The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-13

given below:
Mr.. Clayton and Gentlemen of the
Notification Committee: ] can not
accept the nomination which you Of
dcially tender without first acknow-
Lodging my deep Indebtedness to the
democratic party for the extraordinary
honor which il has conferred upon
me. Having twice been candidate
for the presidency, in campaigns
which ended in defeat, third nomf-
nation, the result of the free and vol
untary act of the voters OF the party,
can only be explained by substan-
tial and undiSputed growth in the
principles and policies for which J.,
with a multitude of others, have COR
tended. AS these principles and pol
icies have given whatever political
strength | possess, the action of the
convention not only renews my faith
in them, but strengthens my attach
ment to them.
A Platform is Binding shall, in
the near future, prepare a More for
NAL reply to your notification, and, IN
that letter of acceptance, Will deal
with the platform in deta.I. 1t is sui
ficient, at this time, to assure you
that I am in hearty accord with both
the letter and the spirit of the plat
part, and shall, if elected, regard its
declarations as binding uopn me. And,
! may add, platform is binding as
TO what it omits as well as to what 1t
contains. According to the democrat
ic idea, the people think for them
selves 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 q stated salary to do what the SOW
ereigns want done, and TO do 1t the
way the sovereigns want 1t done.
Platforms are entirely in harmony
with this democratic idea. A plat
form announces the party's position
on the questions 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 ap-
proyal. IL one is nominated upon
platform which is not satisfactory TO
him, he must, IL candid, either de-
cline the nomination, or, in accepting
1t. propose an amended platform IN
lieu OF the one adopted by the con-
vention No such situation, however,
confronts your candidate, for the
platform upon which l was nominated
not only contains nothing from which
Il
all the remedial legislation which we
can hope to secure during the next
four years
Republican Challenge Accepted
The distinguished stateman who re-
ceived the republican nomination for |
president said. in his notification |
speech: THE strength of the repub |
lican cause in the campaign at hand |
is the fact that We represent the pol |
icies essential to the reform of known |
abuses, to the continuance OF liberty |
and true prosperity, and that we are |
determined, as our platform unequiv- |
ocally declares, to maintain them and |
carry them on
In the name Of the democratic par
~ I accept the challenge, and charge |
that the republican party is RESPONSE
bic for all the abuses which now ex-
Ist in the federal government, and /
that IL is impotent to accomplish the /
reforms which are imperatively need
ed Further I can not concur in the /
statement that the republican plat
form unequivocally declares for the I
reforms that are necessary; on the |
contrary. I affirm that it openly and |
disappoints the hopes and /
expectations OF reformers whether /
those reformerS be democrats or re- /
fall short of its duty that |
The republican candidate felt it neces-
sarY TO add to his platform in several |
important particulars, thus rebuking |
the leaders of the party, upon whose /
cooperation he must rely for the en- |
actment of remedial legislation.
As I shall. in separate speeches, |
discuss the leading questions at issue, |
shall at this time confine myself 10 /
he paramount question, and to the |
fsr-reaching purpose of our party. as /
that purpose is set forth in the plat /
'orm.
Shall the People RuIe?-Our plat
form declares that the overshadow-
ng 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, |
he same question confronts us: Shall |
he people control their own govern |
nent. and use that goveTnmentA for /
The protection of their rights and for /
he promotion of their welfare? or
shall the representatives of predatory /
wealth prey upon a defenSeleSS public. |
while the offenders secure immunity /
rom subseTvient officials whom they |
-aise to power by INSCRIPTIONS meth |
DDS? This is the issue raised by the 1
known abuses" to which Mr.. Taft re-
'ers.
Presidents indictment Against the
7arty.-In a message sent to congress |
asst January, President Roosevelt /
,aid: The attacks by these great |
on the administrations /
,ctions have been given a wide cir
'ulatiOn throughout the country, in !
he newspapers and otherwise, by 1
hose writer's and speakers who, con-
'ciouSly or uncOnsciously, act as the