Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-07-31

is obnoxious 10 tho interests and conyic-
lions OF our people. We favor It's complete
and unconditional abolition.
THE TARIFF.
We reaflirm the declarations OF the Ma
tional Democratic party In It's last CorVen-
ton on the subject Of the tariff, and espe-
cially DO we maintain that the necessary
reduction In taxation can and must be el-
fecied without deprving American LABOR Oh
the ability TO compete successfullA wlth
foreign labor. and without imposinS7ower
rates Of duty than will be ample 10
cover any increased cost OF produc-
ton which may exist In consequence
of the higher rate OF wages exist
ing in this country. And we favor as IN
1883 and in 1854. n tariff for revenue nm
tied 10 the necessities of Government eco
nomically Administered, and so adj listed IN
It's application as to prevent unequal our
dens, encourage productive Industries AT
home. and afford Just compensation 10 IA
bor, but not TO create or foster mon0polles.
IN the necessary reforms 10 remedy the
abuses OF the existing tariff the schedule
rates should bear heaviest on articles Oh
luxury and lightest on articles OF necessity
CIvIL-sERyIcE REFORM.
We reiterate our advocacy Of such civil
service reform as will make character ana
fitness the tests Of official preference, ana
exclude the lOathsOme systems OF the Rc-
publican party which became the scandal
of the country; but we hold at the same
time that an Administration charged with
the solemn responsibilities Of government.
and needing relations of confidence aud
harmony between 10 and It's SubOrdlnateS
To secure efficiency. should not be uuduly
hampered by having obnoxious OFFICIALS
forced into or continued I'm It's service. No
efiicaciOus system can be established that
does not work In accord with the VIII and
aspirations Of the people under an eNecu-
tive head untrammelled In the exercise OF
official functions. and the fundamental
prnci pies Of free government exact that
the powers of the Executive shall not he
shackled by the usuTpatiOn OF a commission
or other official power unknown to the Con.
stituton.
THE ADMINISTRATIONS.
We rejoice that In the Administration OF
Grover Cleveland as President OF the United
States sectional lines have been obliterated,
honorable and upright men haye been APP
pointed To office and that the work Of re-
form has been initiated by dispensing with
needless offices, cutting down expenses I'm
the various departments refusing the ac-
ceptance Of contract work not fulnlling
the Specifications, and in securing 10 the
people vast areas OF the public domain
upJustly held by large corporations. We
congratulate the people OF virginia that he
has remoy ed in many instances the obnox-
iOus partisans who neglected public duties
for party work, and have confidence that
the blessings OF good government already
secured will be amplifed and extended un-
deran Administration which has set Us face
sternly against corruption and has 50
speedily entered upon the great work OF re-
form.
We spurn the charges brought aga inst the
Democratic party set forth in the document
puIporting TO he q Republican State plat
form. IL says, for instance, that the Demo-
Gratis ofthe last Legislature unseatcd seven
tegn Republican members ana seated DEM
Ocfats. whereas the records show that out
n A. o. With roo "a a faGfa al
tiOns, In ten cases only were Democrats
awarded seats, and In only six OF these
were Republicans unseated.
IL says that the Democrats passed over
seventy acts relieving dcfaulting collecting
officers. whereas. with a single exception.
no such acts were passed. The acts refer
led To were less than twenty in number,
and were concerning sureties, and were
supported By the Republicans and APP
proved by Republican Governor. Again.
IL Is charged that the democrats Squan-
dered the surplus they found IN the state
Treasury whereas "A larger surplus now
exists than when the Democrats came into
pOwer-abOut one million OF which has
been invested IN Rlddeberger bonds. or
suchs eXtraVagance contradiction. and self.
stultihcation IS this Republican document
made.
The Democratic party has always been
foremost to cNalt and dignity every func-
ton Of the state government. II has
created the vast network of railroads aud
sources. II has been the steadfast friend
oflabtr and II has never neglected the Just
and ordered rights Of property. Frown-
ing on all class distinctions. on all ef-
forts TO array one portion OF the COM
munlty against another on issues outside
OF the domain of politics. IL recognizes and
will maintain the equality of all
citizens OF the COmmOnW ea!th in
their civil and political rights. We
must not overlook the vast Importance
of Democratic 60 ntrol Of the Federal Gov
eminent. and We eXhOrt every Nirginan
10 remember that the success OF Democratic
policy IN Virginia may well be OF vital mo-
ment in confirming and strengthening
the suspicious hold on the confidence
OF the country now happily established
in the pure and enlightened admin StratlOn
Of Mr.. Cleveland We therefore proudly
paOclalm our allegiance to the Constitution
and the Union OF the states. and 10 the Ma
tlOnal democratic party as theirinterprcter
and defender To that great party is sp'-
cially coniidcd the future maintenance Of
those principles Of local Scif-gOyern-
ment administered by the states ami
limited imperial power entrusted to
the Federal Administration, which can
alone. by their harmonious working secure
and perVetuate the free institutions OF a ter.
ritOry so extensive and populations 50 vast
as those OF the United states. Men of
Virginia, in that fundamental idea OF
the democratic party is summed up
Your final condemnation OF our OpDO-
here to visit on their heads. Other times
and other places will serve for the detailed
criticism OF their men and measures. Let
this suffice here. They We're first tile allies
they now proclaim themselves full and ac-
cepted members Of the National Repubi-
can party. The patriotic voters OF this
Comm OnWealth viii never surrender It's
destinies to that party Of sectional hate and
constitutional hereay.
Confident rs OF Old that the true heart OF
the leop.e Will utter Us real voice in the
free and untrammelled elections which
recent egislatiOn secures, and shat the vlr-
tue and intelligence Of the State will BE-
awarded due influence in It's government.
the democratic party calmly RENTS the
issue now joined to the voters Of Virginia.
The platform was adopted without
discussion.
MR.. AYRES Is HEARD FROM.
When sent for Mr.. Ayrcs came,
and was introduced to the Convention
amidst applause.
Mr.. Ayres said words failed him to
express his feelings at the honor con-
ferred upon him. 1t would be ego
tism for him to take it in per
sonal sense. IL was tribute TO
the young Democracy that had in
the last campaign hoped to redeem
Virginia. The times were propitious
and pregnant with events. The eyes
of the North were turned upon Viz
GINA as the gateway to the breaking
up of the solid South, and the time
had come not for speaking, but for
working. and he pledged himself to
earnest effort. 1t had been said that Yir-
GINA was the battle-ground, and South
west Virginia the chosen spot. When
the crucial moment came Southwest Viz
GINA, like the needle to the pole, re-
turned to her allegiance.
BRAVE JIM WALKER
said he came not as a member Of the
young Democracy. but a man whose hair
had grown gray in the service Of his
country and his party; but wherever
the fight was thckest and the battle
hottest he would be there, and he pro-
missed to make it as hot as the hottest.
1t would not be manly for MIN to
say that he was not mortified at
his defeat, but he was used to
it. He had been used to it from
Appomattov dOWn ~ this time