The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-08-22
THE STANDARD BEARER.

Tt was a wise movement of the party
to make Governor Matthews chairman
of the convention and TO indorse his ad-
miniAration at every turn in the plat
form. By virtue of his official position
he is the head of the party in local
sense, and his administration is before
the people for their approval which it
will unquestionably meet. Being thus
identified with the issues of the cam
paign it was desirable that he should
also be personally identified with it, and
that his great personal strength with the
people should be added as factor in the
support of the ticket.
There is also another fact which adds
to the Importance of our popular gov
ernor's complete Identification with the
ticket in this election. 1t is well known
that he has been favorably mentioned,
in many parts of the country. as an
available candidate for the presidency in
1896. On the other hand Mr. Harrison
is an aspirant for the republican nominal
ton and Is announced as a feature Of
the republican campaign. The election
will, therefore be, TO a large extent, a
struggle between Mr. Harrison and Mr.
Matthews. with strong chances in favor
of the latter. Mr.. Matthews is conceded,
by republican papers, to be the superior
Of Mr.. Harrison as an executive officer
and his equal as an orator. In personal
characteristics everything favors Mr.
Matthews. Harrison is cold and naughty
Mr.. Matthews is genial and approach
able There are thousands of republic
ans who desire to indorse Governor Mat
thews, and they will take this OppOr-
tunity to do so. He can draw more votes
from the populsts and prohibiuonists
than any man in the state.
Governor Matthews made splendid
opening for his campaign in his speech
before the convention. 1t was a mas
terly effort, Astounding in strong points
but withal cautious and conservative
In one point only did he go beyond the
party's declarat ton, and that was as TO
his silver policy. We think he erred in
this portion of his speech:
There is reason TO believe that a posi-
tive position taken by our government
as to the coinage of silver. and a firm
declara tiSn that il shall continue 10 be
the money of our people, upon an equal
footing with gold or other money would
go far TO establish its circula ton
throughout the commercial world.
have not that faith in international con-
crosses or agreement that would cause
me to patiently await such movements.
They are too far in the future and too
doubtful of coming. / believe the gov
eminent of the United States, with its
20 900 900 of people, with it's commercial
enterprise and wonderful resources, is
great enough and strong enough TO take
the lead, and map out a way for the
world to follow. At least in the interest
Of the debtor classes of this country
constituting by far the larger part of
our citizens, whose interests should sure
" be dearer to us than all the world be-
side, without further delay we should
declare our faith in silver, restoring 1t
TO it's old position prior 70 its cunning and
outrageous dethronement by the repub-
Hcan party in 1873, and proceed to the
coinage Of both gold and silver without
discriminating against either, adjusted
by such safeguards of legislation as will
insure the parity Of the two metals.
This means free coinage If it means
ANYTHING. and Governor Matthews is a
man who Is very careful in the use of
his woi DIS, knowing as he does THAI the
eyes of the country are upon him. 1t
will, of course, add tremendously to his
popularity with free coinage men, but
there is a strong possibility that inter-
national bimetallism may be an accom-
plished fact before 1896 gets here. in
which case the expression would be
somewhat unfortunate