Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-09-24

TURKS In our pathway until ltS fdnhtieS'
and the seif-seeking or its leaders are
| exposed.
i, He said we have reason 10 be proud
OF the record OF the Democratic party
I'm State affairs The administration "
Fitz Lee. four years ago, was brought
under review and approved by forty thou
sand majority. IL Is not saying too much
| TO say that the administration OF Govern
| CT Mckinney IL entitled TO like approval
| First and foremost, the State debt has
been settled and removed from the
courts and politics. The terms OF set
Element are so favorable and honorable
that our adversaries have not dared 10
assault IL. The revenues from 1889 TO 1882
have increased about s50oo00. this increase
| is derived wholly from subject other
| than farming lands. Under a new law
enacted in 1891, for the better assessment
Of the property OF railroad companies.
the revenues were increased from that
source $500, and for the year 1898 IL
viii show a further increase of $4,000.
General Field charged in his Charlottes-
willie speech that while farming lands in
! the State were were assessed at 500, 00O =
O00 and paid s., 10000 OF taxes to the State
government, the railroads, worth as much.
paid only $4,000 in taxes. The Gen
eral, though a defunct Presidential
candidate was off on his figures. Farming
lands are assessed only at 1851. 709 255,
and pay 500, 7.O2, while the railroad prop
erty is assessed at $50. 1873. S7567 and pays
a tax at the same rate as farming lands
of s9l51S5. The people will accept the
sworn assessment made by Z. W. Nc
Kinney, Morton Marye and A. w. Har-
mon rather than the bold statement of
Third-party stumper.
f,rIhifp have greatly prOS-
pered. In 1889 there were 7,4l0 schools;
in 1893 there were 7.76S an Increase of
3js. In 1889 the scholars were &6.9S; In
1891 they were 3l2.720, an increase of SIP.
In 1889 the appropriations for schools
were 81 SO7, ~; in 1892. sl9lI609l. an
increase OF sos. 6S0.i9.
The platform on which Cooke Beverley.
and Graveley stand brings no charge
OF nal-administration against the Demo
Gratis I'm State affairs. The only legislative
sin Of commission alleged is the passage
OF the Anderson Mccormick election law.
and. as to that. when challenged 10 do so,
they have never pointed out an unfair
provision They pledge themselves TO the
enactment OF non-partisan law, and
by going to their Omaha platform, It APP
pears that they mean the Australian
ballot system. This system would
exclude from the privilege of voting
about one-thlrd Of the voting population,
who cannot read, unless this third were
willing to surrender the secrecy OF their
ballots. Besides. II would greatly increase
the costs OF holding elections-about five
times. making the expense in Virginia
about 100000.
As TO the sins OF omission brought,
they blandly say that the list is too long
to be enumerated. curious excuse, in
deed. No sane man will accept such an
excuse as frank The only charge that
they bring Is that the Democrats have
failed to hold a constitutional conven-
ton to amend the Underwood Constitu-
ton, and abolish 1.-THE countless Offices
It created"
The speaker expressed surprise that
there was not a single man IN the Thir'-
party convention sufficiently acquainted
with the political history pr the state
who knew that as far back as 1913 the
Underwood Constitution was amehdeu
without the expense TO the peop1S OF a
convention. In the very particular now
complained OF. Mr.. Cooke. their canGi-
date, says he asks nothing" That IL
well. for he will get nothing. lie also
SAYS he IL earnestly, ardently praying
for the prosperity OF Virginia. 1t would
be well, said the speaker, that he direct
hts prayers towards the leaders Of his
party, that they may be enlightened on
the political history Of the state, or freed
from political guile.
Mr.. Pollard said he would not depreciate
the financial distress that had oyertaken
people OF almost every class. The Popu-
lists glibly tell US that oil this comes
from not having free coinage OF silver.
and that the low price of farm products
is specially due to this, not knowing, or
conveniently forgetting that In 1867, when
tobacco was so per hundred ana wheat
81 Is per bushel. there was coined in silver
only S2,72S,7S6 In the United States. and
that In 1892 when tobacco was worth
81 per hundred and wheat seventy. five
cents per bushel. there WAS coined in
this country SOS S31, 296 Of silver From the
righteousness with which they demand
free silver, you would suppose that every
farmer I'm Virginia had a silver mine in
his backyard. They are filling the State
with imported orators from the silver
States who. In advocacy of free silver,
speak two words for themselves to one
for the Virginia farmer
Whatever be the causes OF this distress,
for there are more than one, the Demo
cratic party can be trusted to find them.
and apply the remedies. il has record
TO be proud of I'm the prosperity that
signalized its former national control.
FROM 1917 " looJ RNbttd nNoiAiA III
creased 126 per cent. and agricultural
wealth 100 per cent; while from 1870 TO
1850. under Republican rule. the general
wealth increased s. per cent, and the
agricultural wealth &c per cent. In Nir-
ginia from 1850 to 1860 the agricultural
wealth increased 81 per cent, and from
1870 to 1850 only 20 per cent In 1906, under
Democratic rule, r. per cent. Of all the
carrying trade with other countries was
done by American vessels, while In lsy2
American vessels carry but II per cent.
of II.
To curry favor with the Republican
party. the Popullsts speak dersiyely OF
tariff-reform. But the Mckinley bill
is doomed, and will 80. From thence
will come n large measure Of relief.
Another great measure, big with bless
ing to the people, 10 which the Demo
cratic party stands pledged, Is the repeal
of the prohibitory ten-per-cent. tax on
State bank issue. The Populists say IL
will give us wildcat currency" But
said the speaker. like 'old-time religion,
1t IS good enough for me- 1t gave the
greatest period Of prosperity Qrom 1850
TO 1860 in the nations history,
Mr.. Pollard showed how the money
was collected at the South and distributed
almost wholly at the North 70 pay the
interest on the public debt and war pen
siOnS.
In closing. he said that apathy always
followed political success. That disap-
poIntment in not receiving political recog-
milton I'm appointment TO Office bred dis-
content, and Impotence at results led 10
discord In the political camp. These con-
ditions must be recognized and remedied.
The duty OF the hour is devotion to Demo-
cracy, and that involves energy and ac-
tivlty.
The speaker was heartily congratulated
by many friends. who pressed forward
to grasp his hand.