Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1884-04-22
State Democratic Convention

0G GlIS AIGSVAAAS WV
vention, in Charleston, last Wednes=
day, the convention was called to.
order by d. n. Leonard, Chairman
of the State Executive Committee,
Judge r. S. Brown, of Jackson coun-
ty, was made temporary chairman
and j. B. Peyton secretary.
A resolution to appoint a New
State Executive Committee was de-
fcatcd and the old committee retained
until the next convention-for nomi-
mating State officials. Ex-Unitcd
States Senator Frank Hereford, of
Monroe county, was made permanent
chairman and w. B. Colston, editor
of the Nartinsburg Statesman, per-
manent secretary. The convention
adopted the following resolutions:
Resolved, That Samuel j. Tildeu
is our first choice for the Democratic
nomination for President.
The following delegates at large
were chosen to the Chicago Conven-
ton: Lewis Baker, Joseph Vanmeter,
B. F. Harlow, and D. II. Leonard.
District Delcgatcs-W. Il. Lively,
of Wetzel county, Ed. Mcdonald, of
Lewis county, First District. Ex-U.
S. Senator II. G.. Davis, of Mineral
county, O.. E. Wells of Marion county.
Second District. Ex-U. S. Senator
Frank Hereford, of Monroe county,
Wesley Mollohan, of Kanawha county,
Third District. G. L. Beall, of Ma
SOL county, Geo. Thompson, of Wood
county, Fourth District.
No altcrnates were chosen, and in
structions were given that the vote be
cast for S. j. Tilden for president.
The following set of resolutions
we're adopted:
We, the representatives of The De-
mocracy of West Virginia, in conven-
ton assembled, do hereby declare
continued and unfaltering dcvo-
ton to the principles. of free govern
ment, transmitted to US by Jefferson
and his co-laborers in the formation
of the Constitution, as we shall hand
them down to III children and our
children's children forever.
Cherishing these principles and
pledging u unalterable determine
ton by word and work to maintain
them, we declare that the Republican
party has departed in prcccpt and
practice from every standard of con-
stitutional government and resolved
our National Administration into q
vast political machine, destroying the
liberties and s%ubyerting the rights of
the people
It made political merchandise of
the public appointments, dcmoraliz-
ing whole States by the prostitution
of its patronage to barter and
trade" and corrupted the ballot by
the purchasing power of public place.
It has maintained at the head of
this bureau a plant adhered to fatten
as he fcstered on the abuse of process,
prosecution and power.
1t b~urgIarized the White House by
the Inauguration of a trcspasser
there, stole the Presidency and cheat
ed fifty millions of people of their
liberty and their franchise by an or
ganized band of scoundrels, with its
Bradys and its Dorscys, packed and
perjured for the task.
1t admonished the country by the
Star Route scandals, of its impotence
to punish crime and its close alliance
with the criminals and plumbers of
peoples treasure.
1t demonetized silver, in the inter-
est of the Gold Kings, until it was
restored over a Republican veto.
It maceratcd the gceenback dollar,
at the pleasure of Wall street, until a
Democratic House put a stop to the
engine of destruction and saved the
peoples currency.
1t exploits, in hypocricy, an +" hon
est ballot and a fair count" while
our people remember that it denied
to our citizens the right to sit on jul
ries or to in the courts, to women
right to teach in the schools and to
thousands of our men the right to vote.
1t has attempted by its party organs
the destruction of our State Univers-
ity and offered the school of our
young men a living sacrifice on the
altar of party strife.
It has squandercd millions on old
hulks that its favoritcs might thrive
while our Navy is abandoned to con-
tempt and our flag is afoat on bot
toms unfit for the sea.
1t has wasted the public domain
the peoples inheritancc-to enrich
corporations and foster monopolies.
1t has manufactured millionaires
out of the sweat of the. American
Workingman and subsidized their full
Golfers by the labor of his hands.
1t has denied the application of
Republican methods to Republican
government and foisted upon our
people a Capitalization of power which
daily and hourly draws harder the
lines between the masses and monop-
olists and threatens n European sys-
TEN of nobility and serfdom on our
soil.
In pleasing contrast with this rec
ord of wrong we point with pride to