The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1894-09-05
THE PLATFORM.

/. Resotred. By the Democracy of the
Fourth Congressional District in Conven-
ton assembled, that we reatIirm our
faith in the principals of the Democratic
party as declared by the fathers OF our
Government and as promulgated by
the platform of the National Democratic
Convention at Chicago in 1892.
2. Resolred, That whilst the govern
ment of the United States is vested with
the powers of taxation, yet that power
is limited to the necessities of the gov
eminent economically administered.
3. ReSOlued, That the imposition by
the government oil tariff or tax for any
purpose other than for revenue, is with
out warrant of law, and at war with the
genus of this government; that q tariff
for protection plumbers the masses whilst
it protects the classes 1t maintains free
trade in the sweat of labor while it tax
es the products of toll. 1t opens the
sluice gates of foreign emigration and
brings our honest American labor III
competition with imported criminals
and paupers. 1t closes the markets of
the world against our farmers, and COM
pels them TO sell the products of their
toll in competition with the products of
the entire world. 1t poisons every spring
and source of prosperity and makes the
farmer the slave rather than the soyer-
ign of the soil he tills.
4. ResOlred, That a well regulated
currency is the basis of all national pros
perity, and that the Democrats Of the
Fourth Congressional District of West
Virginia are in favor of an honest dollar
but not dollar controlled by the gold
brokers of England and Germany, and
that we are in favor of both gold and
silver as established by our Revolution
airy fathers and formulated in the Con-
stitution of the United States, and that
we denounce the action of the Republi
can party in the characterization of silver
in 1873 as treason against the masses of
the people as contra-distinguished from
the classes. And that we demand that
silver be re-established as one of the
money metals of this country and to-
gether with gold be made the basis of
our circulating medium.
5. ReS0lred, That it was the duty OF
Congress to pass the Wilson Bill as
originally framed. and while it, as
amended by the Senate, does not re-
deem the pledge made to the people in
the National platform adopted at Chica-
go in 1892, yet we believe it is step in
the right direction and is guarantee to
the people of this country that the
Democratic party will in the end re-
deem her pledges to the people that the
tariff imposed by this government shall
be for revenue only.
6. Resolred, That in VIM. L. Wilson
the party has an honest and able advo-
cate of her principles, the people
champion of their rights, and our State
citizen and statesman to whom her
rights, her interests and her honor can
safely be confided.
z. Resolred, That we heartily endorse
the administration of Grover Cleveland,
and his conscientious, able, and honest
efforts in behalf of tariff reform.
ResOtUed, That we heartily endorse the
sentiments expressed in President
Cleveland's letter to Mr.. Catching. of
Mississippi, of August 81, 1894; and es-
pecially that portion in relation to the
tariff bill recently enacted and circum-
stances attending. its passage, wherein
he says:
81 do not claim to be better than the
masses of my party, nor do / wish to
avoid any responsibility which on &C
count of the passage of this law, 1 ought
to bear as member of the Democratic
organization, neither will permit my
self to be separated from my party to
such an extent as might be implied by
my veto OF the tariff legislation, which,
though disappointing, is still chargeabie
to Democratic effort. But there are pro-
visions in this bill which are not in line
with honest tariff reform, and which
ought not to appear in tariff laws or
Laws of any kind. Besides, there were,
as you and well know, incidents ac-
companying the passage of the bill
through Congress which made every
sincere reformer unhappy, while influ-
ences surrounded it in its latter stages
and interfered with its final construction
which ought not to be recognized or toll
Grated in Democratic tariff reform coun-
ellis. And yet, notwithstanding all its
yicissitudes and the bad treatment it re-
ceived at the hands of pretended friends,
it presents vast Improvement to exist
ing conditions. 1t will certainly tighten
many tariff burdens that now rest heav-
lily upon the people. 1t is not only
barrier against the return of mad pro-
lection, but it furnishes a vantage
ground from which must be waged fur
Their aggressive operations against pro-