Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1908-08-21
MR.. BRYAN RESPONDS
TO NOTIFICATION SPEECH

Lincoln, Neb.. special: In accepting
the democratic nomination for president
today, William Jennings Bryan made
a comparatively brief address. He
criticised the position of his republican
opponent, Judge Taft, on the leading
questions at issue and assailed the rec
ord Of the republican party In national
"A fairs. Utterances upon the tariff, the
currency and other important matters
We're left for more detailed discussion In
later speeches. Mr.. Bryan said in part:
Mr.. Clayton and Gentleman Of the Noti-
f~ication Committee: ! cannot accept the
nomination which you officially tender,
without first acknowledging my deep In
deDtcGness to the democratic party for
the extraordinary honor which Il has con-
ferred upon me. Having twice before been
a candidate Tor the presidency, in cam
paigns 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 substantial
and u~ndisputed growth in the principles
and policies for which ], with a multitude
of others nave c~ontended. AS these prin-
Ciples and policies have given me what
ever political strength / possess, the ac-
tion Of the convention not only renews my
faith in them, but strengthens my attach
gnent 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
Will lftC DlatIOAlh III al 4 4 L Il
'cient, at this time, to assure you that /
am in hearty accord with both the letter
and the spirit of the platform. | indorse it
in whole and in part, and shall, If elected,
regard It's declarations as binding upon
me. And ! may add, a platform is bind
ing as to what ii omits as we'll as TO
what IL contains. According TO the demo-
cratic idea, the people think for them
selves and select officials TO carry out
their wishes. The voters are the sover-
Teigns. the officials are the servants. en-
ploycd FOR Il fixed time and at d stated
salary to do what the sovereigns want
done, and to do il in the way the sover-
eigns want it done. Platforms are en-
tirely in harmony with this democratic
Idea. A platform announces the party's
position on the questions which are at is
sue; and an official is not ar liberty to
Use the authority vested in him to urge
personal views which have not been sub
miJtcd to the voters for their approval. II
one ~ nominated upon a platform which
Is not satisfactory to him, he must, II
candid. either decline the nomination, or,
In accepting IL, propose an amended plat
form IN lieu If the one adopted by the con-
veDticn. No such situation, however, con-
fronts your candidate. for the platform
upon which / was nominated not only con-
teins nothing from which dissent, 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-
-cefvcd 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 continu-
anGe OF liberty and true prosperity, and
that we arc determined. as our platform
uncquivocally declares, to maintain them
sand carry them IN"
In the name of the democratic rartv. I
accept The challenge, and charge that the
republican party is Responsible for all the
= hnCrG which TnN RNlCt in fha fOdpral nv
eminent, and that Ii is impotent TO ac-
>conlpl.sh the reforms which are !mpera-
lively needed. Further, [ cannot concur
In the statement that the republican plat
TORN unequivocally declares for the re-
forms that are necessary; on the contrary,
] affirm that 1t openly and notoriously dis
appoints the hopes and expectations OF re-
formers. whether those reforners be re-
'pubIlcans or democrats. SO far did the re-
publican convention fall short of Its duty
that the republican, candidate felt 1t nee
essary to add 70 his platform in several
important particulars, thus rebuking the
leaders OF the party. upon whose cooper
alton he must rely for the enactment of
remedial legislation.
AS ] shall, In seperate speeches, discuss
the leading questions at issue. i shall at
this time confine myself TO the paramount
question, and 10 the far-reaching purpose
of our party, as that purpose is SCI. forth
in the platform.
Shall the People Rule?
our platform declares that the over
ss~hadowing issue which rlar:fests itself In
all tho questions row under discussion. is
Shall the people ru,c?" No. matter which
way we turn; no matter TO what subject
we address ourselves. tho same question
confronts us. Shall the people control
their own government, and use that gov
eminent for the protection OF their rights
and for the promotion OF their welfare?
or shall the representatives OF predatory
wealth prey upon a defenseless public.
whilo the Offenders secure immunity from
subservient officials whom they raise to
power by Inscriptions methods? This Is
the issue raised by the known abuses
to which Mr.. Taft r'fers.
The Presidents Indictment.
I'm d message s,i1 to ongress last jan
wary, President Roosevelt sail: 1.-THE at
tacks BY these great corporations on the
ADMINISTRATORS actions have been given
a wide circulation throughout the coun-
try, In the newspapers and otherwise, by
those writers and speakers who. con-
~sriors,y or. unconsciously. act e. the rep