The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1882-08-26
state Politics.

y
and has been for several months
| past, furnishing its readers with the
usual biennial installment of cam
paign liturature. The Democratic
party is again arraigned at the bar Of
public opinion to be subjected to the
same catechism and charged with the
same offences with which the people
have been highly edited for 10! these
many years. but with the absurdity
and Stiffness Of which they have long
been fully impressed. In order TO
keep up the appearances Of a party
organization the Radicals think some
thing must be said, and to accomplish
that purpose it matters very little
whether that. something be partly
true or absolutely false. Charges
must be brought against the Democ-
racy, though without the slightest
foundation, and if not denied the pub
lie will imagine them true, and in
this way the Radicals expect to get
in their work. We have already seen
enough of their tactics to be able to
see through their schemes and in
trigues. They are as thin and puerie
as the fimsiest gossamer, though
they are woven like the web of the
spider, in secrecy and deceit.
1t is our purpose in this article to
prove to the satisfaction of all persons
not wholly blinded by prejudice, that
the hue and cry raised by the Repub-
licans against the administration of
the finances upon the part Of the
Democratic party in this State is as
false as it is contemplate, in view of
the robbery and corruption which
characterized that would-be immac-
ulate party during it's brief stay in
power. The Democracy ofWest Vir-
ginia need no vindication at our
hands--"By their fruit shall We know
them, and where their labors are
rightfully and honestly known and
understood, they can and do stand
where the searching light of truth
glares them and their deeds full in
the face without tremer Of fear
Ii is said that taxation is too high.
Thisassertion may be true, but does
it not SAVIOR somewhat of presumption
to urge this as an argument for a
change of administration when the
State tax from 1863 to 1870, inclu-
sive, during Radical rule, averaged
30 cents on the hundred dollars for
each year? From 1861, when the
Democracy took the reins of govern
ment, to 1874, the State tax remained
at 80 cents, just what it was the last
year of Republican control, but from
1874 down to the present time it has
been only 30 cents Oh the hunred dol
lars valuation on all real and personal
property for all purposes. SO much
for that nonsensical howl.
1t is also said that the Democratic
party has used the public funds UNI
necessarily and extravagantly in ''in-
creasing officers salaries and govern
mental expenditures" Let us turn
to the official records of the State
and see by comparison how lavish the
Democracy have been as compared
with the economical Republicans:
The aggregate of expenditures for
State purposes for the years 1869 to
1870, inclusive, is 81, S01, 05233. Av-
erage for four years is $3.50, 263.0S4
This was under Republican manage
ment. The aggregate expenditures
for State purposes for the years 1871
to 1880, inclusive, is $4,26S, 761.74
Average for ten years is 1926, S76.17a.
This was under Democratic manage
ment. 1t needs no very remarkable
mathematical mind to readily see that
this Republican party, notwithstand-
ing its boosted economy, expended
$23,3S6.91 more per year for general
State purposes than the Democrats
have spent. Beautiful example Of
retrenchment to persuade an out
ragged people to again place such
miscreants in charge of the State
treasury!
But Notwithstanding the fact that
the Democracy have expended nearly
$4,000 less each year for State pur-
poses than the Radicals did while in
power, they have virtually rebuilt and
greatly enlarged the penitentiary;
constructed more than one half of the
asylum for insane at Weston, making
it one of the handsomest, as it GER
tainly is one Of the most comfortable
and commodious, buildings in the
country; spent $4,000 or more on
improving and practically rebuilding
the Deaf, Dumb and Blind Asylum
at Romney, while the old University
building at Morgantown has been
wholly rebuilt, and several new build
ings erected. And with all the lib
eral endowments made by the Demo
cratic party. to these and other insti-
buttons there has been no increase of
taxtion.
1t is charged that the estate school
fund has been perverted from the
uses designed by law, &C." Let us
again have recourse to the official
records and see what is written
therein:
The aggregate expenditures for gen
eral school purposes for the four years
from 1867 to 1870, inclusive, is $685.
63736. Average for the four years
of Republican rule, $163, 1894. Ag-
gregate expenditures for general
school purposes for the ten years
from 1871 to 1880, inclusive, is 49,.
0eo 0tO 20 Arorooro for ~, ,,oo,. -,