Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1888-09-18
PLATFORM
Adopted by the West Virginia
Democratic State convention
Held at Huntington, August 18th
and 18th, 1888.

1.-THE Democratic party of West Virginia,
in convention assembled, extends Its con-
gratulations to the party and the people
upon the conditions upon which the coun-
try approaches the Presidential election OF
1883. For nearly a quarter Of a century
the Republican party administered the
affairs of the Federal Government. Disre-
gard of obligation to the rights and well
fare of the people, hypocrisy and shame
less prostitution of governmental powers to
partisan ends, marked the period of its in
cumbency. 1t declared by repeated plat
forms for the suppression of Mormonism,
and vet Mormonism grew to its present
proportions under a Republican admins
~tration. It provoked by its partisan agen-
cies the constant agitation of the Indians
on our frontier until millions of public
money were expended in the prosecution
of Indian wars which honest administra-
ton would have averted 1t prostituted
the army to political uses at the polls n
the Department of Justice by Its marahals
and supervisors to overawe and intimi-
date the ballots of freemen. 1t drove u
commerce from the seas and welcomes to
our shores the twin examples of pretended
protection in q foreign built ship under the
English flag. 1t paid millions of dollars for
the repair of ships in excess of their origin
al cost, and left the country without q ua-
w and without ocean or harbor defence. 1t
souANpEREp WHOLE EMPIRES
of the peoples land on private corporations
and emphasized its prodigality OF other
peoples property by sealing the gift with
nearly q hundred millions Of the public
none in cash. It pursued Q system OF
class legislation and subserviency to the
money powers, until the best country in
-. aII.d 18th fra"na mazda nv
law ont of honest laborers, and miliionaires
manufactured by law out Of Republican
partisans and favorites. 1t perpetuated the
exorbitant taxation of war and maintain
ed them in peace until the system Of its
creation presents to the country the al
Tentative of threatened financial and bust
ness disaster by the withholding in the
treasury of an enormou unneeded surplus
from the uses of the people or the payment
of twenty-eight per cent premium on
bonds not due, and a corresponding ad-
dition to the public burdens. And these
burdens, augmented by the perversion
and abuse of the taxing power, have
been multiplied and perpetusted by Re-
publican obstruction against every at
tempt of the Democracy for their relief.
In contrast with the administrative poll
cies of the Republican party, we re-
ioice in the reforms which were inaug-
urated four years ago in the election OF
GROVER CLEVELAND
by the people and whose contamination
will be assured by his triumphant r~e-elec-
ton. His administration has restored the
government to honesty, to Democratic sim
plicity and 60 the people.
Under its enforcement of the laws polyg-
amy is disappearing from the Territories.
Since it's responsibilities of government
began it has cultivated and maintained by
honest treatment the peace and confidence
Of the Indian tribes.
It has withheld the army from interior
ence with elections by the people, and Mar
shals and supervisors no longer dominate
the american franchise.
1t has vigorously undertaken . perma-
nent
RECONSTRUCTION OF DUB NAVY
upon a basis which will make 1t the pride
of our people and an honor to their dag.
It has restored 80, 200, 600 acres of the
peoples land, unearned by the holders, to
the public domain, with 146,OOo,OOo In
process or restoration.
1t has banished the corruptionist from
the National lobby, and NO scandal has
found favor in Its counsels or Judgment In
its legislation.
1t has guarded the treasury against m