Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1876-08-26
REPUBLICAN PLATFORM.

AL Tue IeiueSt VI d uuuioSh VI ON''
Republican subscribers and patrons, we
publish the following platform adopted
by the Republican Convention, held at
Parkersburg, a short time slnee:-
The Republicans of West Virginia
in convention assembled, do adopt the
following
PLATFORM OF PRINCIPLES
and ask for it, the candid and careful
consideration of the people Of the State.
We arraign the Democracy OF this
/ State on the following charges:
Nearly six years ago that party came
into power, under the most solemn
pledges to ecoromize and reform. 1t
has not redeemed single promise then
made, but, on the contrary, has increas-
ed the taxes, multiplied the number OF
paid officials, raised salaries and wasted
the substance Of the people
1t imposed upon the people Con
stitution unwise in its provisions and
inirnical to our best interests, and
which has already cost US half million
of dollars, which, by its incopgruities
and vagueness Of language, has been a
constant source of conflict between the
Legislative, executive aud judicial de-
partments of government, thereby ne
cessitating the expenditure OF large
sums Of money as fees TO lawyers, to
ascertain the separate powers OF each:
1t has given us mass OF legislative
iargon, unintcligable to judges, lawyers
and litigants, and endless litigation as
| the result.
1t has changed the road law so as to
make it oppressive, in consequence OF
its unjust determinations, and in the ap-
plication of its provisions to betog
| LAWYERS and road surveyors alike.
In the re-establishment OF the anti
ouated county court, it has rendered
our judiciary system costly. cumbersome
and oppressive 1t has extorted large
sums of money from the people and
spent the same in the construction OF a
penitentiary unnecessarily large, that it
might fill it with importations Of con-
victs found guilty by the federal courts
in other States whose compulsory and
cheap labor should be brought into com
petition with the honest toll of our
mechanics and labors, thus reducing the
already diminished wages Of the class
of our citizens, and swelling the profits
of contractors and jobbers.
1t has so tampered with the school
law to make it contradictory, complica-
ted and confused, aud has converted
the schools themselves into mere shut
,le-cock for contending local factions,
and has enabled shylocks to speculate
on wages of teachers by the unwarrant-
ed Withholding of their payment.
1t has given us a homestead eXemp-
ton law, which, in its enforcement, pei
mits the landlord to strip an unfortunate
tenant of the last piece Of household
furniture and even rob him Of the scan
ty clothing which covers his famishlng
children.
1t has covered up the frauds ond pee
ulations Of public officials; has defended
their Preparations; rewarded them with
tokens of favor, and sheltered them
from the Legitimate consequences Of
their crimes.
1t has, by discriminating legislation
and heavy taxes, driven many OF our
best citizens to seek homes in the far
west.
1t has DESTROYED local self govern
ment, concentrated power in the hands
of cliques at the court houses, and has
so arranged for the collection and dis
bursement of county moneys as to
greatly inconvenience the holders of
claims, and to foster at the county seats
a class of money changers, shavcrs and
sharpers
1t has with waste(ul extravaganza ap-
propriated money for bogus railroads,
boom companies, and the like, with un
usual privileges, tor the exclusive bene
fit of bankrupt corporations.
We therefore demand such amend
ments to the Constitution as will relieve
it from odium, incongruities, and alb
surdities.
The occasion which once existed for
test oaths having passed away, we de
clare ourselves opposed to their restora-
ton, Notwithstanding the charges Of
our opponents to the contrary.
The general depression of values and
industries being such as to make the
present rate of State taxation burden
some, we pledge ourselves to rcduc-
ton of the amount of taxation for gen
eral State purposes.
We demand the abolition Of the coun
ty court; The restoration Of townships
and local self government; the exclusion
Of everything of sectarian or partisan
character from our schools.
We demand the selection, TO places
of public positions, of men who are ca
pable, honest, and sober, and the
prompt and vigorous punishment of all
public men guilty of trand, peculation,
or official misconduct.
We demand the enactment Of just
homestead law.
We endorse the principles of the
platform of the National Republican
Convention, and we pledge to its nom
inees our cordial and undivided support,
recognizing in the selection of Hayes
and Wheeler all endorsement of the rec
ord of patriotism, integrity and true
worth, which has been written on every
page Of their history. In their nomina-
ton as candidates for the position of
President and Vice President, we see