The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-08-14
BRYAN NOTIFIED
OF NOMINATIO
MIR. BRYAN,s SPEECH.


his nomination as the Democratir
CANDIDATE for the presidency, Will
liam jennings Bryan spoke as fol-
lows:
Mr.. Clayton and the Gentlemen OF
the Notification Committee:
l cannot accept the nomination
which. you officially tender, without
frst acknowledging my deep indebt-
edness to the Democratic party for
the extraordinary honor which it has
conferred upon me. Having twice
before been candidate for the pres
idency, in campaigns which endNl
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 substantial and
undisputed growth in the principles
aud policies for which 1, with null
titude of others, have contended. AS
these principles. and policies have
given me whatever political strength
I possess, the action Of the conyen-
ton not only renews my faith in
them, but strengthens my attach
ment to them.
A Platform is Binding.
shall, in the near future, pre-
pare more formal reply to your
notification, and, in that letter of
acceptance, will deal with the plat
form in detail. 1t is sufficient, at
this time, to assure you that I am
in hearty accord with the letter
and the spirit of the platform. 1
endorse it in whole and in part, and
shall, if elected, regard its declara-
tions as binding upon me. And, I
may add, a platform Is binding as to
what it omits as well as to what it
contains. According to the Demo
cratic idea, the people think for
themselves and select officials to car
ry out their wishes. The voters are
the soveregns; the officials are
the servants, employed for a fixed
time and at stated salary to 90
what the sovereigns want 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
approval. II one is nominated upon
a platform which is not satisfactory
to him he must, if candid, either de-
cline the nomination, or, in accept
ing it, propose an amended platform
which 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 moth
ing from which I dissent, but it spe-
cifically outlines all the remedial leg
islation which we can hope to secure
during the next four years.
Republican Challenge Accepted.
The distinguished statesman who
received the Republican nomina-
ton for president said, in his Motif
cation speech: "The strength of the
Republican cause in the campaign at
hand is the fact that we represent
the policies essential to the reform
~ ol> m tho nnnfinnnnpa
|of liberty and true prosperity, and
that we are determined, as our plat
form unequivocaliy 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 important to accomplish
the reforms which are Imperative
l. ly needed. Further, cannot con-
cur in the statement that the Repub-
lican platform unequivocally de-
clares for the reforms that are ne
cessary; on the contrary, / affirm
that it openly and notoriously dis
appoints the hopes and expectations
of reformers, whether those reform
ers be Republicans or Democrats. So
far did the Republican convention
fall short of it's duty that the Re-
publican candidate felt it necessary
to add to his platform in several i'm
portant particulars, thus rebuking
the leaders of the party upon whose
cooperation he must rely for the
enactment of remedial legislation.
AS shall, in seperate speeches,
discuss the leading questions at
issue, shall a this time confine
myself to the paramount question,
and to the far-reaching purposes of
our party, as that purpose is set
forth in the platform.
Shall the People Rule?
Our platform declares that the
|overshadowing 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: SHAH the people con.
troll their own government, and use
that government for the protection
of their rights and for the promo
ton of their welfare? or shall the
| lronracentatives of predatory wealth