far reaching purpose
OF our party. as that purpose is set forth
Our platform declares that the overshad.
owing issue which manifests itself in all
Isl ts,afIl uf fhe Peop hew rul S9"er No o matter &;hich
way we turn; no matter to what subject
confronts us: Shall the people Control
their own government, and use that govern;
msnt th for the p ofiae n9 t Of their Mei ffiSht5s and ID
shall the representatives of predatory
wealth prey upon a defenseIess public,
subservient officials whom they raise to
power by INSCRIPTIONS methodist, This Is
the issue raised by the known abuses to
In message sent to congress last !aTso Jan
tackS by these great corporations on the
administrations actions have, been given a
wide circulation throughout the country. In
writer's and speakers who, consciously or
unconsciously. act as the representatives OF
predatory WealtH-oI tHe Weullu dCCuH1u-
lated on a giant scale by all forms of mi
guilty. ranging from the oppression of wage
earnears to unfair and unWhoiesoms meth
frauding the public by stock %jobbinG and
the manipulation Of securities. Certain
should be abhorrent to every man or or
binary decent conscience. and who com.
Young v,a !" men that phenomenal business sue
cess must ordinarily be based on dishon-
esty. have. during the last few months;
49,, n t. nnoYant r that fhav have hnn6nn
endeavor is to overthrow and discredit all
vent any additional legislation which would
check and restrain them, and to secure, II
R %ni 81 will I fF permif f fTem al nnsc Tea5Gr1ns
wrongdoer to do what he wishes u%ncheck-
ed, provided he has enough money.'-What
e ee :rF''sA"'eNt II p'9D''" -
is the presidents indictment true? And,
if true. against whom was the indictment
directed? Not against the democratic par
MIR. Taft says that these evils have crept
in during the last ten years. He declares
that. during this time, some prominent
and influential members of the community.
sDurred by financial success and in their
hurry for greater wealth. became unmind-
full of the common rules of business hon
posed by law upon their actions and that
1.-THE revelations of the breaches of trusts.
the disclosures as to rebates and al discrim-
Der of corporations, and the over-issue of
stocks and bonds of Interstate railroads for
the unlawful enriching of directors and
for the purpose of concentrating the con
troll of the railroads under one manage;
ment."-all these. he charges. ''Guickened
the conscience Of the people and brought
During all this time: | beg to remind
executive department, filled the cabinet.
dominated the. senate; controlled the house
of representative and occupied most of
the federal iudgeships. -Four years ago
the republican platform boastfully declared
that since the exception OF two
years-the republican. party had been in
the federal government: that for two years
only was the democratic party IN a 20
sition to either enact or repeal = law. l1nv
ing enjoyed the honors. having secured the
prestige, let. the republican party accept
Why were these known abuses" per
mitted to develop? Why have they not
been corrected? If existing laws are suf-
fcient. why have they not been enforced?
All of the executive machinery OF the fed.
eral government is in the hands Of the re-
publican party. Are new laws necessary?
WHY have they not been enacted? With
a Republican president to recommend, with
n republican senate and house to carry ont
lis recommendations, why does the .repuh-
lican candidate plead for further time in
which to do what should have been done
long AFRO? Can Mr.. Taft promise to he
more strenuous in the prosecution of
wrCngdoerS than the present executive?
Can he ask for a larger majority III the
uped more republicans in the house Of rep
reseutatives or a speaker with more unlim-
itcd uuthotftNl
The presidents close friends have been
promising for several years ;hat he would
-ltt&ck tEc iniGGities of the tariff. We have
I,nl - . ir,t .i.Y,,. that. II Ia z rN.nC YIN..f NA