The Springfield herald., 1908-08-14

Justice to All.
Lincoln, Neb.-William Jennings
Bryan was formally notified OF his
nomination by the Democratic party
for the presidency of the United
States. Henry ID. Clayton of Alabama
was the spokesman of the notification
committee. Mr.. Bryan's speech of ac-
ceptance follows:
Mr.. Clayton and Gentlemen of the No
tfhcation Committee: / can not accept
the nomination which you officially ten
der. without first acknowledging my
deep indebtedness 10 the Democratic
party for the extraordinary honor which
II has conferred upon me. Having twice
before been n candidate for the presiden-
cy, In campaigns which ended in defeat.
a third nomination. the result of the free
and voluntary act of the voters of the
party, can only be explained by a sub
stantial and undisputed growth in the
principles and policies for which I. with
a multitude OF others. have contended.
AS these principles and policies have
given me whatever political strength
possess the action of the convention not
only renews my faith in them. but
strengthens my attachment to them
A Platform is Binding.
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
am In hearty accord with both the let
ter and the spirit OF the platform. in
dorse 1t In whole and in part and shall.
IL elected, regard Its declarations as bind
ing upon me. And. I may add, a plat
form Is binding to what II omits
well as to what 1t contains. According
to the Democratic idea, the people think
for themselves and select officials to car
ry out their wishes. The voters are the
sovereigns: the officials are the servants.
employed for a fixed time and at a stated
salary to do what the sovereigns want
done, and to do 1t in the way the SOW
ereigns want 1t done. Platforms are
entirely In harmony with this Democratic
idea. A platform announces the party's
position on 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 approval. II one is
nominated upon platform which is not
satisfactory to him. he must. II candid.
either decline the nomination. or. in ac
cepting 1t. propose an amended platform
in lieu of the one adopted by the
vention. No such situation, however,
confronts your candidate. for the plat
form upon which l was nominated not
only contains nothing from which dis
sent, but 1t specifically outlines all the
remedial legislation which we can hope
to secure during the next four years.
AS shall. in separate speeches, discuss
the leading questions at issue. | shall at
this time confine myself to the paramount
question, and to the far-reaching pur-
pose of our party. as that purpose is set
forth in the platform.
Shall the People Rule!
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
defenseless public. while the Offenders
secure immunity from subservient Off
cals whom they raise to power by un-
scrupulous methods? This is the issue
raised by the known abuses" to which
Mr.. Taft refers.
Mr.. Taft lndorses the Indictment.
Mr.. 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 spurred by financial sue
cess and in their hurry for greater
wealth. became unmndful of the com
mon rules of business honesty and fide-
| ity, and of the limitations imposed by
law upon their actions, and that. the
| revelations of the breaches OF trusts the
disclosures as to rebates and discrimina-
tions by railroads, the accommodating evil
| dence of the violations of the antitrust
laws, by number of corporations. and
| the over-isSue Of stocks and bonds OF in
terstate railroads for the unlawful en-
riching of directors and for the purpose
of concentrating the control of the rail-
| roads under one management, all these,
| he charges. ''quckened the conscience
| of the people and brought on moral
| awakening"
Why No Tariff Reform?
The presidents close friends have been
promising for several years that he would
attack the iniquities of the tariff. We
| restive under the demands of the highly
protected Industries. And yet the infu-
ence of the manufacturers. who have for
70 years contributed to the Republican
| campaign fund, and who in return have
| framed the tariff schedules, has been
| sufficient to prevent tariff reform As the
| present campaign approached. both the
president and Mr.. Taft declared in favor
! of tariff revision. but set the date of
revision after the election. But the pres
sure brought TO bear by the protected
| Interests has been great enough to pre-
vent any attempt at tariff reform before
! the election and the reduction prom
ised after the election Is SO hedsed about
with qualifying phrases. that no one can
estimate with accuracy the sum total of
/