Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1900-05-11
THE PLATFORM
Adopted by the Democratic Convention
At Norfolk.

q Adopted by the Democratic Convent,
s At Norfolk.
5J We give below the platform adopte
by the Democratic State Conventio
s at Norfolk last week. twill be foun
z TO be very interesting reading:
3 We hereby indorse the principles Q
Democracy as enunicaied in the ma
: tional platform Of the party adopted a
Chicago in 1896. We heartily indors
William Jennings Bryan as the Iogica
Democr'ltic candidate for the Presi
? dency OF the United States and we in
struct our delegates to the Nationa
democratic convention to be held al
Kansas City to vote accordingly.
We denonnce the Republican policy
OF Imperialism as un-Democr attic. nm
American and unconstitutional. Vir-
ginIa has ever been foremost in. BATH
ing for the republic as against the
empire, and it is with an unfaltering
confidence in the patriotism Of her sons
snat we call upon them to again stand
against the empire and for the republic.
we declare that there can be no gov.
ernment bv the republic of our fathers
except that which is dominated by the
IOonstltutlon of the United States, and
tnat neither in the promotion of our
welfare nor in accordance with the
constitution can the United States
acquire and govern any territory
whatsoever as q subject province nor
deny to the people of any territory to
oe retained under our control the bless
lngs OF constitutional liberty, nor can
we hope to raise the level of American
cltlzenshlp by pouring into it a horde
of Asiatics.
therefore, in the interest of the
american people and American ipsti-
1utlons and in harmony with the
teachings OF our wisest statesmen of
all parties. and as "a plain duty" we
aeinand that the Philippine Islands
oe turned over as soon as practicable
% their own inhabitants; that the peo-
'ie OF Porto Rico be given just ter.
:ltorlal government before their sub
'tance is stolen by carpet-baggers. u
IND that We promptly and honorablv =.
make good our solemn declaration con- u u
'efnlng Cuba. We Democrats of Vir-
'lnla are opposed to militarism and m
'reat standing armies as the worse ene- az
nles of the republic. &C
we declare unalterable opposition to ~ 10
riminal trusts and to every other il I'll
'gal comination of capital. We de
ounce such trusts as serious menace q
the public welfare, restricting the IL !.
abstance OF the people. They are the y.
lrect product of partial and unjust oi
gislation and reckless multiplication ~ ~
corporation without suitable pro- W
sions for their control. The rights At
American freemen must not be r"'
'crificed in the interest of corpora ie'
ons banded together for their de
ruction. We arraign the Republican
'rty both for its failure to enforce I
listing laws and to enact others against
e trusts.
whereas there is pending in Con-
ess bill forbidding contractors do
9 work for the United States govern. ia
ent similar to the work done by the sca
vernment In it's own shops, requir- Civ
8 iaborers on such work to work kn,
eater number of hours per day than tai,
laborers employed in the govern Tn,
mt shops are required to work. ach
Resolved, That We indorse the prin ara
lie of said bill as be being Just and actl
nmendable. r.
The Democrats of Virginia IN con- stoy
ltion' assembled do hereby indorse wbi
clean and honest administration of fonl
Aoso Ayier, Governor OF virginia, in tt
we congratulate our people upon ed h
liberal support of our public free curr
ools and of our disabled Confeder- natl
'o'uiefs anu WIDOWS, which has body
n SO generously afforded by said Disc
swoe
lhereas the General Assembly of the
ginia has submitted to a vote of cbnr
people the question of the calling ino
= constitutional convention, and Med
reas it is the evident desire of the bol
70 poopie VI virginia TO amend and no n;
sc the present Constitution,
esolYed, That the Democratic par
+ Virginia, in convention assem-.
!, indorses the actionof the General Mr.
emily and earnestly urges the has a
lie of Virginia to vote on the fourtb in tht
rsday in May for calling consti- Comr
onal convention. Mr.
esolved, That it is the sense of this empl'
7ention that in framing new Con- Conn
ltion no effortshallbe made to dis sorry
chise any citizen of Virginia who on &C
q right to vote prior to 1861, nor Th'
descendant of any such person, and rived
when such action shall have been W. Y
led it shall be submitted to a vote home
10 people for ratification or reiec- the ne
and the Democratic party pledges Pulp
the expenses incident to consti. Rowe
nal convention shall be kept down ingtol
In ~rrA