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

ing and Republicanizing three Demo
cratic states of this Union with negro
voters. | refer to the states of Indiana,
Connecticut and West Virginia, the
three states covered by the elaborate
plans for colonization conceived by
Chairman Quay, United States Treas
urer Houston. Lindsey and others, and
about which Treasurer Houston said he
would consult the president and the at
torney general of the United States. Is
it a mere coincidence thai soon after this
colonization scheme was planned and
had received the concurrence and en-
dorsement of the lesser Republican
lights of this state, that this Ohio Re
publican corporation should conclude to
break this strike by the importation of
foreign colored labor fourteen months
before the next general election! Why
did they not wait a couple of months
longer? Evidently they had prohted by
the lesson of the gubernatorial contest,
which taught them that twelve months
residence was essential to a right to vote
in West Virginia, whatever the color or
politics of the intending voter might be.
Now. nv fellow citizens, Is the light
of the exposure of this general scheme
of colonization, in its relation to the re-
suits at Raymond City, what credit for
sincerity or consistency are we to give
to the Republican platform and Its
declaration against armed alien forces
Particularly when these same gentlemen
will tell you during this campaign that
they are in favor Of force bull so that
they NAV have free vote and fair
count. who congratulate the psople upon
the fact that there will be no United
States marshals at the polls this year
and at the same time declare in favor OF
n federal election law that ''puts
bayonet behind every ballot
Sample of Radical Economy.
The Huntington platform next de-
nominees the Democratic administrations
in this state as wasteful, incompetent
and extravagant. 1t charges specihcal-
" that we have increased the number
of osiceholders and their salaries; IN
creased the average assessment for state
taxes. and the object and basis OF taxa
ton by the reassessment OF property.
Let them specify wherein we have been
either wasteful, incompetent or eXtraya-
CANT. Let rs compare records Inc
Republican party was in power III TINS
state from 1868 to 1871. During that
period. with tax rate greater than we
have since had, they only partially built
tbe asvlum at Weston, about half COM
Melted the penitentiary at Moundsyille
and received as donation grounds and
buildings for university and normal
school. The impartial inquirer will ask
in vain what they did with the taxes
collected from the people. assert on
the other hand, that every falr-minded
man must concede merit in all the eX-
penditures under Democratic admlnistra-
tion. in the offices created and the sal
aries maid: that they must also condemn
the Republican methods of handling the
finances disapprove of many OF the
offices created under Republican adj
ministration, and criticise the salaries
paid.
did upon coming into power was 10
abolish fifty-four boards of registration,
thus doing away with 1862 Republican
officers, whose sole business 1t was 70
disfranchise Democrats. These boards
cost the state treasury $S.146.SS IN lSoO;
SIG. As. 81 in 1867; $S, 1852. 81 in 1865: 3d.
51S.H in 1859; s., 1922 in 1870; 81
400. 50 in 1871 More annually than the
present salaries of the governor, auditor,
treasurer, attorney general and super
intendent of free schools. and the abol-
tion of these boards also retired to
private life an army of several hundred
registrars. all of whom had to be pad.
The Party Pleads Guilty.
The Democratic party pleads guilty to
the charge in the Republican platform
that it has created a few offices. 1t Gre
ated the offices of state inspectors OF
mines. made necessary by the mining
law enacted by Democratic legislature
to provide safety for that very deserving
class of our citizens employed IN INNING
coal. and who are doing 90 much Tor the
development and substantial prosperity
of the state. The very nature of this in
dustrv makes it hazardous one, and 1t
is the plain duty of the state to provide by
law such regulations as will tend to re-
duce the dangers and increase the safety
of this class of our citizens. Doyou Re
publicans propose TO abolish the two
offices of mine inspectors? Another
Office created by Democratic legislation
is that of commissioner of labor. ms
bureau was created to gather such
statistical and other information respect
ing the conditions of all classes Of labor
as would enable our legislators to intelli-
gently consider and enact laws IN the in
terest of the laboring classes. do you
propose. my Republican friends, who
delight in posing as the special friends
of labor. to abolish the labor bureau
The board of agriculture in another Gre
alton of the Democratic party. None
except practicable farmers are eligible
TO places on this board. You Republi-
cans love the farmer and have establish ID
and insist upon maintaining, as you say,
n high protective tariff in his interest;
do YOU object to a few hundred dollars
expended through the operations OF this
board exclusively for the benefit Of the
farmers of West Virginia? Are you in
clined to
Oppose the National Guard
of our state, of whom all should be
proud? If not you can not object to the
faw which relieved the adjutant general
of the duties of state librarian by Great
ing the Office of librarian. The new
military law under which our national
guard is organized, and which was pre-
pared bv those eminent Republicans,
Colonel Freer and Major Gluck, gentle
men for whose fairness and ability as
politicians, citizens and military men
have a high regard, made 1t necessary to
have in the adjutant general an officer
who could give all his attention to mill
tarv matters. The Office Of librarian IS
one of Importance, its duties are confin-
ing and require constant attention from
one person at least. Since the creation
of this Office. our valuable state library
has been well cared for and the service
has been most efficient. Do our Re
publican friends want to cripple the
military organization Of the state, or
leave the state library without proper
care and service? Another new Office Is
that Of state bank examiner, but in falr-
ness to the Rennblican candidate for