The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-08-02
The Platform.

| The Platform.
We publish in full to-day the platform
adopted by the so-called Democratic Con-
vention last week. We want every man
| into whose hand this document shall fall,
to read it and read it carefully. And
whilst reading, it will be well for him to
recall the past history of the party which
promulgates it. 1t is nothing more nor
less than an abject surrender of every
principle, every measure. every policy that
has heretofore emanated from the same
source. 1t advertises to the world that
| the claims previously made in the name of
the Virginia Democracy, were bare-faced
frauds that the men who made them
were insincere, and that each charge
preferred against them by their opponents
is true. From beginning to end the plat
form is a reputation of everything that
has hitherto been recognized as Demo-
cratic and an acceptance of all against
which that party has warred.
| Two years ago they denounced the Rid
dleberger bill as the sum of all vii
lianies. To-day they accept it in all it's
length and breadth. What had given the
party standing among the people abroad
was it's fraudulent title of debt-payer. Now
it stands forth in all its naked duplicity.
| 1t will never be able to deceive again. 1t
has thrown away it's last mask. Hence
forth to the scOrn of the people of Vir-
ginia must be added the contempt of it's
former friends abroad 1t has demon
strated conclusively that it's only object is
| office and that to attain that object it is
willing to give the lie to it's past profess
sions.
Whenever the platform departs from
pusillanimousness it becomes ridiculous.
All OF the stuff about the internal revenue
tax being "a special burden on the State
as well as the section which precedes it,
is the veriest nonsense, and has been so
often exposed that we need not further re-
fer to it. The tariff plank, stolen bodily
from the Ohio platform, is simply inserted
for the purpose of deception. 1t means
anything or nothing, and is endorsed alike
by Henry Watterson, the champion of
free tradeism, and by avowed and recog-
nized protectionists. The protective pol
icy is either right or wrong, and this trans
parent attempt to dodge will but elicit the
just condemnation of an intelligent public.
The convention would have exhibited far
more wisdom had it made no mention
whatever of the tariff. When such ex-
tremists as Judge Staples and Mr.. Bar
bour on the one hand, and Mr.. Tucker on
the other, undertake to meet on common
ground, the result is not compromise, but
an unblushing attempt to deceive. There
is nothing common between such men
upon subject on which they differ as
widely as the poles. When you talk of a |
tariff for revenue only. for that is what is |
meant by being Limited to the necessities
OF government, f" and in the same breath |
demand that it shall encourage produc-
ton at home and afford just compensation
to labor, - you are asking the admixture of |
elements that absolutely neutralize each
other. just compensation to labor cannot |
be afforded when the products of that la
Dor are placed in competition with the
products OF pauperism. and unless it is de-
signed to degrade the workmen of Amer
lea to the level Of his European brother,
then something more is needed than a
tariff Limited to the necessities of gov
eminent. Mark the predict ion. Nh. Tuck
ell as well as his protection colleagues in
the convention viii, each claim in the COM
ing campaign that this plank of the plat
form expresses his sentiments exactly. 1t
will be used Unfortunately as an en-
dorsement of the most pronounced free
tradeism and the epitome of the protec.
tive policy. 1t will serve either purpose.
The establishment of the public schools
in Virginia was condition precedent to
a reinstatement of the State in the nation
al sisterhood. The system owes nothing
to the Democratic party save its undying
hostility. 1t was robbed and plundered
and paralyzed; the doors of the school
houses were closed and the children turned |
adrift in ignorance, whilst the money ded-
cated to it's maintenance was squandered |
by those who are now claiming to be it's {
friends and only supporters. Every enc
ny, .either open or secret. that it has, will {
)e found in the ranks of the Democratic I