Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-09-30
Address Of the National Democratic Commit
tee,

National Democratic party of the United
States has pledged itself to purify the ad-
ministrati on of public affairs from corrup-
ton, to manage the government with econ
omy, to enforce the execution of the laws,
and to reduce taxation to the lowest limit
consistent with just protection to American
labor and capital and with the preservation
of the faith which the nation has pledged
to its creditors and pensioners. The open
record of the man whom it has named as its
candidate for the presidency has been &C
cepted by thousands of independent Repub-
licans in every State as an absolute guarantee
that if he is elected all these pledges will be
exactly fulfilled, and that under his Admins
tration good government will be assured.
To secure these results all good citizens
must unite in defeating the Republican can
didate for President. His history and poll
tical methods make it certain that his ad-
ministration would be stained by gross
abuses, by official misconduct and wanton
expenditure of the public money, and would
be marked by an increase of taxation which
would blight the honest industry of our
people.
Against us and against those honorable
Republicans, who, for the sake of good
government, have made common cause with
us, notable combinations have been made.
These are chiefly made up of four classes:
First, an army of officeholders, who, by
choice or compulsion, are now giving to Re-
publican committees as part of the cam
paign fund of that party moneys paid to
such officers out of the public treasury for
services due to the United States. Second,
organized bodies of men who, having secur-
ed by corrupt means the imposition of duties
which are in excess of all sums needed for
4, To 81 bo ho
protection of American labor and capital,
and having thus gained enormous wealth,
are willing to pay largely to the Republican
campaign fund for the promise of the con-
tinuance and increase of such duties, which
constitute system of bounties to monop-
olies under the false pretence of protection
to American industry. Third, host of un-
crupulous contractors and jobbers who have
grown rich upon public plumber and are
ready to pay tithes of what they have &C
uuired in order to avoid all risk of being
called upon to account for the evil methods
by which their wealth has been gained
Fourth, corporations which, having despol-
ed the public lands by the aid of corrupt
agencies in the Republican party, believe
they will be compelled to give up their ill
gotten gains if that party is driven from
power, and are therefore willing to keep it in
d
riohteons profits.
This committee has not troops of Office
holders at it's command. It will not agree
to sell the future legislation of Congress for
money paid now into its party treasury. 1t
will not promise immunity to thieves.
It will not contract to uphold any corrupt
bargain heretofore made by the Republican
party with any corporation for all the wealth
which such corporation can offer. It apDeals
to the people against one and all of these
opponents thus corruptIy banded together
against the friends of good government
The number of these opponents is small,
but their wealth is great and it will be I'M
scrupulously used.
An active and vigorous campaign must be
made against them. Their paid advocates
must be met and defeated in debate upon
the platform and in discussion in the news
papers. The Organization of all who are
opposed to them must be perfected in every
State. CITY and county in the land.
Money is needed to do this honest work.
Your committee, refusing to adopt the