The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-04-27
THE DEMooRAr1o ooEvENr1or.

worst is that it was controlled by renegade
Republicans. Indiana Democracy is known
throughout the country as about the worst
type of the disease. Heredity, environments
and bad training have combined 20 make it SO.
Early immigration and early education have
left marks that are hard and sloyT TO be e-ad-
icated. In genuine bourbonism the Indiana
Democracy more nearly resembles the home
brewed article of the solid South than that of
any other Northern State. The convention
was thoroughly Democratic in that it was
thoroughly inspired by bourbonism-not
bourbon, for it was fairly sober convention,
but by the fine old Democratic quality that
learns nothing, forgets nothing and thinks it
has concealed its body when it hides its head
in the sand. Yet, singular to say, this thor
oughly Democratic and Bourbon. convention
| was controlled by and for renegade Republic
ans. The principal object of the conven-
ton, and the feature of its work
that excited most interest was to indorse one
of these for Vice-president, and the point of
next greatest interest was the race between
resulting in the nomination of one for Cover
nor and the other for Lieutensnt-governor
Gray, Matson and Myers were all Republicans
during the portion of their careers most
worthy Of honorable mention, ana only began
to serve the Democracy after they had ceased
to serve the country. If anybody had told
| them during the war that they would ever
meet as candidates for Office at the hands of
an Indiana Democratic convention they would
have drummed the prophet out of camp, or
shot him on the spot. And if he had escaped.
| to predict in Indiana that the Democracy
would ever indorse and nominate these three
| Republicans for Office, he would probably have
been killed with as little compunction as a
provost marshal or draft officer. But times
change, and men change with thenn-
The nomination of Matson for Governor
meant, of course. that Of Myers for Lieuten-
ant-governor. Neither of them is big man
according to any just measurement of guber-
material timber, and the second place is as
large as either could ill without an uncom-
Portable degree of expansion. There are
many ADLER Democrats in the State, out they
don't seem to be in demand. Colonel Mat
son has served several years as chairman of
utilized the position to cultivate strength
with the soldiers. Beyond this he has made
no record in Congress worthy of mention,
ard his political career is simply that of
professional ofice-seeker and dispenser of
party patronage. He was played out" in his
district, and being unable to secure re-
election to Congress, went for the next best
thing in sight His nomination. secured
by a coalition with Governor Gray, who con-
.rolled the convention in this as
in other regards. Mr.. Myers has
spent most of his adult years in
office or seeking Office, and has been re-
warded by two terms as Secretary of State,
during which the only notable thing he did
was to write grossly coarse and insulting
letter to ex-President Hayes without any
provocation or pretext whatever. Mr.. Myers
is Democrat of the loud-mouthsd kind. The
candidates for Secretary, Auditor and Treas
urer are the defeated ones of two years ago.
The nomination of Munson, for Auditor, is q
black eye for the Sentinel and the Rice crowd,
who made bitter fight against him. Mr.
John r. Wilson, of this city, nominee for
Attorney general, is good lawyer and clever
gentleman. His nomination was a defeat for
Green Smith, who seemed to think that, next
to the Endorsement of Gray, the object Of the
convention was to provide for him. A large
portion of the delegates evidently thought the
same, and Mr.. Wilson was only nominated by
small majority.
The platform is string Of stale platitudes.
It was read by Hon. w. Fl. English. and is
copied partly from the platform of two years
ago. and partly from Mr.. English's speech be-
fore the district convention Wednesday
night. AS declaration of principles for a
State campaign it is only worthy of notice for
what it omits. There is not the slightest
reference to the Insane Hospital scandal, nor
to the Marion county tally sheet forgeries.
The two things which the people of Indiana
are talking about and caring about more than
all others are absolutely ignored. The con-
vention was afraid either to approve or con-
denim these monstrous crimes and frauds, so
it ignored them. But it came out strong
against '.sumptuary laws" and condemned
the Republican party for 'the supreme
fraud of 1867, and for set
ting the bad example in various other
ways, of carrying elections by unfair and
unlawful methods" The inference is that
the Coy Bernhamer gang are tie victims of
ga bad example" This is sad. The people
of Indiana would like to have known what
the Democratic party thinks of the scandal
Gus prostitution of the Insane Hospital and
the election frauds that have given the State
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