The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-07-23

1iol c1blzens, we realurm our phst useiafatloHs
past efforts In behalf Of Government OF the
people. by the people, for the people. In this
Commonwealth. To this end we proclaim:
For the Free Ballot, against the Bourbon Bal
For Free SCHOOLS and increased appropria-
lions for the enlargement and extension of the
system against the Bourbon hostility to free
education, as manifested in the diversion OF
the State school funds (there now being fresh
diversion Of 100000 due teachers for the year
lS84-5), and in the denial of Federal school aid
by the defeat of the Blair education bill.
ment of the State debt as covering every dollar
of Virgiuias equitable share of the debt
Of the undivided State, and the highest
open opposition of Bourbon funderism and the
more treacherous and insidious tampering OF
us again to our broker enemies.
For economical government against bourbon
waste, improvidence, and crippled finances.
For a liberal support and extension OF all our
asyInms. against the Bourbon system of incar-
cerating our insane of both sexes in the COM
mon jails.
tributions to the power and wealth of the
Nation, against the Bourbon policy which SUBJ
jects honest labor not only to Capital, but to
unjust and humiliating competition with con-
Wet labor.
For Free Books for free schools, as proper
lie education. against the present bourbon pol
icy, which forces many children to plead pau
perism or stay from the schools, and robs the
For due compensation for all labor impress
ed for public service, whether on public roads
or otherwise Gas in the case of private property
taken for public uses), against this Bourbon
robbery of labor to relieve capital of its just
burdens.
For good public county roads under some
efficient system, to be supported by an equal
and uniform rate of taxation on property and
by an employment of convict labor under
proper regulations against the present unjust
conscriptfon by which Bourbonism forces the
poor. uncompensated, to do this work.
For Biennial Elections. SO that our State,
county, city, and other elections may all occur
together, with great economy and to the
great repose and relief of the people, against
the present system Of frequent and costly cleo
lions that keep the people in continual agita-
ton, excitement. and trouble only to subserve
the fraudulent and infiammatory devices by
which Bourbonism maintains its factions and
hateful domination.
For the protection of our oyster-beds and fish
cries from nonresident invaders, and the due
regulation of these great interests In accord
ance with the rights and views of the people
directly concerned, against the Bourbon mis-
management, which invites Invasion and spoil-
alton, while it injuriously burdens and ham
perS our own citizens of the Underwater and
Eastern-Shore counties.
direct employment and payment OF labor
against the system by contracts under which
both government and workmen are fieeced by
speculative and unnecessary middlemen-
For every possible encouragement and aid
to promote the construction of railroads and
other facilities to open up the immense miner
western, and other portions of the State, and
place these IN easy connection with our East
ana West lines OF transportation, in accordance
With the Virginia policy of home growth and
development, against the suicidal Bourbon pol
Icy which sacrifices all our internal advantages
and materials for self-advancement to outside
interests and make our ports and cities mere
way-stations and our territory mere tributary
ard road-bed of convenient transit to the traf-
fic of other states and their cities.
For an enforcement of the paramount obli-
CATION of the various works of internal i'm
4 nr0Unmant to hn off ln Gfotn hVyNu tnuo
| authority they were created, by whose money
they were constructed, and by whose grace
they live; and 1t is enjOined upon our repre-
sen tative and executive officers to enforce the
discharge of that duty, to insure to the people
OF Virginia such rates, facilities. and connec-
est against discrimination, tend to the devel-
opment of their agricultural and mineral re-
sources, encourage the investment of active
capital in manufactures, and the profitable en-
ployment OF labor in industrial enterprises /;
grasp for our cities those advantages to which.
by reason of their geographical position, they
are entitled and fulfil all the great public ends
for which they were designed.
For money-wages for labor against the Bour-
bon store-and-order system, whereby corpor-
ate and other employers control the expendi-
lures OF their employees, and under which
great extortions and expressions are i'm.
posed.
For eight hours as a day for all labor employ
ed on public works and in mines and manufac.
ments.
For State Bureau of labor Statistics. to
reacn a fuller knowledge of the condition of
the laboring people, with view to their well
fare and elevation.
For legal provision securing to all mechan-
les, laborers and other WOrkmen employed by
corporations firms and individuals the first
lien on the assets of these where they are forced
into liquidation, to be first satisfied as that OF
preferred creditors by reason of their share in
creating such assets.
