Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-05-15
THE DEMOCRATIC STATE
CONVENTION.

for the Goth of July. We would
have had it called for the LIST.
We wanted it before the Malone
meeting. Things are in good trim in
this State now for the Democracy to be
the charging party and not wait for the
attack. And really there is nothing to
wait for ! No discussions among the car
penters who are to put together the plat
form. There is nc trouble in giving the
platform now, two months in advance, so
it might as we'll have been given July 1st
as July Goth. Here it is:
First. The Riddleberger bill. now and
ever, the only settlement that the Demo-
cracy of Virginia will make. No compro-
mise with the creditors on any terms, and
no consideration of any terms of compro-
mise-the Riddleberger bill pure and
simple.
This plank will not only be adopted, but
it will be made the watchWord of every
private in the ranks in the campaign. We
have often spoken some hard words of re-
proof of the Virginia Democracy, but
there is one thing we must say to their
credit-whatever they set about, they do
most earnestly try to do, from the gene
al down to the private. They set about
paying the State debt to the last dollar,
and they doggedly stuck to it till they
broke their party in twain. In those days
we have seen the poorest men in the Dem
| ocratic party, who didn't earn a dollar
day the year round, struggling, and work
ing, and paying what they could towards
campaign expenses, in order that the
States creditors should be paid. To-day
they are just as earnest in their intention
that the sovereignty OF the State shall not
be invaded by those creditors. They have
rebuilt their party, strengthened it with
National Alliance, and are now ready for
| making the assault instead of waiting for
| it.
Second. The principle of the Blair bill
should be put in the platform. The De-
| mccracy of this State wants National aid
| for the education of a population thrown
upon Her by the chance of war; the sane
war that deprived her CT the means to ed
ncate her white children. 1t wants it
that the children Of the poor man may have
some show In the struggle of life. And
| it ISM afraid or ashamed to say it wants
| IL. This plank will not only be adopted,
but the unanimity will be SO marked that
it is likely to impress Congress next win
ter with the views of the Southern States.
Judged by the utterance of the first one
that has spoken, since the failure of the
Blair bill.
Third. If the Convention is as wise as
IT should be, and does not contain too
many of the timid, beware of-a-new-idea
members of the last legislature, it will re-
endorse the plan of separate school sys-
tenn for, and controlled by, the colored
people of the State. If the Convention
will Go this with emphasis, the people will
take more pains in selecting for the next
legislature men of courage, originality
and force enough to devise. originate and
carry out separate system.
AS to the candidates to be nominated.
the Convention has one great advantage.
1t knows that, come what may, there is
one F1rglnlan VINO dtlDdys oUanS, and if the
! waves run high they can turn to him.
There will be number Of names before
the Convention. Let the COMMITTEE to
Examine Records" which the Richmond
Dispatch wisely suggested some time ago,
be formed. and let it so do its work that
no man who has by speeches or cou-
pom payment attempted to impede the
Riddeberger settlement since it's accep-
lance by the Democracy at Lynchburg,
and no man who has by vote or speech op-
posed the Blair bill, shall get upon the
ticket. With such men, no matter VIII at
their ability, their record would paralyzs
their own usefulness in the campaign
and saddle the party with heavy if not
fatal burden.