The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1884-04-26
tee on Resolutions, reported the fol-
lA-,,r.
THE PLATFORM.

lowing:
THE PLATFORM.
We, the representatives Of the De-
mocracy of West Virginia, in conyen-
ton assembled, do hereby declare
our continued and unfaltering devo
ton to the principles Of free govern
ment transmitted to us by the trainers
of the Constitution as we shall hand
them down to our children aud our
children's children forever.
Cherishing these principles and
pledging cur nnaltered determination
by word and work to maintain them,
we declare that the Republican party
has departed in precept and practice
from every standard of constitutional
government and resolved our Nation
al Administration into vast politi-
cal machine, destroying the liberties
and subverting the rights of the peo-
pie.
!, 1t made political Merchandise of
the public appointments, demoraliz-
ing whole States by the prostitution
ofits patronage to "barter and trade"
and corrupted the ballot by the pur
chasing power of public place.
2, 1t burglarized the White House
by the Inauguration of trespasser
there, stole the Presidency and cheat
ed fifty millions of people of their
liberty and their franchise by an Or
ganizcd band of men, with its Bradys
and its Dorseys, packed and peuured
for the task.
3, 1t admonished the Country by
the Star Route scandals, of its impo-
tence to punish crime and its close
alliance with the criminals aud plum
derers Of the peoples treasury.
A, 1t demonetize | silver, in the in
terest Of the Gold Kings, until it was
restored by Democrats over Repub-
lican veto.
5, 1t mascerated the greenback
dollar, at the pleasure of Wall street,
until Democratic House put stop
to the engine of destruction and saved
the peoples currency.
6, 1t exploits, in hypocricy, an
"honest ballot and a fair count while
our people remember that it denied
to our citizens the right to sit on ju-
ries or to sue in the courts, to women
the right to teach in the schools and
to thousands Of our men the right TO
vote.
7, 1t has attempted by its party
organs the destruction Of our State
University and offered the school of
our young men a willing sacrifice on
the alter Of party strife.
8, 1t has squandered millions on
old hulks that its favorites might
thrive; driven our commerce from the
ocean; while our Navy is abandoned
to contempt; and our flag is afoat on
bottoms unfit for the sea.
8, 1t has wasted the public domain
the peoples nheritance-to enrich
corporations and foster monopolies.
10, It has manufactured million
aires out of the sweat of the Ameri-
can workingman and subsidized their
full Golfers by the labor of his hands.
II. 1t has denied the application
of Republican methods to Republican
government and foisted upon our
people a GENERALIZATION of power which
daily and hourly draws harder the
line between the masses and the mo-
nopolists and threatens a European
system of nobility and serfdom on
onr soil
II, In pleasing contrast with this
record of wrong we point with pride
to the growth of our young State, the
opening of her mines, the develop
ment of her industries, the prosperity
of her people and the promise of her
future, under Democratic rule.
ID, TO the end that these condi-
tions shall continue we are firmly
resolved:
"That we favor tariff for revenue,
limited to the necessities of the gov
eminent economically administered
and so adjusted in its application as
to prevent unequal burdens, encour-
age productive industries at home,
and afford just compensation to labor,
but not to create or foster monopo-
lies"
IA, That our convicts shall be so
employed rs to prevent their compe-
tition with honest labor.
Is, That every citizens of our State
shall bear his just proportion Of the
burdens of government and no more;
and this under appropriate legisla-
ton. TO this end, if the courts shall
hold the tax exemption act Of 1881
to be unconstitutional we favor the
submission ola constitutional amend
ment to the people to enable them in
their sovereign capacity to decide
what property shall be exempted
from taxation. In the meantime as
there are honest differences opinion
growing out of the tax clause of the
constitution and the legislation per-
tanning thereto such differences
should be deferred for such final de-
cision by the courts and the people
and appropriate Legislation thereon.
16, That the education ofthe mas
ses is productive of good government
and general prosperity, we therefore
heartily favor the maintenance Of
our free school system and its eleva-
ton to the highest attainable stand