Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-12

LINCOLN Neb.. August FIN re-
spending to the speech of Chairman Clay
ton of the notification committee. officially
notifying w. ]. Bryan of his nomination
for President of the United States by the
democratic party in convention at Denver,
Mr.. Bryan said:
Mr. Clayton and Gentlemen of the NOti-
fication 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 it has con-
ferred upon me. Having twice before
been a candidate for the presidency. In
campaigns which ended in defeat. third
nomination. the result of the free and
voluntary act of the voters of the party
can only be explained by a substantial
and undisputed growth in the principles
and policies for which I, with a multi
tude of Others have contended. AS these
principles and policies have given me
whatever political strength 1 possess. the
action of the convention not only renews
my faith in them. but strengthens my
attachment to them.
A PLATFORM IS BINDING.
I shall, in the near future. prepare
more formal reply TO your notification.
and. in that letter of acceptance. will
deal with the platform in detail 1t is
sufficient. at this time. to assure you
that I am in hearty accord with both the
hitter and the spirit of the platform 1
indorse it in whole and in part. and shall
if elected, regard it's declarations as bind
ing upon me. And, 1 may add, plat
form is binding as to what it omits as
we'll as to what it contains. According
to the democratic idea, the people think
for themselves and select officials to
carry out their wishes. The voters are
the sovereigns: the officials are the serv-
ants. employed for a fixed time and at
a stated salary to do what the sovereigns
want done, and to do it in the
way the sovereigns want 1t done.
Platforms are entirely in harmony
with this democratic idea. A platform an
nounces the party's position on the ques-
lions which are at issue; and an Official
is not at liberty to use the authority
vested in him to urge personal views
which have not been submitted to the
voters for their approval. If one is nomi-
mated upon a platform which is not salts
factory to him, he must, If candid, either
decline the nomination. or in accepting
it, propose an amended platform in lieu
of the one adopted by the convention.
No such situation, however. confronts
your candidate, for the platform upon
which / was nominated not only contains
nothing from which I dissent. but 1t
specifically outlines all the remedial legis-
lation which we can hope to secure dur
ing the next four years.
REPUBLICAN CHALLENGE AC-
CEPTED.
The distinguished statesman who re-
ceived the republican nomination for
President said, in his notification speech:
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 con-
tinuance of liberty and true prosperity,
and that we are determined. as our plat
form uneQuivocally declares. to main
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 i'm
potent to accomplish the reforms which
are imperatively needed. Further can
not concur in the statement that the
republican platform unequivocally de-
on the contrary, / affirm that it openly
and VIGOROUSLY disappoints the hopes
and expectations of reformers, whether
those reformers be republicans or demo-
Gratis So far did the republican conven-
ton fall short of its duty that the re-
publican candidate felt 1t necessary to
add to his platform in several important
particulars. thus rebuking the leaders OF
the party. upon whose cooperation he
must rely for the enactment of remedial
legislation.
As 1 shall. in separate speeches. dis
cuss 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 is set forth in the platform.
SHALL THE PEOPLE RUIEp
Our platform declares that the over
shadowing issue which manifests itself
in all the questions now under discussion
is Shall the people rule?" No matter
which way We turn: no matter to what
subject we address ourselves. the same
question confronts us: Shall the people
control their own government. and use
that government for the protection of
their rights and for the promotion of
their welfare? or shall the representa-
tives of predatory wealth prey upon de-
fenseless public. while the offenders Sc
cure immunity from subservient officials
lous methods? This is the issue raised
by the known abuses" to which Mr..
Taft refers.
THE PRESIDENTS INDICTMENT
AGAINST THE PARTY.
In q message sent to Congress last jan
uary President Roosevelt said: 1.-The at
lacks by these great corporations on the
administrations actions have been given