Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-10-25
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

| Seutr0 the following pldllOI III
witch, he said. had been adopte'
by the committee almost unanI
mously:
The Democratic party OF Virgin
ia, IN convention assembled, prone
of its past achievements both ii
State and National affairs, pledge
the same steadfast fidelity TO thu
best interests OF the people in TIN
future, and declares To the people
of Virginia:
First. We congratulate the PEG
pie of Virginia that through thu
wise legislation aud administration
OF she Deu. ocratic party the public
schools have been preserved IN Of
Gcient operation, aud their accom-
mOdatlons extended; that the re
sources necessary for the conduct
of ,he government in all it's depart
ments have been secured, aud that
the debt Question has been put III
train OF fual acceptable settlement
We would reprObate as mlchleV'
Gus TO all interests the reOpenlng
OF an issue which has been the
source of so much embarrassment
and vexati0n 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-.
sentatiyes 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.
priations by the Federal Govern.
ment apportioned among the States
in the ratio Of llliteracy OF their
population.
THIRD. The Democratic party
regards the encouragement and
fostering of agriculture AZ all i'm
portant to the prosperity of Viz
ginia, and IN securing valuable
emlgrants is necessary to 'he full
uccess of agricult ure 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 the 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 1t
will prevent conflict between con-
wet and honest labor. 1t is oppos-
ed to and will resist the introduc.
ton of foreign pauper labor; and
we favor the collection OF statistics
by the Labor bureau of the United
States and the consideration by 1t
of all matters which tend 20 the
Improvement and advancement OF
the laboring classes.
Fifth. The Democratic party
will foster the oyster industry of
Virginia for the benefit of her own
citizens, and favors tho enforcement
of tue policy Of preserving to her
citizens the free use OF all natural
oyster.rocks, beds and shoals as
regulated by law, and will oppose
the transfer or surrender of public
rights therein to individuals or cor
pOratlons.
Sixth. The party renews Its adj
herence to the principles and poll
cies on .he 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
aud fruit brandies.
Seventh. The Democratic party
of Virginia favors the complete re-
monetization and the free coinage
of silver.
Eighth. We are in favor Of D law
recurring the agricultural institu-
tions of the State to be placed un-
der the control of practical farm
ers.
Ninth. We recommend revision
OF the laws imposing taxes on
land, with the view to relieving 1t
of any unjust or unequal taxation
now imposed upon it.
Tenth. We endorse the wise,
patriotic, aud judicious administra-
ton OF Governor Fitzhugh Lee.
Eleventh. We believe that the
men who were disabled IN tue
service of the State during the late
conflict between the States and the
widows Of those who lost their lives
in such service are deserving of
aid and protection, and We favor
such liberal appropriations within
the revenues Of the State as will
tend 10 this end.
Twelfth. While earnestly in IA
vor of reforming the tariff upon
Just, cOny ersative, economic prlnci-
pies, we recognize that the issues
and conditions which confront us
In Virginia in the impending con.
test are immeasurably more impOr-
lance than tariff reform or the re-
duction of Federal taxation, impor-
tant as those questions are. Every
business interest of the State, every
social interest, every political in'
terest, demands that the Demo
cratic party-the party OF the peo'
pie, the party of peace, good order
and good gOvernment--which has
safely and wisely conducted the
State through the trying and
times of the past, shall
be continued in power. We oppose
the Republican party AZ the party
Of sectional strife. We oppose the
Republican party as the party OF
high taxes, of corrupt and extrava-
CANT expenditure of the public rev
enu.s, OF unjust and oppressive
treatment of the people of the
l.a nf