The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-08-22
81 t---3s -- -
Democratic Ticket and Platform

MS conservatism and aD1llty. III MI.
Mckinney has ever given expression to
bitter personal feelings. growing out of
political differences, we are ignorant OF
it. If he has ever reflected upon the
personal character of worthy men who
differed with him, politically, we have
not heard of it. On the contrary, we
learn that, in one noticeable instance at
least, he has condemned the manifesto
ton of this spirit, and broadly and boldly
proclaimed that every man had the right
to his own opinions, and should be re-
spected in their exercise. While not APP
proving the views and the course some
adopt in supporting the Republican
party he has been equally emphatic in de-
claring that it should not interfere with
their personal relations or change his
conduct differs so widely from that of
some prominent Democrats that the con
trast is to his credit.
Mr.. Mckinney has never been before
the people for a State office but once
before He was the Democratic candi-
date for Attorney General in 1881, when
he was defeated, he, however, running
about 900 ahead of Maj. Daniel, who
headed the ticket for Governor. He is
LAWYER of ability and successful in his
profession.
Mr.. TYLER, the candidate for Lieuten-
ant Governor, is an educated farmer OF
Pulaski county. He has represented
his county and district in the House of
Delegates and State Senate is gentle
man of recognized ability, and very pop
ular in the section where he lives. He
claims to be representative of the
farmer interests.
Mr. Scott belongs to a family dlstln-
guished for it's legal ability, and while
bitter party man, he is recognized as
capable, in the line of his profession.
This much for the personal OF the
ticket The platform is a meaningless
iargon when interpreted by the light OF
facts and experience.
1t declares that the Democratic party
enacted the legislation which fostered
and perfected the public school system.
1t omits to say, however, that the con-
stitution, which was enacted by Re
publican Convention, made it nad7ldd-
tory upon the Legislature to do SO, and
that it was compelled to do what the
party did not want to do
1t omits to say that the Democratic
party devised and enacted the Funding
/ Bill of 1871, by which the coupons at
! tached to the bonds, issued under that
/ legislation, were made receivable for all
/ taxes dues &C., owed to the State, includ-
/ ing the school tax and that by its oper-
| alton the public schools were robbed OF
their constitutional allowance, virtually
| impoverished, and were in the last stages
of decay, when they were rescued by the
Republican party and placed upon safe
and prosperous footing.
The resolve on the debt question is
self-stultifying. The only legislation
which the Democratic party can claim
on that question is the Funding Bill of
/ 1871, the illiad of all our financial woes,
and the cause of the arrest of the mate
rial progress of the State. Condemned
by the people for it's imbecility, corrup-
ton and Indifference to the condition of
the Commonwealth, in 1881 it boldly
stole the Republican platform, pretended
to adopt it's legislation as it's own, and
then deliberately mutilated it SO as to
again open the debt matter, and leave
! the State in it's present deplorable condi
! ton, whereby the debt is increasing an
nually in defaulted interest; the credi
tors are receiving nothing on their
bonds, and the State is harrassed by eX-
pensive law suits, depicting the treasury
for the purpose of depriving the citizen
of his legal rights, and protesting the
solemn obligations of the State. The
history of the Democratic party ON the
debt question is an ineradicable dis
grace upon the Commonwealth, and
! perpetuated wrong upon the people.
The tariff resolve is medley of con-
! Predictions, inasmuch as the Democratic
National declarations on that issue, have
varied with the emergencies of the sit
uation, sometimes for free trade, at 9th
ers for horizontal reduction; at Others
for revenue only, and again facing both
ways, to catch the popular current in
different localities. The State platform
has been Numerically opposed to some
of the national declarations and called
for the severest condemnation of Dem
ocratic leaders outside of the State. The
Roanoke platform and the Mills bill were
antipodes, yet the Virginia Democracy
supported both, but neither was ever
endorsed by the people, as an expression
of policy on the tariff question.
The sentence declaring for the repeal
of the internal revenue system, is in di-
rect conflict with the Democratic record
in Congress and the Democratic platform
at Chicago. 1t is deliberate misstate-
ment of facts and history, and fragrant
perversion of party record.
The announcement that the Virginia
Democracy favors the public schools and
national aid based upon illiteracy, is
another of those cool, deliberate viola
tons of facts, with which the platitudi-
nous platform abounds. The people do
favor such aid, but the Democratic
leaders do not, and the party in Con-
gress has over and often defeated the
only measure that has ever been formu-
lated which had for it's object national
aid to the public schools.
Were it possible to evoke an expression
of public opinion on the issues made in
the platform. and secure direct verdict
at the ballot box upon each and all of
them, the Democratic party in this con-
test, would be overwhelmingly defeated.
But it is not possible to do this. The
questions suggested will not be discussed.
1t will be ''Mahone" and his tyranny, as
the greater evil, and the result it is not
difficult to foretell 1t will be but re-
petition of other contests. The cause of
Republication, the principles of the par
ty, which have for their end and object
the public welfare, and which the peo-
pie of Virginia would endorse, could
fair expression of public opinion be OBJ
tanned, are to be made secondary and
MahOnisgn thrust before the voters to