Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-10-09
WEST VIRGINIA
Republican Executive Committee
Wheeling, Sept. no, 1856.

AtuphuAAvun AAuVutAtO VVmmAttVus
Wheeling, Sept. 10, 1886.
To the Voters Of West Taynia:-
You will be asked in few weeks to
express your preference, through the
ballot box, for those political measures
and principles that now agitate the pub
lie mind. 1t is not so important that
Democratic or Republican measures
should prevail as that the interests of
the people and of the State should be
advanced. Believing that which is good
for Republican is beneficial to all, and
that which is bad for Democrats is injur.
ious to all, we give you few reasons,
among many, why Republican nominees
should receive the cordial support of a
majority of the voters of West Virginia.
The Democratic administration of
President Cleveland has not fulfilled
the promises made to the people when
it assumed power in 1885.
1t promised retrenchment but the APP
preparations of the past year exceed the
abundant revenues by many millions.
II promised civil service reform, but
the evil Vaccinations of a violently par
tisan Postmaster general, has turned it
into miserable farce.
1t has failed to uphold the honor and
dignity of the Republic in the compli
cations of the fisheries questions, and
has permitted our flag to be insulted,
our seamen seized and the vessels of
American citizens confiscated by Can
adian authorities, while at the same
time it has exhibited spirit of bravado
toward sister Republic in a matter
that is pre-eminently subject of inter-
national arbitration.
1t has permitted an extraordinary in
crease in the treasury surplus and fail
ed to apply it to the extinguishment of
the National debt, thereby increasing
the public burden.
1t has, through the partisan hatred of
the Secretary of the Navy, prosecuted
into insolvency a man who has done
more to build up and maintain Ameri-
can shipping than any American before
him-John Roach.
1t has employed many thousand con-
yict laborers on public works, notably
on the Government works at Erie, Pa,
to the detriment of honest free labor.
1t has, through the Presidential We
toes of pension bills, offered gratuitous
insults to the soldiers of the country in
the frivolous excuses given for those
vetoes but in denying to the soldier
that which the government promised, it
has saved to the treasury only trifie
more than is annually expended ON the
conservatory of the Executive mansion,
and only about what single Executive
State Dinner costs when national cour-
tesy demands the entertainment of Off
Gals and diplomats. If these pensions
to old disabled soldiers were proven
frauds the case would be quite different.
But most of them were proven to be just
and meritorious and their deprivation
entailed suffering upon worthy citizens.
The government that forgets its defend
ers and breaks pledges that were sol
EMMY given to them, does not deserve
/ TO live.
| 1t has, through the reckless legislation
of the Democratic House of Representa-
tives, disturbed the commercial interests
of the country to such an extent that
trade has become depressed, money
scarce and all business interests unset
tied by the uncertain financial policy OF
the government at Washington. By the
tariff bill proposed in Congress, and
which was defeated only by the solid OPP
position of Republicans, every bushes:
| interest of our State was menaced and
our manufacturing, wool, mineral and
timber interests would have been utter
ly annihilated if this infamous bill had
been consummated. The people of West
Virginia to-day owe their salvation from
utter ruin to the Republican policy. The
Morrison Tariff Bill threatened us with
bankruptcy and financial destruction il
was throttled and killed by Republican
courage.
But we need not go to Washington K
find reasons for opposing a party thai
has failed in its pledges to the people ant
has forfeited public confidence. Every
citizen of the State who pays taxes Of
holds allegiance to its laws has felt tn,
full weight of despotism imposed by
Democratic mismanagement. Our taxe
have been increased our school funt
has been recklessly squandered our pc
titions have been repeatedly spurned by
Democratic Legislatures; our laws hav'
been made the shuttlecock of contendint
political factions our rights have beer
impaired by Judicial despotism our as
assessment acts have been trified with b,
executive Inconsistency to degree tina
assessment and reassessment have be
come by-words among disguised PEG
pie and our financial and political in
terests have been menaced by gigantic
luobOpOly NHpot OHi ltib CASSb 10 thC SiS
yation of its pets to positions Of powe
and official trust. We seek releas
from these evils it can be accomplishe'
by revoking the charter of power issue
to the Democracy in 1872 and bringing
to the front new men. They can d
no worse, and if they do no better it vii
then be proper for the people to organic
new political party that shall stud
their wishes and obey their behests.
The policy of the Republican part
promises relief from these consuming
evils. Let the people test the sincerit
of its advocates and if the promised re
lief is not furnished, the remedy remain
in your hands. The people demand neS
and living issues issues that shall re
suit in a decrease of taxation and BET
ter administration of law. Old war il
sues have passed away and no longer ex
list as either hindrance or a helper c
political action, but as a reminiscenc
and painful recollection of an histor
icaI epoch. We all fight with ballots nov
and not blllets; while conscience, ratf
eli Hardee's tactics, is our guide to nation
al pre-eminence.
Take the single question Of taxatio
and the record Of the past ten years
. sufficiently shameful to permanent
retire the party that wrote it. Thi
question has been treated with n cor