The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-11-08

About every Democratic boom col
lapsed on Tuesday or was put under
cover for repairs. The Campbell boom
was torn to shreds in Ohio. From the
Whitney boom in New York. brother-in-
law to the Standard Oil Trust. the label
was removed. The Bland boom over in
Missouri collided with a sound currency
and eve the pieces canno be found.
There was no election in Indiana. and
the Matthews boom survives. 1t is OF
this the Journal would speak. Since
Tuesday any sort OF a Democratic boom
has no prospective value; still. it may
he stuffed with straw and preserved as a
trophy, or. at least. as a reminiscence.
While all the other Democratic booms
were demolished. the Matthews boom
survives because 1t did not get into ac-
ton. That. is the Governors good for
tune. He can take his boom to some
retired place and have il thoroughly rem
ovated-rebuilt. in fact. He can have
that portion of the canvas devoted to
the free coinage speech of September.
1894. covered up by three coats of paint.
That breadth upon which was empha-
sized the statement that we are a debtor
people can be taken out. In place of all
this he can have his latest and soundest
money speech displayed in the largest
characters. All of his free-trade
speeches will give him more trouble
the 5O-cent dollar mistakes. Until
Tuesday Governor Matthews has been
an ultra free-trader-a Wilson bill man.
Now he may have changed. At least,
he should learn as much from experience
as he has regarding silver. He can
scarcely say that the tariff is not an
issue. Several excellent editors declared
before last Tuesday that the tariff could
no longer be an issue. but ii vas all
the same. and it will be next year. En-
sign Stebbins was in favor OF the Maine
law. but opposed to its enforcement
Governor Matthews may declare that he
is much attached to free trade as a
theory. but is opposed to it in the sched-
ules of a tariff act. Or he might have
free trade inscribed on one side of his
boom and incidental protection on the
other.
Governor Matthews. the Journal is
happy to has a further ad-
vantage of those who were, until Tues
day night. his competitors in boom
making. He has a boon of his own
perhaps, more accurately, a boomlet. 1t
is the recognition of Cuba. On the
troubled soil Of the Queen Of the Antilles
there is no more ardent Cuban patriot
than his Excellency. as those who ask
for office address hin at the heads Of
petitions. He would ave declared his
devotion to Cuban independence at the
Atlanta exposition if Mr.. Cleveland had
squelched Cuban day and sealed the
lips of Governor Matthews. Perhaps 1t
is fortunate. The sentiment In v
of uba is popular. 1t is, further
more, the only sentiment entertained
by Democrats that is not un-
popular. 1t is possible that DEM
ocrats can faint that cause with
their unpopularity. Now Governor Mat
thews is the only surviving boom-owner
of the Democratic brand who can quit
claim the Democratic interests on the
Cuban question. Let him seize it and
have it copyrighted. True. there is not
much BODYBUILDING material in 1t. but
the drowning catch at straws. Let him
himself a Democratic competitor
for the worthless candidacy on the issue,
up with Cuba. down with Cleveland
The Cuban part will probably be
in a few months. but the Cleve-
end of the slogan will survive until
4, 1897. Let Governor Matthews
initiate his boom and launch it with that
slogan written in bright red letters on
it's side. and no doubt he will win the
doubtful distinction of receiving the
scattering vote of the faithful few who
will vote the Democratic ticket in 1896.