Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1881-08-13
vaRGINIA's DEMOCRACY.

The platform promulgated by the
true democracy of Virginia, which
met in convention at Richmond
last week, challenges the respect
and admiration Of all honest men
of whatever party, and will especi-
ally elicit the hearty approval of
the sympathetic and appIauding
democrats Of Tennessee. who, like
the dear old ''Mother OF states, .
have been struggling long and
bravely against the attempted dis
honor of their proud common
wealth, in the reputation of her
just and legal debts, bya band of
designing demagogues and repudi-
ators. Read the honorable, elo-
quent sentiments of the platform
upon which Virginia's patriotic
sons propose to stand, and reflect
how nobIer far il would even be to
fall in such cause than to gain a
temporary relief, coupled with dis
honor and loss of principle, by a
coalition with the Mahones OF
Tennessee-men who would trail
her colors in the dust, who would
barter Der sacred name for personal
preferment, and sell her birthright
for the spoils of few paltry offices.
There is no true good citizen of
Tennessee who will not subscribe 10
the Virginia democrats platform
when they say:
Ist-Pledged TO the strict maintenance OF
public faith, whether in the State or in the
Union, the Conservative Democratic party
records again, as il has always proclaimed,
/ its recognition of the debt of Virginia, rs
/ forth in its public records and nscertatned
and published under the requirements OF
constitution with the successive acts OF It's
| LEGISLATURE, and denounces the reputation
4 of any part of it under whatever pretense.
/ 1t promises 10 continue the efforts II has fof
years been making with marked success
4 unity this debt and by amicable arrange
| ment with our creditors TO reduce the IN
terest thereon to rate Justified by the con-
1 dition of Virginia and conformable to the
/ general decline of interest on public secu-
/ rifles, and we congratulate our countrymen
on the proof furnished by the late assess
| ment that no increase of the rate of taxa
| ton will be necessary, and in recognition
| of this fact the Conservative Democratic
party therefore pledges It's purpose TO make
/ no increase in the same.
| 2d-The alleged support of Reputation in
Virginia by Republican Administration
| and its open Endorsement by leading pol1t1
clans of the Republican party, emphasize
our duty in this behalf. We must nght the
battle of public faith albeit clone. AS tht
founder and unfailing friend OF the pubic
schools the Conservative Democratic party
| pledges its continued efforts to ma1nta
and defend them. 1t accordingly upholdi
/ the constitutional provision dedicat1ng th'
! capitation tax to their support and con-
straining its payment by making II a pfe-le
Quisite of suffrage, believing that he who re
fuses to contribute one dollar year to thu
education of the children of the State, Whit
and colored, does not exhibit that common
interest, worth and attachment TO the com
munity, on which the right OF suHrag
should depend, and inasmuch as the enfran
| chisement of the colored people by constitu
tional amendment has vastly increased Tn
| need and therefore the burdens of popula
education throughout the South. we hoi'
that the General Government at least II
those states should make generous contrib
lands to enlighten those burdens that Tn
advantage of public education may be OF
, fered to every child,
where in demanding that education shall b
| free and honest, and we point with pride U
the fact that during the ascendancy OF GU
marty in Virginia even partisan hate, whicl
SHARED no commonwealth in the South, con
| coded the fairness of Virginia elections, !
being reserved for recreant sons in further
ance of selfish ends to asperse the lam
which our foes had spared, and we call tn
country to witness that suffrage in N1rglnl
is in n5 peril to-day save from efforts I
manipulate votes in the interest OF repudla
ton and for the personal advancement
pretended champions of a tree ballot Dy Tn
Shameful use of Federal patronage.
4th-We denounee as "A mOnStrous Qot
trine hitherto unheard OF in Virginia tina
the judiciary should be a prey OF pontlct
2 factions, and that the supreme benc
| should be packed to secure particular dt
! / cisions a theory appropriately inaugurate
in the interests of Reputation.
5th-We point with pride TO the Stead
| ! reduction in public expenditure promise
| in the platform of 1877, and faithfully pros
ecut ed until arrested by the coalition no.
| seeking to dishonor the state; on the IL
| creased growth and security OF the scnot
| fund on the dimunutiOn OF the rate OF IL
tereSt on the public debt on the econonh
l | in administration; on the lmprOVeInSi
and oheapening of criminal law, all the d
Z rect results of Conservative Democratic 1ei
=. islation, and we promise trrevocable adh'
sion to that policy.
Oth-We congratulate the people that de
pite the long suppression of the fact II
[ now known that the property OF the Sta
has increased by millions since the last pr
i ceeding assessment and that an era OF goG
/ fortune is dawntng on the coInmon'Ms T Sashi
- Every 0f5s-e Of PIetctlSt1l - ~ =
l. / Should be put forth to smooth the way Il
capital and immigration, that the marve
K lous and hidden resources OF virginia ma
be profitabiy developed, her commerce e.
tended, her industries encouraged, ana "
invoke our fellow citizens not to dlSnOn'
the threshold of our awakening prosperl'
n with the baleful figure OF reputation.