Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-07-16
ent tariff that shall tend to lessen or defeat

national democracy as party conspiring
for spoils without any wise or definite con-
victioGs of its own On any federal issus, as
an organization of fraud and force to oppose
and obstruct by usurped power the funda-
mental policies that assure national peace,
progress and prosperity, and as party so
prcfigate, per6dious, dissolute and discord
ant, as proved by lis past record and present
attitude, that all enterprises, interests and
aspirations of the people are thrown into q
paralysis of suspense and apprehension
under its domination.
We declare our resolute opposition 10 the
present federal administration US the tit
creature Of the immoral and faithless rela-
tons of apcstate republicans with the ma
tional democracy, and as the natural prod
uct of folly, fraud, force and perfdy, which
has already displayed all the traits of its or
igin by proclaming test for office that at
once finds its most fragrant violation in the
offensive partisanship of the President and
his Cabinet by parading the mean hypoc
risy of reform that awards premiums to
false witness and calumny; by servile obse-
quiousness at the North to men whose
treachery betrayed republicanism and stole
the crown Of power aud victory for barter,
and by insolent venality and brutality in
the South, and especially in this Common
wealth, that have conspicuously identified
it with the worst elements of rapine and
corruption, and made it the accomplice Of
that bourbonsm whose effective strength
consists of organized regulators, ballot box
suffers and assassins, to the grief and iu
| dignation of good men of all parties. Hold
| ing these attitudes toward the national par
ties and their politics, and sure that these
are both right and expedcnt for the civil,
political and material welfare OF the State
and her citizens, we rcatfirm our past dec
iarations, and promise persistent continu-
ance of our past efforts in behalf of a gov
eminent of the people, by the people, and
| for the people, III this Commonwealth.
To this end the platform procaims,
among other things, for free ballot against
bourbon ballot killer; for free schools
and increased appropriations for the en-
argement and extension of the opposition to
the bourbon hostility to free education for
the enforcement of the readjuslers settle.
mcnt of the State debt; for economical gov.
erument against bourbon waste, improv-
deuce and crippled finances; for free labor
aud its just share in its contributions to the
power ard wealth Of the nation for every
possible encouragement and aid TO promote
the construction OF railroads and other IA
ciities to open up the immense mineral and
other resources OF the State for the en-.
f,rcement of the paramount obligation of
the various works Of internal improvement
to the people of the State; for money wages
Tor lahor: against the bourbon store and
order system, whereby corporate and other
employers control the expenditures OF their
employees, and under which great extor
lion aid oppression are imposed; for eight
hours as days labor for all labor employ
cd on public works and in mines and manu-
| factories and corporations, with weekly pay
| ments.
The platform then goes on to summarize,
seiialim and at great length, the "high
crimes and misdemeanoTs of which the
democratic party of Virginia has been found
guilty." In this arraignment it charges,
among other things, as follows: Placing u
tax on the ballot and so manipulating it,
assessment and collection as TO disfranchise
| tens of thousands of white and colored
voters OBTAINING Virginia and her people
| to the world rs regulators aud thieves and
denouncing REIMBURSEMENT as the work of
| ignorant negroes and mean whites; filling
our jails with lunatics and ntercepting ap.
preparations made to enlarge our asylums;
unseating ruhlessly, without law or precc
dent, II members of the General Assembly
| upon frivolous grounds or false pretexts and
seating their own partisans in defiance ofail
law, right and decency, and in contempt. of
the votes the people.
They stripped thu executive of the an
rient power and functions of his Office,
and manufactured bogus and fraudulent
majority in each house to annul his vetoes
They have introduced in this Common
wealth the lawless and shameful methods
and practices OF Mississippi bourbonism, and
they do not hesitate at any step 10 secure
power and bnf file the popular will.
They have identified themselves with the
so called national democratic party, and by
their co operation with That party in Con-
gress in the general political arena they
have Twice aided III the defeat Of the Blair
educational bill
They have aided in defeating measures to
restore protective duties on our woods, to re.
move taxes on our tobacco and to abolish
the internal revenue system.
They have arrayed themselves against
tariff policy which protects all out material
interests
They have raised the race and color line
in all elections, subordnating every public
right and interest to iDfl4matory appeals 10
passion and prejudice.
The platform closes with an earnest ex-
hortation and appeal for the cause Of the re
publican party Of the State.
The resolutions Wero adopted.
4 LOVE FEAST.
The committee OH the plan Of party organ.
izalion submitted its report, which was
finally adopted. The plan is similar to the
present one.
Just about midnight Rildleberger, Sims,
Groner and several other delegates crowded
upon the stage.
Riddleberger began a dilatcry speech.
He was frequently interrupted and cried
down, when several OF his friends sprung
upon the stage, and there was imminent
danger of a row. Everybody was standing
up in their seats or endeavoring TO get out
of the building. The stage was crowded
and the whole convention in an uproar.
In the midst Of this scene Malone pushed
his way to the front of the stage. He called
in the loudest tones for order, and when
quiet was partially restored Malone placed
his hand upon Riddleberger and appealed to
him to permit the convention to quietly
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