Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-09-13

Adopted by the West Virginia
Democratic State Convention
Held at Huntington, August 18th
and 18th, 1888.

affairs of the Federal Government. Dlsre-
gard of obligation TO the rights and vel
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 Mormon'sm,
and yet Mormopism grew to Its present
proportions under a Republican admins
t~ration. 1t 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 administrs-
ton would have ayerted 1t prostituted
the army to political uses at the polls and
the Department of Justice by its marshals
and supervisors to 0yerawe and intmt
date the ballots Of freemen. 1t drove our
commerce from the seas and welcomes 70
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 a IA
w and without ocean or harbor defence. 1t
soUANDERED WHOLE EMPIRES
Of the peoples land on private corporations
and emphasized its prodigality OF other
peoples property by sealing the gift with
nearly a hundred millions Of the public
money in cash. 1t pursued a system OF
class legislation and subserviency to the
money powers, until the hest country IN
the world WAS filled With tramps made by
law ont OF honest laborers, and millionaires
manufactured by law out of Republican
partisans and favorites. 1t p~erpetuated the
exorbitant taxation of wal and maintain
ell them in peace until the system OF lts
creation presents to the country the al
tentative of threatened financial and busi-
ness disaster by the withholding in the
treasury Of an enormous unneeded surplus
from the uses of the people or the payment
of twenty-eight per cent premium CD
bonds not due, and q corresponding adj
dition to the public burdens. And these
burdens, augmented by the perversion
and abuse of the taxing power, have
been multiplied and perpetuated 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 re-elec-
ton. His administration has restored the
government to honesty, to Democratic SIM
pIicity ard to the people.
Under its enforcement of the laws polyg-
amy ia disappearing from the Territories.
Since its responsibilities OF government
began it has cultivated and maintained by
honest treatment the peace and confidence
of the Indian tribes.
1t has withheld the army from interior
ence with elections by the people, and Maj
shsls and supervisors no longer dominate
the american franchise.
1t has vigorously undertaken a perma-
nent
RECONSTRUCTION OF OUR NAVY
upon a basis which will make it the pride
OF our people and an honor to their fig.
1t has restored 81, 600. 600 acres Of tbs
peoples land, ~unearned by the holders, to
the public domain, with las, 0O0, OGO In
process or restoration.
1t has banished the corruptioDist from
the National lobby, and no scandal has
found favor in it's counsels or Judgment in
its legislation.
Ii has guarded the treasury against in
vssion, the institutions of the country
against encroachment, the people against
the peryersiOn of their own powers to their
oppression and harm, and arrested the
tendency to class distinction and mon
opoly.
By its honesty, its patriotism and its
uuseltish devotion to the cause ard pur-
pose of good government, it has confidence
and support OF good men everywhere, and
the people demand its continuance. We
heartily endorse the administration Of
Grover Cleveland. We endorse the nOmi-
nation of Cleveland and Thurman. We
endorse the platform Of 1893 adopted by
the National Convention at st. Louis.
approve its demand for the relief OF
unnecessary taxation and it's needless
burdens upon the people, and We pledge
TO the standard hearers it has givea
Us our united and hearty support.
endorse the action Of our
Democratic Senator's and Representatives
in Congress. We recall with satisfaction
the wonderful material and political pro-
gress of our State under Democratic rule.
Eighteen years ago this State looked back
upon a clouded past and forward TO o hope
less future. The Democratic party called
TO power by tho voice OF the people was
confronted on every hand by social disor-
der, political confusion and commercial
depression. The tax. gatberer was the re-
lentless taskmaster Of impoverished and
d~,sfranchised communities, labor without:
employ meut or without reward. Vast re-
sources siumbered untouched by the band
OF development. The powers OF govern
msnt wers prustituted TO the oppression Of
The intelligent and industrious burden
bearers of the State aud the enrichment OF
an inscriptions governing class at the
expense Of
PRESCRIBED TAN-PAYING MASSES
of the people. Thousands of your best
citizens were forbidden 70 approach the
polls, 10 ait in q Jury box, to bring a suit,
to plead q cause, or to teach a school. The
infamous proscriptive process which pre-
vailed closed your State TO the outside
world and filed your highways with hun
dreds of your exiled citizens seeking in
more liberal copmunities the privileges
and opportunities denied them in the land
of their youth. Your lands were without
purchasers in the markets OF the world
and without value save for purposes Of tax
alton.
Not a dollar of outside capital came here
to fell your forests, open your mines, or
occupy with railroads the pathways Of
commerce. Let the official record attest
what the Democratic party has done TO
relieve you of the abuses of Republican
rule and to bring to you the blessings of q
high civilization. At the last census n
der Republican rule, that of 1870, the pop
ulstion of this State vas in round num-
bers, 44O. OG0 You now have within your
borders more than SOC, 0QQ people. AT the
last State election held prior to the census