The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-11-03
graded this Commonwealth.
In the next breath they Identify Them

serves with Underwood ana MS consul
tntional Convention and Incorrectly
a body OF aliens, and 1t founded Moth
Ing. 1t. proposed to the people OF vir-
gin!a a constitution. One portion Of that
constitution provided. chat there should
be thereafter founded on uniform sys-
TEN OF public free schools. and also for
its Introduction into all OF the counties
by the year 1876. or as much earlier as
practicable"
Is The first Legislature OF Virginia, elect
cd after the expurgated constitution
which the Virginia reople adopted,
founded the free sehool system. they
were required by the constitution to
provide by law, An uniform system OF
free schools and ior It's gradual, equal
and full introduction into all OF the coun-
:ies Of the State by the year 1876, or as
much earlier as practicable"
: This Democratic Legislature that met
under the new constitution firmly eetab-
5lished uniform system of free schools
by act approved July II, 1870, FIVE years
,ahead of the time required There could
not be more plain or more indelble evil
dence Of the earnestness and devotion
OF our Democratic party TO the free
schools.
Another provision Of the Underwood
Constitution was that which declared
that every one who had held even the
smallest Office under the Confederacy,
and everyone who had given any aid
TO the Southern cause should be dis
franchised This would have deprived
the overwhelming majority Of the white
people, and every Confederate soldier.
of their voteB. 1t shocked the whole ma
lion and General Grant himself repud-
lated this base Republican scheme In his
military position. General Grant author
lied the people Of Military District No.
to take a separate vote on the con-
stitution that contemplated the future
establishment OF free school system;
and separate vote also on the malign
proposition to disfranchisc themselves.
The people Of Virginia. In the election
held. repudiated self-destructlon and
adopted tho school system and the rest
of the constitution by popular vote. al
though some OF them were disfranchscd
under the harsh rcconstructivet law
enacted by the Republican Congress.
It Is unjustly claimed that unfriendlvs
Democratic legislation has starved the
schools and destroyed their efficiency.
The reference Is. OF course. to the fund
ing act OF March 80. 1871 which overran
our resources and Intercepted the school
funds by coupons annexed to the bonds.
It seems to be forgotten by the new Re-
publicans that that act was supported BY
H 4
Three other things are forgotten by
them also: First, that the Henkel Act
Of Democratic origin; second, the Watson
Daniel Act of Democratic origin; and
third, that the Debt Settlement Act Of
Democratic origin, restored the school
funds and both renovated and reinvigor-
ated the public school system. Indeed
they forget nearly everything except Il
few faults and offences OF Democrats or
htoh5 iroyf bile n he
nature OF man and to the vicissitudes OF
life. The value of public school property
in Virginia Including State institutions.
was in 1884 Approximately $4,000; In
1904 it was approximately $9,2500cO. Since
1891 Democratic legislatures have ap-
propriated 100000 annually to the COM
mon school fund. the great bulk OF which
goes to the country schools. The new
constitution allows a maximum local tax
for schools OF fifty cents. and in many
OF our communities this tax is levied to
the full amount allowed under the law.
Il The truth Is that there is no successful
measure upon our statute books which
the Democratic party did not enact:
From the complete system OF the f1nan-
cIal issues to the low taxes on property
and to the large funds derived from cor
porate taxes, our whole fiscal system
Is of Democratic architecture.
ne PAL ~ VI ~ -
not been able to point out even single
successful measure which came from It's
devIsement They say that graft was
exposed in the Department OF Educa-
ton; but they forget to add that with
exposure came corrections.
In the wide sweep Of their reckless
chragesI they impute waste of public
money. which 1t may be truly said that
no large funds. such as the Democratic
E1,or aVo StIffGraH
such a small percentage OF loss. Indeed
Democratic administration in Virginia
for twenty years has approached ideal
ity in economy and justice as nearly, as
1t was ever approached in the works
of man: and the hooking tongue col
reckless vituperation has never been as
strained as In Its efforts to initiate mole-
hills Into mountains, and tspecks OF
dust into broad fields Proflgacy has
had no part in Virginia's appropriation.
The money OF the people has never been
squandered under Democratic rule. nor
has 1t ever been handled with more
scrupulous care.
1t cannot be believed that you will De
deceived by the voices that boast OF
the Underwood Conventions; or by thu
unsanctioned promises which are held
out TO you for benefits which they will
confer out Of funds which Democracy
has saved up.
Their orators have said that they will
give the people OF Virginia free books II
they come into power. And. no doubt.
they are willing to give away anything
for votes which they have not got; and
which. unless the taxpayers Of Virginia
forget their interest, they will never get
We are already providing FREQ books UNI
der constitutional ordainments for those
who cannot buy them; and the propo-
~ ~ Ia nf In
give free books to those who are able TO
buy them is simply one Of those easy
political devices that can only tempt the
unwary. y
The Republican party has tried It's
hand in every State OF the South, and
in each case with disastrous and de-
grading failure It has had power twice
in Virginia, and used 1t only to arouse
the Overwhelming Indignation OF the peo-
pie.
An appeal 70 you to see that your vote
and that OF your neighbor Is cast for
the Democratic ticket on next Tuesday,
tho It'll OF November, is therefore made
!,