Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1892-08-02
Democratic Platform.

The Democracy of the State of West Vfr-
ginia, in convention assembled. extends lts
congratulations to the party and to the people
of the State. in view of the magnificent ma
terial development of the vast resources of the
State under the influence of Democratic prin-
ciples which have controlled its administra-
ton during the last twenty years.
We approve and ratify the platform of prin-
cfples promulgated by the National Demo-
cratic Convention at its meeting in Chicago.
and heartily endorse the nomination of Grover
Cleveland for President and Adlni h. Steven
son for Vice President of the United States.
We congratulate the people of the State of
West Virginia upon its rapid growth. increase
of population and material interests With
the completion of railroads now under con-
structiOn. and those projected. we may look
forward to the time when there will be even
more rapid development and increase in the
value of property. The finances of the State
have never been III a more healthy or satisfac.
tory condition than under the policy pursued
by Democratic administrations iii strictly en-
forcing the IawIrelatiHg to the collection ofley-
les. and of prohibiting the release of bonded
officers; Ehrrifs have been prompt i'll cJllect-
Ing and turning over the public moneys which
have been sufficient to meet all of the govern
mental expenditures. With an increased yAa<
uution made in pursuance of law, OF twehty.
six millions of dollars, the revenues will be
more than sufficient to meet all proDer and
economical charges. leaving q surplus in the
treasury. We therefore would recommend to
the Legislature q reduction in the rate of tax
alton.
We appeal TO the patriotic sentiment and
State pride of the citizens of West Virginia.
regardless of party. to express ut the polls
their indignant condemnation of the conspir-
acy entered into in 1870 by j. N. Huston,
chairman of the Indiana State Republican
Committee. then Treasurer of the United
States. and officers of the National Republican
committee. in cooperation with certain lead
ers of the Republican party in West Virginia,
to COLOMBO onr State by the Introduction of an
ignorant. Ihrifilcss and debased class of North
IN rO1iO1 nprrFnPS To lOVypr tl,I o,rn nf go.
honest, intelligent and independent working
men by their competition; to deDaucll the hal
lot and corrupt the suffrage of our people. for
the purpose of fastening Republican misrule
upon the State, ard placing portions of it un-
der Negro domination.
We congratulate the people upon the ccon-
omy and wisdom of the expenditures by the
Democratic party since it gIaR had control of
the State. and we refer with pride to the fact
that when it was transferred from Republican
control to the Euardii n:hip of the Democratic
party, little had Eccn done in the erection of
those public institutions essential in the dcvel-
Opment and prosperity of the State.
Within the brief period of its control Ivy the
Democracy 1t has completed our University
and Pcnitctiary, enlarged over twO-fuld the
Weston lunatic asylum; almost completed the
Spencer asyluEH; established and equipped
with every convenience. the deaf and Iiind
asylum aud established and erected fls first
distinctivcly cnlnrcd agricultural college; ire
bied the capacity of the normal schools and
erected a handsome and commodiousState cap
capitol, and has enlarged, perfected and SYSTEM
OtiZed u free sclIOolsystem that has encouraged
enrolment and increased the State and local
revenues from n nominal sum to near a million
dollars Il year, and all this without auy in
crease of taxation, when the special taxes fire.
queptly levied in addition TO the ordinary
State taxes by Republican legislatures is AXE
into considerations.
: The Democracy of the State of West Virgin
ia request and insists that the next session of
the Legislature shall pass Il law making it a
nnno1 nffntfnn fnr q fifiyn1, mr. RnrnrrnNfn 80, 1zS-u
business in this State to import an armed
body of citizens from other States to guard
property or to act us a part of the posse conf
tGtuS and to prescribe severe penalties to be
imposed upon citizens of other States who
come within the State of West Virginia for
the purpose of acting In such u capacity. he
licVing that in the laws of the State of West
Virginia and in the loyalty of its 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 been such as to invite large
Investments in the timber and coal lands of
our State. i'll extending itE transportation ia
%cilities, thereby increasing the asScsable value
of snch lands and relieving. to that extent.
the burden which has rested so heavily upon
agriculture. We invite II contrast between the
results of the efforts III the administration of
our Stale. guided and directed hy Democratic
policy. with the terrible burden resting mon
the people and the Republican policy If Fed
crai ta~Xationwhich by its appropriations in
tS9i imposed an average burden of $500 per
capita upon every man. woman aud clild
within the limits OF the State.
In view of these results contributed to bv
the conservative judgment aud wisdom of our
present executive. the Democracy, in convene
lion assembled. do most Earnestly and heart
lily endorse the administration of Governor A.
i. Fleming and those associated with lin in
the executive departments: and we appeal to
The people. regardless of party. TO ratiiy and
confirm at the polls in November the honest.
conservative aud economical record made dur
lug the twenty years of Democratic admins
tration and We pledge ourselves to give a
hearty and enthusiastic support to the nomi-
noes of the National and this convention.
believing that the chosen representatives of
the Democracy viii in the fntnre. as onr Lead
crs have in the past. zealously guard the in
terests OF the people. as they have promoted
the Development and progress of our State