Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-08-11
STATE DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM
Adopted by the Democratic Convention at
Charleston, April l6, 1884.


Charleston, April l6, 1884.
Below will be found the resolutions
adopted by the Democratic convention that
assembled mt Charleston, April IL, 1884,
and which was ratified by the State con-
yention that met later in Wheeling to
nominate State ticket:
We, the representatives Of the DemOcra-
cy OF West Virginia, in convention assem-
bled. do hereby declare our continued and
unfaltering devotion TO the principles OF
free government transmitted to us by JET
ferSon and his cO-labOrerS in the formation
of the Constitution ~ we shall hand them
down to our children and our children
children forever.
Cherishing these principles and pledg-
inc our unalterable determination by word
and work to maintain them, We declare
that the Republican party has departed in
prcccpt and practice from every standard
of Unconstitutional government and resolved
out National Administration into Il vast
political machine, destroying the liberties
and subvcrting tine rights OF the people.
1t made political merchandise OF the
public appointments, demOralizing whole
States by the prostitution Of its patronage
to barter and trade and corrupted the
ballot by the purchasing power OF public
place.
Ii has maintained at the heal of this bu,
reau a plant adhercnt To iatten rs he feS'
tered on the abuse OF process, prosecution
and power.
Ii burglarized the White House by the
inauguration of a trespasscr there, Stolt
the Presidency and cheated fifty millions
OF people OF their liberty and their fran
chSc by IN organized band Of ScOundrcIS
with its BradyS and its DOrseyS, packed
and pcrjurcd for the task.
1t admOniShed the country by the Stal
Route scandals, OF its impotence to punish
crime and its close alliance with the Grim
! inals and plundcrcrS of the peoples treas
urC.
1t demonctizcl silver. in the interest o
the Gold King, until it WAS restored ovel
Il Republican veto.
1t maSccrated the grecnback dollar, n
the pleasure of Wall street, until a Demo
cratic House put stop To the engine Of dc
structioH and saved the people, currency
ItcXploits in hypocrisy, an honest bal
lot and a fair count while our people re
member that it denied to our citizens the
right to sit on juricS or To sue in tn,
courts, to women the right to teach in tn,
schools and to thousands of our men the
right to vote.
J il has attempted by its party organs the
destruction OF our State University and of
frrcd the school OF our young men living
sacrifice Oh the altar of party strife.
Ii has SIuandcrcd millions on old hulkS
I that its tayoritcS might thrive; while our
navy is abandoned to contempt; and Oul
/ flag is atloat on bottoms unfit for the sea
! 1t has wasted the public domain-thC
peoples inhcritucv-tu enrich corporations
and foster mOnopolicS.
Ii has manufactured milliOnaircS out OF
the sweat OF the American workingman and
subsidized their !ull Golfers by the labor o.
his hands.
IL has denied the application of Repub,
and foiSted upon our people centraliza-
ton OF power which daily and hourly
draws harder the lines between the masses
and mOnOpOlistS and threatens a European
system of nobility aud SeritiOm on our soil
In pleasing contrast with this record OF
wrong We point with pride to the growth
of our young State, the opening of her
mines, the development Of her industries,
thIproSperity OF her people and the promise
of her future under Democratic rules.
To the end that these conditions shall
continue We are firmly resolved:
That We favor 4 tariff for revenue
limited to the necessities OF the government
economically administered and so adjusted
in its application ~, To prevent unequal
burdens, encourage productive industries
ut home, and afford just compensation to
labor, but not to create or foster mOnOpOl
les. -
That our cOnvictS shall he SO employed
us to prevent theircompetitiOu with honest
labor
That every citizen of our State shall beal
his Just proportion OF the burdens of the
/ Government aud no more; and this under
appropriate legislation. As there are hon
est differences of opinion growing out o
/ the tax clause of the Constitution and tn,
/ legislation pertaining thereto, such differ
enccs should be deferred for such final de
ciSion by the courts and the people and ap
/ prOpriate legislation thereon. To this end
/ if the courts shall hold the tax exemption
act of lSSl to be unconstitutional, we tavOl