Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1897-08-20
TEE: PLATFORM.

TIE democratic party OF VIZ
gluia, ia convention assem- Die
would remind the people that the
election in November next is OF
vast aud far reaching Importance.
1t involves the choice Og the peo-
pie at large of their chief execn'
tive officers for term OF iOlr
years, viz: Governor, Lieutenant
Governor aud Attorney General
Il involves the choice by the peo'
ple in the legislative and senator
ial districts OF another House OF
Delegates for term OF two years
and of twenty enc Senators for a
term of four Years. The General
Assembly will then be changed
in time with the duty of elecung
county Judges OF The Safe toF a
term OF SIX years and important
administrative affair "f the state,
and ii S nat o.it [ tied states
so that lie leslit %. ,ie election
will deeply Effect the interest OF
the people IN their domestic and
federal conc, rus. The Democratic
party appeals to the Intelligence
ana patriotism OF the people and
vouches its record during Sdccess'
i've administrations Of the State
government as giving it title to
their continued confidence and sup
nOrt.
Following the wisdom OF tue
founder of democracy it has cuer-
l,hed aud built up a system OF free
schools, which is nov the prize
and ornament Of the State. In 1878
the amount appropriated to them
was the sum OF $500 1000. 1t is now
considerably over 5000, 600. The
Female Normal School OF Farm
vile. the Polytechnic Institute oil
Blacksburg, the Virginia Military
Institute, the University OF Vlr'
ginia, aud the Hampton Institute
are all monuments Otthe fostering
care of democracy to the canse OF
pnblic education. We pledge TO
that coase our loyal and generous
support until every child in the
commonwealth shall be- assured an
opportunity of education.
With measre resources the State
has done the best it could for dis
ahled soldiers and the widows or
soldiers who lost their lives IN the
war. and we commend them to thu
most generous and favorable con |
sideration that it is possible for the
Legislature to extend.
The Institutions of the State for
the insane and the deaf, dumb and |
bllnd, show the progress OF demo
cratic care and they shall ever lie
the object of oar most teDdeI and
generous consideration.
The finances of the State have
been handled by the democratic
party with economy anu skill. 1t
consummated a settlement Of the
public debt after the subject had
been long source OF turmoil and
trouble, and without increasing
the rate of taxation. We applaud
the General J ssembly TOR its en-
actmepts, whereby public expenses
were substantially reduced, and
commend to them such cireiul
revIslons of the laws as will bring
about more re luctiGns. The calling
of ac)nstituti)na convention hav-
ing been defeated at the polls this
convention CON peudS to the Cen
eral Assembly consideration and
submission to the people OF such
constitutional amendments as may
cOudnce 10 the uttrImOst economy
of the government consistent With
efficiency.
The democratic party OF virginia
has established a dep lrtment OF
agriculture and VIII always do its
uttermoSt to promote agrlc
as the original, purest ald most
bene6cent OF avocatiOn', bat Il
well knO vs. that the federal >ys.en
of legislation which contracts the
p currency aud riucIeasss taxat Oh
must inevitably result in the de
, preston Of agricultural pro peIiiy
{ and its dependent industries OF
D commerce, mining and manufac-
. tare. The conditions that now
surround US cannot be removed 10y
| State legislation. They cin only
, be removed 0y the restoration OF
national democracy to power. lie
existing republican administration
has devised no measure to relieve
but an increase of tariff t,xation
aud To cover its nab lity 10 lrgis-
late has seat rowing con Mission
to Europe to ascertain the wishes
!. | al an IA