For that civil service in which character and
capability shall be regarded as paramount tests
for public employment.
For such annual appropriations as may be
adequate to provide for the proper care and
support of disabled Virginia soldiers who need
such provision.
For a general law providing that any county,
city, town, and district in this Commonwealth
may determine for itself. by a majority Of its
votes cast at a special election held for the
purpose under due regulations, whether or not
the sale and manufacture Of spurious liquors
snail pc allowed within its limits
Pledg1ng ourselves to these, and appealing to
our unvarylng fidelity heretofore to popular
rights and interests as full earnest of our hon
est purpose, we arraign the Self-styled Demo-
cratic party CT Virginia as the same old crimi-
nal which, under various former aliases, has
been found guilty of high crimes and misde-
meanors, of which the following is only par
tial and incomplete summary:
Recognizing and assuming the whole debt of
West Virginia and Virginia in 1867, and capi-
talizing its accrue interest. Funderism!
Exhibiting spirit of reaction, obstruction,
and revolt which incurred the abolition of our
civil government and brought upon US the
Military government of District No. l. Bom-
Opposing, foolishly and impotently, the
Amendments to the Federal Constitution and
the best State Constitution we have ever had
(our present one)-all of which, nevertheless,
were accepted and ratified by the Overwhelm-
6ers 81 our pe1p d IN TO the
MAHoNEISM
Passing the funding bill of 1871 by bribery and
corruption, and entailing the accursed tax
coupons upon us-a very plague of Egypt.
"Honor and Honesty.''
superior in dignity to the Constitution and the
State, and prior in obligation to the schools
and our charitable asylums Sacred contract!
Diverting our school taxes to the pockets of
coupon-scalpers, and otherwise embarrassing
and injuring our free schools until they were
closed by thousands. Friends Of popular edu-
cation.
Placing tax on the ballot, and SO manipulate
Ing It's assessment and collection as to disfran.
ch1se tens of thousands of white and colOred
voters. Friends Of Free Suffrage!
Endeavoring in 1878-'79 to repeal the State
school-tax by constitutional amendment, and
to remand our State schools to their former
status as county pauper institutions. "Educa-
ton is q LstIauy"
Defeating the act exempting the sch DOL taxes
from the coupons. .t10reh to the sch0ol-houses
JirSt!'
Passing the monstrous Brokers' bill, with its
infamous Allen Amendment, I'VE are all Re-
ddiatsters!o' that being The first legislative en-
actment in alleged 'acquiescence" in Read
juStment.
OBTAINING Virginia and her people to the
world as Regulators and thieves, and denounc-
ing REIMBURSEMENT as the work of ignorant me-
pleH5 '''-N --''''n "ni'eS' E D'e '"e 'eA' pe0-
Encouraging coupon-scalping and defending
al Inc mi serable decisions and practices in and
o9I OF The Funder courts against the State.
'Hsrtae, patriotism and intelligence"
Flghting the Riddleberger bill and all it's
auxllaries and applauding Governor Holidays
perndlous and insolent vetoes.
Squandering the $1,S00,0O0 in the treasury
when Inc BourDons came to power in 1S70-'7l,
ana accommodating debt at the rate of o million
q year to 1879,
Filling our jails with lunatics, and intercept
lumS.
: Bringing and fomenting suits to stay Read
justment and it's rescue of the schools.
. Opposing with vigor and venom the restora-
ZION of free suffrage.
Regaining power in 1888 by fraud, violence,
and terrorism, under concurrent false pretenceS
of heartily acquiescing'' in all the great meas
ures they as Bourbons and Funders had so long
denounced and opposed. "A2ytliag TO beat Ma
hone %
Usurping in the Legislature an absolute and
unconstitutional power, which invaded the
jurisdictions and prerOgatives of all the depart
ments of government and truculently threat
ened our judges and the Governor of the State
with its INSCRIPTIONS wrath. ~
Unseating ruthlessly without law or prece-
dent seventeen members of the General Assem-
and seating their own partisans, in defiance of
all law, right, and decency, and in contempt of
the votes of the people.
In three cases they refused to seat senators
until after the people had returned them three
times, with ever-groWing majorities and in
even claimed an election and had no grounds
upon which to base claim.
They violated the Constitution, law, and all
the cOurteses of life with unhesitating hand
whenever these interferred with their nefarious
ends.
M