The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-08-20

Again invoking the popular verdict on its be-
half, we point with pride and confidence to the
record of pledges faithfully performed. and to
the guarantees of good government which 1t
offers. -DenlOcrGtic Platform.
Of all the organizations that baye risen,
fourished and disappeared within the past
century, the Democratic party should be
the last to appeal to the record, and upon
that record invoke s'the popular verdict on
its behalf.' If the invocation is not
meaningless, it is an insult to every think
ing man in the State. From the day the
Democratic party came into control Of
Virginia in 1869 to the present, its history
is one long array of broken promises.
shameless frauds, ill-concealed receptions,
and expressions of the masses either
through ignorance or design. We search
in vain for any act of legislation that en-
anated from that party, and became law
by it's action, that looked to the general
good of the people. From the Funding
bill of 1871 to the infamous election measure
of 1884, the catalogue is a succession of the
blunders of ignorance or the achievements
of rascality. by that party and that party
alone the chapter of Virginia's woes has
been written. Point out the measures
that have retarded the material growth of
the State that have oppressed her people
that have brought discredit upon her name,
and driven her young men in thousands
from her borders, and we will show you
the work of the Democratic party. Ex-
anime into the origin and adoption of
those acts that have lightened the burdens
OF the masses that have tended to advance
the credit of the State and strew the bene-
fits of legislation in the pathway Of the
common people, and you will find that each
of them became law in spite of Demo
cratic opposition. From the Funding bill
down this rule applies with scarcely an
exception. 1t is because none are more
conscious of this than the Democratic
leaders, that they seek to avoid the issues
raised by the record in this campaign. For
this reason they have already announced
that joint discussions will not be allowed.
No opportunity will be offered the people
to review the record for themselves. The
Democratic party dare not meet its ac-
cusers face to face before the people and
attempt to justify its course. To say nothing
of what preceded, what honest man can
undertake to uphold the last Legislature
in its revolutionary and outrageous acts ?
What fair man will deny that the present
law under which the election will be held
is anything more or less than barefaced,
shameless attempt to corrupt the ballot
and disfranchise Republican voters : Who
is there who, in the fear of God. can con-
scientiously assert that thetwo-thirds ma
| jority in each branch of the last Legisla-
| ture was not the result of premeditated
fraud? These are questions which refer
ence to the Democratic record suggest,
and to these must be added the ignorant or
malicious disturbance of the debt ques-
ton; the condition of the State finances ; of
the schools the asylums and the hundred
and one interests IN which the people are
so deeply concerned. If the men of Vir-
ginia will impartially examine the record
and then act as their judgment and man
hood dictate, Democracy would never
again 'invoke a popular verdict in it's be-
half"