Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-09-27
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM

which, he sHd, had been a1opte'
by the commit lmOst nnani
moasly:
The emocratlc party Of Virgin
ia, IN convention assembled, prOu,
of its p lst achievements both il
State and National affairs, pledge
the same steadfast fidelity TO th,
best int rests OF the people 10 thu
future, and declares to the people
of Virginia:
First. We congratulate the peo
pie of Virginia that through th'
wise legi station and administration
OF she ID emocratic party the public
schools have been preserved IN Of
fcient operation, and their accom-
mOdatlOns extended; that the re'
sources necessary for the conduct
of the z Overnment in all it's depart
ments have been secured, and that
the debt question has been put in
train of final acceptable settlement.
We would reprObate as micheV-
GUS TO all interests the reOpenIng
an issue which has been the
source of Sc much embarrassment
and veXation to the Commonwealth
and with the continuance OF the
party administration which has
dealt with it ably and wisely, We
confidently look to its speedy sOlu.
ton upon the lines of adjustment
which the people have endorsed,
and which their Democratic repre-.
sentativeS have faithfully executed.
Second. The Democratic party
founded the public school system
of this Commonwealth. The pres.
ent efficiency of the system is the
result of Democratic laws and
Democratic effort. We will care
for and support the public schools
until every child shall be able to
secure the benefits Of education.
TO this end we favor liberal appro-
prlatiOns by the Federal Govern
ment appOrtiOned among the States
in the ratio of lliteracy of their
population.
Third. The Democratic party
regards the encouragement and
fostering of agriculture AZ all i'm
pOrtaut to the prosperity of Nir-
glnia. and IN securing valuable
grants is necessary to the full
ucce ss of agriculture in the State.
Therefore we declare that the Dem.
ocratic party IN its sympathies, its
principles, and it's policies is the
friend of agriculture, and will by
all proper legislation advance, fos.
ter, and secure the agricultural in.
terests in TIE State.
Fourth. The Democratic party |
has been, is and will be the friend |
of the labOrer. Its effort has ever
been to dignity labor and elevate !
the man. AS far as practicable it
will prevent conflict between con.
wet and 20 'est labor. 1t is oppOs.
ed 10 and will re ST the introduce
ton Of 70 Ign pauper labor; and
we favor the collection of statistics
by the Labor Bureau of the United
States and the consideration by it
of all matters which tend 10 the
improvement and advancement Of
the laboriDg classes.
Fifth. The Democratic party
will foster the oyster industry Of
Virginia for the benefit of her own
citizens, and favors the enforcement
of the policy Of preserving TO her
citizens the free nse Of all natural
oyster.rocEs, beds and shoals as
regulated by law, and will oppose
the transfer or surrender of public
RIGHTS therein to individuals or cor
pora;iOns.
Sixth. The party renews its adj
herence to the principles and poll
cies on The tariff and internal rev.
enue, so often enunciated in the
platforms of the State and National
conventions of the Democratic par.
ty and sustained by the voice of the
people at the polls. and especially
does it insist upon the immediate
abolition of the tax upon tobacco
and fruit braudies.
Seventh. The Democratic party
of Virginia favOrs the complete re.
monetization and the free coinage
of silver.
Eighth. We are in favor Of q law
the agricultural institu.
tions of the State TO be placed IN.
der the control Of practical farm.
eIs.
Ninth. We recommend a revision
OF the laws imposing taxes on
land, with the view to relieving 1t
of any unjust or unequal taxation
now imposed upon it.
Teeth. We endorse the wise,
pr lriotic, ard judicious administra.
ton OF Governor Fitzhugh Lee.
Ele zenith. We believe that the
men who were disabled IN the
service OF the State during the late
conflict between the States and the
widows Of those v no lost their lives
ia such service are deserving of
aid and protection, and we favor
such liberal appropriations within
the revenues Of the State as will
teud 10 this end.
Twe'th. While earnestly in IA
vOr of .elormlng the tariff upon
Just, cOnyersative, economic prlnci-
pies, We re OgnIZe that the issues
and conditions which cor rOnt US {
In Virginia in the impending con.
Test are UNNECESSARILY more impor-
lance than tariff reform OF the re-
luctiOn of Federal taxation, impOr. :
La0t as those questions are. Every ,
business interest of the State, every z
social interest, every political in /
.erest, den IDS that the Demo |
,ratlc party-th party OF the peo- |
Die, The p..rtS OF peace, good order 5
md good gOvernment-which has l
safely and wisely conducted the f
State through the trying and |
roublOus times Of the past, shall Q
Je continued in power. We oppose c
lie Republican party as the party c
If sectional strife. We oppose the I
republican party as the party OF il
ugh taxes, Of corrupt aud extrava- q
CANT expeuutur" Of the public rev. Y
'nues. OF unjust and oppressive i
reatmeDt of the people Of the q
Outhern States-the creator OF q
rusts and the promoter Of monOp- d