Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1888-08-30

the perversion of their own powers to their
oppression and harm, and arrested the
tendency to class distinction and mon
opoly.
D By its honesty. its patriotism and Its
unselfish devotion to the cause and 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 ard Thurman. We
endorse the platform OF 1888 adopted by
the National Convention at st. Louis.
We approve its demand for the relief Of
unnecessary taxation and its needless
burdens upon the people, and we pledge
to the acknowledgements it has given
us our united and hearty support.
We endorse the action of our
democratic Senator's and Representatiy. q
IN Congress. We recall with satisfaction
the wonderful material aud political nro-
gress OF our State under Democratic rule
Eighteen years ago this State looked hack
upon aclouded past and forward 10 a bcna-
TESS Ioture. The Democratic party called
10 power Dy the 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 imnoverigi1sd and
DISTINGUISHED communities. Iabo5 withont
employment or without REGARD Vast re-
sources slumbered untoucheA Dy the hand
Of development. The powhs Of oovsrn-
ment were prostituted to tn, onnress;on If
the intelligent and indusr;nns hnrdau
bearers of the State and theenr;cbmart 80
an unscrupulOus governin class AZ The
expense Of
PRosCklBED TAA-PAYEG MASSES
of the people. Thousands Of von, he's,
citizens were forbidden Il annrooch ar
polls, to sit in jury box, to bring a sniff
to plead cause, or to teaC1 a school tn
infamous proscriptive process which nre-
vailed closed your State TO tbe outs;ds
world and filed your highways with bnns
dreds of your exiled citi. ms seeking IN
more liberal communities the nr;viisoaa
and opportunities denied thin in tba Land
of their youth. Your land, were w;,bont
purchasers in the market Of the ro,IS
and without value save ioTpurposes Of tax
alton.
Not dollar of outside .auital 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 5arty 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 I'M
der Republican rule, t1st of 1870. the pop-
ulation of this State was in round num-
bers, 440 600 You Tow have within your
borders more than sc0, 900 people. At tho
last State election he'd prior t. tie census
of 1870 there were cass 70 s,13 votes. In
1887 there were reported in this State 49,
272 tithables As these reports are always
below the number of voters it is clear that
you have under Democratic rule near 160,-
900 voters, as against lees than 90, 900
when the Republicans were in control. A
few sample counties will best establish and
enforce the comparison.
In the county Of Nicholas under Repub-
lican rule, So persons voted at the State
election of 1868; under Democratic rule
there are in the county 1,7l7 voters snd in
the county of Greenbrier 447 persons voted
at the election under Democrats rule.
There are in that county 3, 448 voters. In
Cabell county SIT persons voted ut that
election; the county has 8S1 voters. In
Lincoln county there were 159 voters. She
mas now 2,015 voters. Logan had 1853
voters She has now 1879 Hardy had
312 She has now 1,520 Hampshire had
$50. she has now 349. Jefferson had
hoa
lican rule there was assessed in this State
for taxation railroad property to the
amount of s., 1862 644 Under Democratic
rule the railroad assessment Of 1887 was
Sis, 1s5, $50.
In 1870 you had five railroad companies,
operating nearly 400 miles of road. In
1887 you have % companies, operating
/ ,037 miles OF railroad. In 1870 yOu bad
2, 4O5 school teachers instructing 1862, 900
children in 2.113 schO'l houses, at a cost
of 81, 7O1 ,294 80 In 1887 you have 6, 059
teachers, instructing 249, 600 children in
4, 587 school houses at a cost of 81, 087,-
10 In the last full school year under
Republican rule. the distributable school
fund was $l49, 56S.5S.
For the year 1888 your distributable
school fund reaches the enormous pre-
portion Of 0,564 48. Under Republic
can rule development was practically ar
rested, and in the great items Of coal and
coke, the production, if any, found no
place in public statistics. The lsst pub
iished report of the Mine Inspector shows
a production Of coal and coke in West
Virginia, under Democrat rule, Of 3,213,-
993 tons.
In view of these results to which the
-o.o,. c,ata Standardization hss LARGELY