The Grenada sentinel., 1908-08-15

Acquired If Elected, Promises
Justice to All.
Lincoln, Neb-William Jennings
Bryan was formally notified of his
nomination by the Democratic party
TOT the presidency of the United
States. Henry D. 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
tffication Committee: I can not accept
the nomination which you officially ten
DER without first acknowledging my
deep Indebtedness to the Democratic
party for the extraordinary honor which
1t has conferred upon me. Having twice
before been a candidate for the presiden-
cy. 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 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 I
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 a
more formal reply to your notification.
and, IN that letter of acceptance, will
deal with the platform in detail It Is
sufficient, at this time. to assure you that
I 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,
if elected. regard its declarations as bind
ing upon me. And, l may add a plat
form is binding as to what II omits as
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 stated
salary to do what the sovereigns want
done. and to do 1t in the way the SOW
ereigns want il 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. If one is
nominated upon platform which is not
satisfactory to him, he must il candid,
either decline the nomination, or, in ac-
cepting it, propose an amended platform
IN lieu of the one adopted by the con-
vention. No such situation, however
confronts your candidate for the plat
form upon which / was nominated not
only contains nothing from which I dis
sent, but it specifically outlines all the
remedial legislation which we can hope
to secure during the next four years.
Republican Challenge Accepted.
The distinguished statesman who re-
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 contin- |
uance of liberty and true prosperity, and |
that we are determined. as our plat |
form unequivocally declares. to maintain |
them and carry them on
In the name of the Democratic party. |
I 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 impo-
tent to accomplish the reforms which |
are imperatively needed Further | can
not concur in the statement that the Re-
publican platform unequivocally declares
for the reforms that are necessary: on
the contrary. l affirm that it openly and
VIGOROUSLY disapponts the hopes and ex-
pectatonS of reformers, whether those
democrats.
So far did the Republican. convention
fall short of its duty that the Republi-
can candidate felt it necessary to add to
his platform in several important par
ticulars, thus rebukng the leaders of the
party, upon whose cooperation he must
rely for the enactment OF remedial legis-
lation.
AS I 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 Ruler
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 oonfronts 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 q
defenseless public while the offenders
secure immunity from subservient off,
cials whom they raise to power by un-
scrupulous methods? This is the issue
raised by the known abuses" to which
Mr. Taft refers.
rhe Presidents Indictment Against
the Party.
Tn a message sent to congress last jan
,ary. President Roosevelt said: THE at
acks by these great corporations on the
actions have been given
wide circulation throughout the coun-
rv. in the newspapers and otherwise, by
hose writer's and speakers who. con-
ciously or unconsciously. act as the rep
of predatory wealth-of the
veaIth accumulated on a giant scale by