Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-08-14
TIE PLATFORM.
A Strong Concentration OF Sound Demo
cratic Principles.

dress. the committee on RESOLUTIONS du-
nounced that III was ready TO report
Ex-senator Henry G.. Davis was chair
man, and i'm presenting the report made
"a short address. Mr.. Davis re-
viewed the financial extravaganza
of the National administration, and de-
clared that We would have an empty
treasury before another year, with
many debts contracted and unpaid. Our
liberty and right of Self-governmeht, he
continued. are in great peril. The un-
lust arbitrary rulings of Speaker Reed
and the attempt 20 pass the Force
Election BIZ" 20 much further toward
the Capitalization of power in the hands
of few. and against the rights of the
minority and the freedom OF
the people. than any former Republican
measures. No such dangerous
political move was ever attempted by
The most extreme men during the late
war. I believe that even Wade, sum
mer or Stevens would have protested
against such unfarc partisan acts On
the tariff. Mr. Davis said we asked for
a revision and reduction Of the tariff in
aSpirit of fairness TO an industries and
interests, The Republicans were reviS-
ing the tariff in am unfair and unius,
manner. giving To- their special friends
great advantages. In conclusion he
predicted overwhelming Democratic
victory this year.
TIE PLATFORM.
The platform was read by Hon. Geo.
W. Tippett as follows:
THE PLATFORM,
The Democracy Of West Virginia, in
convention assembled, congratulate the
people that under Democratic rule they
have made great and substantial adj
yauccment in morals. education and
general prosperity. We hereby declare:
FOR WEST VIRGINIA.
First-That We favor and encourage
the development Of West Nirginia's vast
mineral. agricultural and other reSour-
ccs. and to that end invite enterprise.
labor aud capital TO help us build rail-
roads, open mines and establish manu-
I features and cultivate our lands.
REPUBLICAN ENrINvAGANCE.
Second-We arraigu the Republican
party for It's extravaganza and useless
/ expenditure of the public money, which
Iif not checked, may lead TO an empty
/ treasury and increased taxation.
rHE rAEWF.
Third-We favor tariff for revenue
and We demand a revision and reduction
of the same 90 the lowest point consist
emit with au economical administration
i'm, frff {
fairness Co all interests. including farm
ing. mining and labor and manufactur-
Ing We favor general exchange and
expansion of our trade and commercial
relations with the world-and especially
Spanish America.
THE M'KINLEY BILL DENOUNCED.
Fourth-We denounce the Republi-
can party for It's hoStily TO the mass Of
the people On It's efforts 10 pass the Nc
/ Kinley tariff bill constructed in the in
tereSt OF monopolies, trusts and pOliti-
cal friends, whereby the few are to be
enriched 40 the expense OF the many, SO
that I'm future elections the SinewS OF
war may be supplied without stint, as
/ they have been recently i'm West Nir-
ginia and elsewhere. 10 purchase votes
and corrupt the ballot box. and thus
perpetuate Republican misrule.
THE REED oUrEACES.
Fifth-We denounce the unprece-
dentcd and unparliamentary conduct of
/ Speaker Reed and his confederateS in
. Congress. I'm arbitrarily changing the
rules of the House of Representatives,
which virtually places legislation in the
hands OF one man, the Speaker, thus
enabling them TO perpetuatc Rcpubli-
can rule by carrying their partisan leg
isiatiOu by force. without respect TO the
protests and rights OF the minority.
This and the similar attempts to change
/ the rules OF the Senate are utterly sub
versive of the spirit of our institutions,
and a want0n attack upon the liberties
of the people.
THE FORCE BILL CONDEMNED.
Sixth-We condemn in the strongest
terms the Federal elections force bill,
passed by the House and now pending
/ ln the senate. as q most iniquitous CON
triyance of partisan legislation. 1t is
unpatriotic in principle. uucOnStitu-
tional I'm detail aud malicious in pur-
pose. IL has more malignity in its con-
ception than any similar measure which
marked the political hatred Of the war
aud reconstruction period. 1t entails
au expense at each election of ten TO
twelve millions of dollars from the Fed
eral treasury In order 10 enable the
+ President and his appointeeS to use well
paid and perhaps corrupt men, ana
through them troops 10 control elec-
ti0ns and thus To take from the
people and confer upon the Republi-
can party through its own partisan
canyasSing boards the power to make
returns OF federal elections. 1t IS the
most dangerous assault upon the princl-
pie of home rule which has emanated
FROM any party and will create more
hostility and bad blood in the South
than has existed there since the close OF
the civil war; and may, il passed, make
the Southern States, where 1t Is intend
ed 90 be put I'm operation, as helpless aS
Ireland-aS devoid of liberty as Poland.
IL will disturb the peace, progress, hap
pineSs and confidence which now exist
aud have carried to the South for invest
ment the vast Northern capital-iust
beginning to reap the fruit OF its ven
ture-aud will be especially hurtful to
the development of the vast mineral
wealth and other enterprises of this
State.
BALLOT REFORM.
Sevcuth-We favor continued efforts
for ballot reform and purity of elec-
tionS. and we commend the Democrats
of our last Legislature for their united
and earnest efforts i'm favor of ballot
reform in spite OF the successful oppoSi-
ton of the Republicans.
THE STOLEN SEATS.
Eighth-Among the political outrageS
and frauds recently committed by the
Republican party to keep itself in power
against the will of the people, We
denounce the frequent and reckless
unseatlng in the House of Representa-
tives OF members honestly chosen by
the people. and the fraudulent admiS-
sion of two Republican Senators from
Montana 90 seats TO which Democrats
were fully and fairly entitled, and we,
the Democrats OF West Virginia, eSpe-
cially denounce the OutrageS perpetra-
ted on the people Of this State by the
unseating Of three of her duly elected