Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1892-08-12
The Democratic Platform.

The Democracy OF the state of.West VIZ
ginia in convention assembled, eAtehus its
DETERMINATIONS TO the party and TO the peo-
ME of the state, in view OF the magnificent
material development OF the vast resources
OF the state under the influence Oh lie, DeiI a.
cratic principles which have controller lts
administration during the last twenty
years. ,o-,, of nrin-
ciples promulgated by the NATIONAL D 'l'
cratic Convention al It's meeting in Chicago.
and heartily endorse the nomination oI
grover Cleveland for President ana Adlal 4;
Stevenson for Vice President OF the Ghlteu
We congratulate the people ofthe state OF
West Virginia upon It's rapid CROWN, IN
crease OF population and material interests.
With the completion OF railroads now unueT
construction, and those projected, we may
look forward to the time when there Will De
even more rapid development ana increase
in the value OF property. The hnances Oh
the state have never been in more heaItny
or satisfactory condition than under tue
policy pursued by Democratic admlnlstra-
lions in strictly enforcing the law Te!athg
10 the collection OF levies. ana OF pronloilIng
the release OF bonded officers; sherihs nave
been prompt in collecting ana turning over
the public moneys which have Oeen suincl-
ent TO meet all the governmental eNpenul-
lures. With an increased valuation maze III
pursuance of law, of twenty-siX mllllohs OF
dollars, the revenues Will be more imam SUI
ficient TO meet all proper ana economical
charges, leaving surplus in the treasury.
We therefore would recommend 10 the Leg
islature a reduction In the rate of taxation.
We appeal TO the patriotic sentiment and
state pride OF the citizens OF west virginia,
regardless OF party, TO express AT Iue polls
their indignant condemnation OF the con-
spIracy entered into in 1890 by j.. y. huston,
chairman OF the Indiana state Republican
Committee, then Treasurer OF the United
States and officers OF the National Republl-
can committee, in cooperation with certain
leaders of the Republican party in west Nlr-
ginia, 10 COLOMBO our State by the intro
duction OF an ignorant thriftleSs ana de-
based class OF North Carolina negroes, 10
lower the wages OF our honest, intelligent
and independent workingmen by their COM
petitions; to debauch the ballot and corrupt
the suffrage OF our people, for the purpose OF
fastening Republican misrulers upon the
State. and placing portions OF IL under Negro
domination.
We congratulate the people upon the econ
omy and wisdom of the expenditures by the
Democratic party since IL has had control OF
the State, and We refer with pride to the fact
that when ii was transferred from Republi =
can control TO the guardianship OF the Dem
ocratic party little hadi been done in the
erection OF those public institutions essential
in the development and prosperity OF the
state.
Within the brief period of It's control by
the Democracy 1t has completed our Uni
versity and Penitentiary, enlarged over two
fold the Weston lunatic asylum; almost
completed the spencer asylum; established
and equipped with every convenience, the
deaf and blind asylum and established and
erected the first distinctively colored agri-
cultural college; tripled the capacity OF the
normal sch ools and erected handsome and
commodious State capitol. and has enlarged.
perfected and SystematiZed n free school
system that has encouraged enrol lment and
increased the state and local revenues from
II nominal sum 10 near million dollars a
year. and all this without any increase OF
taxation, when the special taxes frequently
levied in addition 10 the ordinary State
taxes by Republican legislature is taken into
considerat
The Democracy of the State of West Vir-
ginia request and insists that the next ses-
sion OF the Legislature shall pass law max
ii penal offence for a citizen or corporation
doing business in this State to import an
armed body of citizens from other States to
guard property or to act as part OF the
posse cOiHitdtJtS and to prescribe severe PEN
altIes to be imposed upon citizens OF other
States who como within the State OF West
Virginia for the purpose OF acting in such a
capacity, believing that in the laws OF the
State OF West Virginia and in the loyalty Of
It's citizens rests the security of invested
capital and employed labor.
We congratulate the Democracy upon the
admirable financial showing by the present
administration and direct their attention TO
the fact that the expenditures and receipts
have been so adjusted that not one dollar
has been borrowed even for temporary use;
that the policy of our laws and the wisdom
OF their administration has beeI such as TO
invite large investments in the timber and
coal lands OF our State, I'm extending it5
transportation facilities, thereby increasing
the assessable value OF such lands and reliev-
ing, to that extent, the burden which has
rested so heavily upon agriculture. We in
Vlte contrast between the results of the
efforts In the administration OF our State,
guided and directed by Democratic policy,
with the terrible burden resting upon the
people and the Republican policy OF Federal
taxation which by its appropriations in 1891
imposed an average burden of S9.D per
| capita upon every man, woman and child
within the limits OF the State.
In view Of these results contributed TO by
| the conservative judgment and wisdom of
our present executive, the Democracy, in
convention assembled, do most earnestly
and heartily endorse the administration OF
Governor 4. Il. Fleming, and those ussnciat-
ed with him in the executive departments;
and we appeal to the people, regardless OF
party, to ratify and confirm at the polls in
November the honest, conservative and
economical record made during the twenty
years of Democratic administration; and we
pledge ourselves TO give a hearty and en- =
thuSiastic support to the nominees of the
National and this convention, believing that
the chosen representatives of the Demo-
crazy Will in the future, as our leaders nave
in the past, Zealously guard the Interests OF
the people, as they have promoted the de.
velopment and progress OF the state and
nation.