Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1892-09-21

the state, and used the funds set apart
sacredly to the education of the children,
for other purposes" This is the Ian
guage of the platform, and must say
that in my Judgment no one with a
proper sense of political fairness, who is
familiar with the facts and record OF
each party upon the subject. would have
preferred such a charge. The truth Is,
that the present administration is per-
haps the first since the organization OF
the state that has at all times found the
revenues sufficient TO meet all currents
charges upon the treasury. that has had
at all times ''surplus" funds on hand.
During prior administrations, both
Democratic and Republican, 1t was fire.
guently necessary TO borrow money
either from the banks or elsewhere 70
meet casual or temporary detlcits IN the
treasury. But mark the difference De-
tween the parties.
How School Funds Were Handled.
Asi was and is the duty of the board
of the school fund TO keep the irreduci-
BILE school fund loaned out at interest,
both Democratic and Republican adj
ministrations have from time 10 tine
borrowed from this fund such sums ms
were required to meet these temporary
shortages, When money wasso borrowed
from the school fund under Democratic
administrations, notes We're duly exc,
cuted covering the sums borrowed, ana
the interest thereon was regularly pald.
When the present administration took
charge of affairs, there was due the IRE
ducible school fund the sum OF Slv4,-
AS so borrowed. Since then no ad-
. ditional amounts have been borrowed
=. e. a1a
contrary. the sum of $93. .541.4S has been
Maid back into the school fund from the
surplus revenues of the state, leaving
balance of only $l00,9 yet due that
fund. on which interest at per cent. Is
paid annually and disbursed with the
distributable school fund. Now, while
Democratici administrations borrowed
from this fund TO meet casual deficits
under authority and by virtue OF law.
Republican administrations did the same
thing without regard TO law. While
the
Democrats Have Rigidiy Accounted
70 the school fund for every dollar so
borrowed. and have promptly paid ac-
crued interest thereon, the Republicans
kent accurate account Of neither princi-
nal nor interest, and from the formation
of the state to the year 1866, they used
both the general and free school funds
indiscIiminately for general state pur-
noses in direct violation OF law. In
support of this statement, let me give
Won Republican authority. i quote from
the report of Auditor McWhorter, dated
ian. 1. 1866. page |. He says: 'ln as
suming the duties of this Office on the
4th day of last March, found that no
account had been kept with the free
school fund or of the general school
fund" Auditor McWhorter thereupon
opened accounts with these funds, and
when the days of Republicanism ended
in this state, five years later, the BOOKS
showed, as near as could be ascertalneu
from the imperfect accounts kept, thaI
n balance OF $50. .50S.34 had been diverted
from the school fund, on which no in
terest had been paid and for which no
note or other evidence of Indebtedness
had been given, and which sum Demo
cratic administrations paid back This
is the sort of protection and care that
was given by the Republican party TO
that fund which its present platform de-
clares was ''set apart sacredly for the
education of the children" so long as
that party's fingers were in the treasury,
this fund was not regarded too sacred
TO be used for other than school pur-
poses, whether for the sacred purpose
of disfranchising Democratic voters or
increasing officers salaries by donations
of house rent.
The Public Printing.
Ny friends, this remarkable platform
next charges extravaganza IN pubic
printing and stationary accounts. While
no department Of the state government
is more carefully watched and econoin-
icallv managed, there has been
necessarily gradual increase in the ag-
gregate cost of printing and stationary,
incident TO the establishment and growth
Of our public institutions. But If COM
parison is made between present appro-
priations when printing is done for and
stationery supplied to the university,
agricultural board, experiment sta
ton. Colored Agricultural college, SIX
normal schools, hospitals for the insane,
the penitentiarys labor bureau and min
inspectors, and the appropriations for
printing made prior TO the establishment
of these institutions and departments. TO
say nothing Of the large requirements OF
the executive Offices Of the government,
a sufficient answer 10 the charge OF ex-
travagance in this quarter will have
been found.
Partisan Boards ana
Another charge in this platform Is
that our public institutions are run by
partisan boards appointed because OF
partisan service IL strikes me thet
This comes with rather bad grace from a
party that was seldom, If ever, known
10 appoint Democrat to any office or
upon any board. and even required OF
school teachers the infamous test oath
before allowing them 10 teach school for
living: but in defence 20 the charge
we plead that all of our state institutions
are in q most healthy. prosperous and
satisfactory condition, and better man
aged with less reference 10 politics than
they ever were at any period during all
the years of Republican supremacy in
this state. SO far, my fellow citizens,
as am authorized to speak for it, the
Democratic party will decline to apollo
gize for placing Democrats ON guard.
The states Prosperity.
And now | come TO what must be re-
garded, in the light Of our states splen-
did prosperity since she threw of the
yoke Of radical Republicanism, as the
'sioke." the ridiculous absurdity Of the
Huntington platform. The Democratic
party is grayely charged through its adj
ministratiOn Of affairs with retarding
the growth Of the state My friends,
invite your attention 10 our public insti-
tuition, costing more than 3 600, 900, to
our spendid system Of free schools and
educational institutions, to our un-
precedented increase in population and
material wealth, TO the astonishing in
crease in the states railroad mileage, her
mining industry and every department