Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1888-08-30
PLATFORM
Adopted by the West Virginia
Democratic State Convention
Held at Huntington, August 18th
and 18th, 1888.

"The Democratic party Of West Virginia,
in convention assembled, extends Its con-
Qratulations to the party and the people
upon the conditions upon which the coun-
try approaches the Presidential election OF
1888. For nearly quarter OF 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. It declared by repeated plat
forms for the suppression of Mormonism,
and yet Mormonism grew to Its present
proportions under 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 sdministra-
ton would have averted. 1t prostituted
the army to political uses at the polls and
the Department Of Justice by its marshals
and supervisors to overawe and lntlml-
date the ballots of freemen. 1t drove our
commerce from the seas and welcomes to
our shores the twin examples of pretended
protection in foreign built ship under the
English flag. 1t paid millions OF dollars ior
the repair of ships in excess of their origin
al cost, and left the country without ua-
Wv and without ocean or harb0r defence. IL
soUANDERED WHOLE EMPIRES
Of the peoples land on private corporations
and emphasized its prodigality OF other
peoples property by sealing the gift with
nearly hundred millions OF the pubic
money in cash. 1t pursued a system OF
class legislation and subserviency to the
money powers, until the best country In
the world was filed With tramps made by
law ont of honest labOrers, and millionaires
manufactured by law out OF Republican
nartisans 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 enormous unneeded surplus
from the uses of the people or the payment
of twenty-eight per cent premium on
bonds not due, and corresponding ad-
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 we're lnaug-
urated four years ago in the election oil
aRovEE 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
plicity and to the people.
Under its enforcement Of the laws polye-
amy ia disappearing from the Territories
Since its responsibilities Of government
began il has cultivated and maintained by
honest treatment the peace and confidence
of the Indian tribes.
II has withheld the army from interior
ence with elections by the people, and MAI
shals and supervisors no longer dominate
the American franchise.
It has vigorously undertaken perma-
nent
RECONSTRUCTION OF OUR NAVY
unon basis which will make it the pride
of our people and an honor to their fig.
II has restored $4,000. 600 acres Of the
people,s land, unearned by the holders, to
the public domain, with las, 0O0. 900 in
process OF restoration.
It has banished the corruptiOnist from
the National lobby, and no scandal has
found favor in its counsels or Judgment in
its legislation.
II has guarded the treasury against in