WEST VIRGINIA. 



713 



home or abroad, and that the same protection shall be 

 afforded to the adopted American citizens that is ex- 

 tended to the native-born. 



We require that all public officers be held to a rigid 

 responsibility, and the prompt prosecution and pun- 

 ishment of all who betray official trusts or duties. 



We regard the public-school system as the' bulwark 

 of the American Republic, and safeguard of its citi- 

 zens, and demand that all public-school funds or 

 property be kept from sectarian control. 



We insist that the collection of duties on importa- 

 tions be so adjusted as to promote the best interests of 

 American labor when brought in competition with 

 foreign labor. 



We oppose further grants of the public lands to cor- 

 porations and monopolists, and demand that the na- 

 tional domain be devoted to free homes for the people. 



We favor a sound and convertible currency, of which 

 each dollar recognized by the Government shall be 

 the equal of any other dollar recognized by the Gov- 

 ernment, whether of gold, silver, or paper. 



We remember with gratitude the services of those 

 who periled their lives for the country's preservation, 

 and demand that the pledges made to those who died 

 that the country might live, as well as those who sur- 

 rive to enjoy the _ blessings their valor won, shall bs 

 redeemed by pensions and generous emoluments. 



We heartily approve the Administration of President 

 Rutherford B. Hayes, and regard him as the highest 

 example of his own declaration that " he serves his 

 party best who serves his country best." 



Finally, we deprecate all sectional feelings and 

 tendencies, and, as evidence of our faith and patriot- 

 ism, hereby pledge our utmost efforts and invite all 

 good citizens of the State to cooperate with us in tak- 

 ing West Virginia out of the solid South, and placing 

 her in the roll of Republican States, her honored 

 birthplace and rightful heritage. 



Resolved, That the delegates selected by this Con- 

 vention to the Chicago Convention be, and they are 

 hereby, instructed to vote for James G. Elaine, and to 

 use all honorable means for his nomination. 



The Democrats held their State Convention 

 at Clarksburg on June 10th, and selected dele- 

 gates to the National Democratic Convention, 

 which was to assemble at Cincinnati on the 

 22d of that month. Delegate from the State 

 at large, Robert McEldowney ; alternate, D. 

 D. Johnson. 



The Committee on Resolutions submitted a 

 report u recommending the repeal of the two- 

 thirds rule at the National Convention." A 

 motion " to amend" in favor of the two-thirds 

 rule was lost, and the report of the committee 

 adopted. 



In preparation for the general elections in 

 October for State officers and Congressmen, 

 and in November for Presidential electors, the 

 Republicans convened at Grafton, on June 

 30th, and nominated for Governor, George C. 

 Sturgis ; for State Treasurer, Richard Burke ; 

 for State Auditor, John S. Cunningham ; for 

 Attorney-General, George B. Caldwell ; for 

 State Superintendent of Free Schools, A. L. 

 Purvinton ; for Judge of the Court of Appeals, 

 Edwin Maxwell; for Presidential electors: 

 State at large, A. W. Campbell and James L. 

 McLean. 



The following platform was adopted by the 

 Convention : 



The Republicans of West Virginia, in convention 

 assembled, declare that the Democratic party of West 

 Virginia has proved false to its many pledges of re- 



form, reduction of taxes, and the inauguration of a 

 policy for the development of the State. 

 _ It has forced upon tho State a cumbersome, expen- 

 sive, and abstruse Constitution of difficult ana uncer- 

 tain interpretation and more difficult execution. 



It has created a system of county courts that has 

 made the enforcement of law and the redress of pri- 

 vate wrongs difficult, costly, and uncertain, and that 

 has brought the administration of justice into con- 

 tempt. 



It has impaired tho efficiency of the public schools 

 of the State by hostile legislation and an indiffer- 

 ent administration of the offices connected there- 

 with. 



It has enforced a burdensome, unequal, and ineffi- 

 cient system of road laws. 



It has increased offices, salaries, and governmental 

 expenses, without any adequate return to the tax-payer. 



It has made no earnest effort to promote immigra- 

 tion and encourage capital to develop the resources 

 and wealth of the State. 



It has not restrained and limited railway and other 

 monopolies to the legitimate sphere of their corporate 

 powers, and has not neld them to a rigid accountabil- 

 ity for the exercise of their rights for the good of the 

 citizen and the State. 



It has bid for the keeping of criminals of other 

 States, and by the contract system of convict-labor de- 

 preciated the wages of honest workers. 



It has shown itself indifferent to the interest of the 

 tax-payer, laborer, and producer, and shipper of the 

 State, and that it is controlled by a reactionary and 

 old time policy, and incapable of conceiving or exe- 

 cuting a wise, liberal, or progressive policy in the 

 government of the State. 



The Republican party pledges itself to reform in 

 State affairs, the reduction of taxation, salaries, fees, 

 and the number of offices to the fullest extent consist- 

 ent with the proper administration of the laws ; to 

 the legal control of all monopolies, while protecting 

 the vested rights of those whose capital is asked to 

 aid in developing the great natural resources of the 

 State. 



It declares itself in favor of the abolition of county 

 courts as now constituted and administered, and 

 will endeavor to secure a non-partisan and able ju- 

 diciary. 



It declares that the best interests of the State re- 

 quire that every encouragement by way of liberal laws 

 relative to homesteads, exemptions, industrial asso- 

 ciations, and mechanics' liens, should be held out to 

 induce thrift, economy, and investment in homes by 

 every citizen. 



It pledges itself to secure more perfect regulations 

 for the protection of miners and workers in all the 

 dangerous occupations. 



It will guard and improve the system of free schools, 

 as the most efficient means for the education of all 

 classes, and the security of good government and 

 good morals. 



It will endeavor to simplify legislation and the ad- 

 ministration of State and county affairs, and at the 

 same time secure their best results. 



The Democratic party, pretending to great political 

 wisdom, forced the Constitution of 1872 on the people 

 by fraua and chicanery, thereby reviving that anti- 

 quated legal monstrosity called the County Court, 

 which, for eight years, has cursed the tax-ridden peo- 

 ple to such an extent that the same party has been 

 compelled, by popular groans, to submit a loose, in- 

 sufficient, and muddy constitutional amendment to 

 rid us of the present court system, which amendment, 

 without assuming any responsibility for it, our peo- 

 ple should support for the time being, and until the 

 Republican party is enabled, by proper legislation, to 

 provide a simpler and less burdensome system. 



The Republican party pledges itself, if placed in 

 power, to legislate for the best interests of labor-re- 

 form, that honest toil may have the same care fill pro- 

 tection and privileges that may bo afforded to capital. 



