Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-09-13
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM.

winch. he said, had been adopted
by the committee almost unani-
mousiy:
The Democratic party of Virgin
ia, I'D convention assembled, proud
of Is past achievements both in
state and National affairs, pledges
the same steadfast fidelity to the
best interests of the people lin the
future, and declares to the people
Of Virginia;
First. We congratulate the pe0.
ple OF Virginia that through the
wise legislation and administration
of She Democratic party the public
schools have been preserved IN of.
fcient operation, and their accom-
mOdauOns extended; that the re.
sources necessary for the conduct
of the government in all it's depart
menis have been secured, and that
the debt question has been put in
train OF hDal acceptable settlement.
We would reprObate as michieV.
Gus to all interests the reOpenlng
OF an issue which has been the
source of so much embarrassment
and veXatiOn to the Commonwealth
aud 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-
prlations 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 as all i'm
portant to the prosperity of Vir-
giuia, and IN securing valuable
emlgrants is necessary to the full
success of agriculture in the State.
Therefore we declare that the Dem.
ocralic party IN its sympathies, its
principles, and its policies is the
friend Of agriculture, and will by
all proper Legislation advance, fos.
ter, and secure the agricultural In.
tercSts in the State.
Fourth. The Democratic party
has been, is and will be the friend
OF the laborcr. Its effort has ever
been to dignity labor and elevate
the man. As far as practicable it
Will prevent conflict between con-
wet and honest labor. 1t is OppOs-
ca 10 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 ana the consideration by it
of I'll matters which tend TO the
Improvement and advancement of
the laborlng classes.
Fifth. The Democratic party |
viii foster the oyster industry oil
Virginia for the benefit of her own
citizens, ana favors the enforcement
Of the policy of preserving to her
citizens the free use of all natural
oyster-rocks, beds and shoals as
regulated 10y 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.
enuc, so often enunciated in the
platforms Of the State and National
conventions OF the Democratic par
ty and sustained 10y 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
requiring the agricultural instito.
lions of the State TO be placed IN.
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 1t.
Tenth. We endorse the wise,
patriotic, aud judicious adminlstra-
ton OF Governor FltZhugh Lee.
Eleventh. We believe that the
men who were disabled III the
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, cOnyersative, economic prlncl-
pies, we recoguze 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 ill.,
tercst, Demands that the Demo
cratic party-the party OF the peO-
pie, the palt, OF peace, good order
and good gOvcrument-.whlch has
safely and wisely conducted the
State through the trying and
lroub,Ous lines Of the past, shall
be continued IN power. We oppose
the Republican party as the party
of sectional strife. We oppose the
Republican party as the party OF
high taxes, of corrupt aud extrsva-
CANT expenditure of the public rev.
enues, OF unjust aud oppressive
treatment Of tue people OF the
southern States-the creator OF
trusts and the promoter of mOnop-
oles. We oppose the Republican