The weekly herald. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 1906-19??, 1908-08-13
MANY THOUSANDS
AT NOTIFICATION
Reception for Democratic Leaders NOnpatiSaR...-
Full Text Of Speech Of Acceptance By
William J, Bryan

me, And ! may add, a platform IS
binding as to what it omits as we'll
as to what II contains. According
f. the Democratic idea the people
think for themselves and select Off
cials TO carry out their wishes The
voters are the soyereigns, the Off
CIals are the servants, employed for
a fixed time and at a stated salary 10
do what the sovcreigns want done,
and do 1t In the way the sovcreigns
want It done. Platforms are entirely
! In harmony with this Democratic
idea, 4 platform announces tho par.
! tvs position on the questions which
! are az issue, and an official is not at
liberty TO use the authority vested in
him 10 urge personal views which
have not been submitted 10 the voters
for their approval II one Is noml-
mated upon a platform which Is not
satisfactory to him he must, II can
did, either decline the nomination,
or, in accepting il, propose an amend
cd platform In lieu Of the ono adopt
ed by the convention. No such situa-
tion, however, confronts your candi-
date, for the platform upon which
was nominated not only contains
nothing from which / dissent, but It
specifically outlines all the remedial
legislation which We can hope to Sc
cure during the next four years.
Republican Challenge Accepted.
The distinguished statesman who
received the Republican nomination
for president said, in his notltlca-
ton speech; The strength of the
Republican cause in the campaign at
hand Is the fact that VIC represent
the policies essential to the reform OF
known abuses, to the continuance
OF liberty and true prosperity. and
that we are determined as our plat
form unequivocally declares, to NAM
tain them and carry them on"
In the name Of the Democratic
party, ! accept the challenge, and
charge that the Republican party is
responsible for all the abuses which
now exist in the federal government,
and that it is impotcnt to accomplish
the reforms which are rmperatively
needed. Further can not concur in
the statement that the Republican
platform unequivocally declares for
the reforms that are necessary: on
the contrary, I affirm that 1t openly
and VIGOROUSLY disappoints the hopes
and expectations OF reformers, wheth-
er Republicans ar Democrats. So far
did the Republican convention fall
short of its duty that the Republi-
can candidate felt 1t necessary to add
TO his platform in several important
particulars, thus rebuking the lead
ers OF the party, upon whose co.
operation he must rely for the en-
aCtment of remedial legislation.
AS | shall, in separate speeches,
discuss the leading questions at is
sue, | shall at this time confine my
self to the paramount question, and
to the far-reaching purpose Of our
party, as that purpose is set forth in
the platform.
Shall the People Rule?
Our platform declares that the ov-
ershadowing issue which manfests
itself in all the questions now under
discussion, is Shall the people
ruler" No matter which way we
turn; no matter to what subject we
address ourselves, the same question
confronts us: Shall the people o."
troll their own government, al 20
that government for the protection OF
their rights and for the promotion Of
their welfare? or shall the represen-
tatives of predatory wealthy prey
upon a defonseless public, while the
offenders secure immunity from sub
servient officials whom they raise to
power by INSCRIPTIONS methods? !
This is the issue raised by the
known abuses" to which Mr.. Taft |
refers.
Presidents Indictment Against the
Party.
In message sent to congress last
January, President Roosevelt said
The attacks by these great corpora
tions on the administration actions
have been given a wide circulation