Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-10-08
BAY STATE DEMOCRACY.
BAl OIAIE UEMUUhAUl.
WORK OF THE STATE CONVENTION.
John Quincy Adams Nominated for Gov
ernor by AcclsmatiOn-A Plat
form of Sound Demo-
cratic Principles.

Quincy Adams was nominated by ac-
clamation for Governor.
A committee was about to be ap-
pointed to name the remainder OF the
ticket when a delegate nominated Gen.
Donohue for Secretary of State and
there were cries of "No, no! He is a
Butler man. Give it to us straight. "
The chairman said the person who
named DOnahue was not member OF the
convention and the committee was ap-
pointed to complete the ticket.
Judge Abbott reported that Adams
was out of the city, but that he would
take the flag of the Democracy and bear
it where the convention wished.
]. G.. Abbott, p. A. Collins, G. W.
Gill and Reuben Noble were elected
delegates at large to the National Con-
ventiOn.
The Platform.
The following resolutions were adopt
ed:
The Democrats of Massachusetts,, in
convention assembled, reatlirm the Ma
tiOnal Democratic platform OF 1876 as an
authoritative exposition of the princi-,
pies of their party, undergraduate their
political brethren OF the whole country
that these principles were endorsed i'll
the National Congress, by the suttrages
of a decided majority OF the American
people and Electoral College.
We denOunce upon the guilty Re-
publican party stern retrlbutiOn for the
great public crime by which the people
were defrauded of their right
to be governed by ruler
of their choice, and by which
the elective principle was wounded in
its most vital part. We affirm that the
liberty of the individual is best protected
by the Constitutional division OF the
power OF the Government between the
State and federal officials; and we favor
strict construction of that Constitu
tional grant which shall prevent en-.
crOachments by either State or federal
legislation on rights granted to the other,
or on those which are reserved to the
people, individually or collectively, 10
the end that we may remain free and
sovereign people. The whole spirit of
the declaration OF independence as well
as the letter, that all men are equally
entitled to the enjoyment OF life, liberty
and pursuit of happiness, points 10 the
right of suffrage as the only means
by which this equality OF liberty
and obedience TO constitutional law can
be enjoyed together by them, and we
denOunce the restrictions and abridge-
ment OF the right of suffrage by the Leg
islature of Massachusetts as dangerous
to liberty and subverSive OF the supre-
macy of Justice and reason in the affairs
of the State.
We demand that the exercise of the
right of suffrage should be encouraged,
and registry laws framed, that the largest
possible portion of the community NAV
be brought under the educating inilu-
ences OF participation in public affairs
and voice in the making OF the laws
by which they are to be governed, and
we believe the present registry laws
were framed more for the object of dis
citizens than for the protec-
ton OF the purity of the ballot box.
We believe that thorough reform in
the laws regulating the levy OF taxes is
necessary.
We favor measures which will tend to
thee elevation of labor and the improve
ment of the condition Of labOring men,
and we oppose all legislation which
tends to make labor dishOnorable or
gives social or political preference to any
class in society over others.
We desire to promote free thought,
free speech, free education, and free and
equal rights to every man to protection
in the enjoyment OF his own religion.
We believe in the prosperity arising
from industry and economy, and we
denounce the grant OF exclusive pri-
vileges to any body OF men, extravaganza
of State administration and laying of
burdens on one class of men for the
benefit OF another class, or from which
others are exempted.
We oppose the future borrowing of
money by states, cities and towns, so
that an end may be pat to system
which anticipates the labor Of coming
ages and apprOpriates the fruits OF 1t in
advance, which coins the industry OF
future generations into cash and SnatChes
the inheritance from unborn children.
We believe there are too many
in this State and
too little executive and legis-
lative control over them, too
many sumptuary laws, too much special
legislation, too many officials; too much
legislative effort to restrict liberty and
invent new crimes and miSdemeanOrS,
and too many obsolete laws kept on
the statute books.
And We arraign the Republican party
in all its cliques, that its legislation in
this State is adverse TO the progressive
spirit of civil hbery and tends to the
of citizens and to the Crea-
tion of an official aristOCracy with long
tenures OF office, and without response
bility to the people.
Our thanks are due to the Democrats
in Congress Tor their efforts 10 enforce
economy in public expenses, to abolish
useless offices and to correct manifold
abuses in public affairs, not the least OF
which are the exclusion of intelligent
from the jury box and levying
and maintaining an army OF official
hirelings around the polls for partisan
purposes.
We believe in the sell government of
the people and desire that the polls
shalt be free from the Interference of
federal bayonetS, directed by the in
trigUies OF the federal partisan executive.
We believe the purity Of the ballot
box can be better preserved through
State authority than by federal inter
ference.
We protest against the laws which
authorize the arrest of citizens at the
polls without Il warrant or hearing, and
the suppression of their votes by i'm
prisoning their persons until after the
election. as upturning the foundation of
free Governments; and we call on Con-
gress 10 aid the people and rescue the
freedom IF elections, uDdeterred by Re-
publican'clamors or Presidential vetoes.
The Democratic party has always de-
MED that any constitutional power eX-
listed in the Federal Government to
make anything legal tender in pay
ment of debts except gold and silver,
We affirm the obligation OF public and
private contracts, and demand that the
public money ought to be kept in the
Treasury Of the United States free from
control or use by spectators or tavorite