The Indianapolis journal., 1896-01-21
GOVERNOR ON SILVER
A PRINTED RECORD THAT BOBs UP
LIKE A CLOSET SKELETON.
Prospective Newspaper Ally I'm the
East That Wanted n Sound-Money
Expression.

Governor Matthews Is in a trying political
position. Just now the Governor is trying
to find some logical way TO get on the side
of sound money, or rather International bi-
metallism, without crawfishing. He finds
himself on record as a strong free silver
man. The following is taken from his ad-
dress to the Democratic State convention
held here Aug. 10, 1894:
Through storm and through sunshine the
Democratic party has been the persistent
friend, able advocate, and brave defender
or silver do not believe the day has come
when We propose afford, in the in
terest or the people. TO turn our Da cks upon
this metal. Ii Is an important product OF
the country. and from the days OF our
fathers down through all the wondrous and
amazing growth OF our country. We have
of circulation. =.
1T was a part of our money through the
grandest period of our prosperity, and its
of promise made, we repealed the pur-
chasing clause of the Sherman act, hoping
for relief through this, which was was
not, ,neraa regret to say realized %s
were by Republican legislation. 1 be-
lieved then, and believe now, that in the
repeal OF this clause there should have been
some measure adopted that would have re-
lieved the doubt and the anxiety of the
people as to the future standing or silver as
a medium of value and exchange. There Is
reason 10 DtileNc Indl a pOSltiSc pOSAtiou
taken by our government as 10 the coinage
of silver. and a firm declaration that it shall
continue 10 be the money OF our people, up
on an equal footing with gold or other
money, would go far to establish its circula-
ton throuhout the commercial world.
have not that faith in International con-
crosses or agreements that would cause me
to patiently await such movement. They
are too far in the future and too doubtful
of coming.
u-ffh wi re-
commercial enterprises and wonderful re-
sources, is great enough and strong enough
to take the lead and map out way for the
world to follow. AT least. in the interest of
the debtor classes of this country, constitute
ing by far the larger part OF our citizens,
whose interests should surely be dearer to
us than all the world beside, without further
delay we should declare our faith in silver,
restoring il to its old position prior to its
cunning and outrageous dethronement by
the Republican party in 1873, and proceed TO
the coinage OF both gold and silver without
discrimination against either. adjusted by
such safeguards of legislation as will in
sure the parity of the two metals
WOULD NOT HEED ADVICE.
The story goes that Governor Matthews
thought this little speech may have been
forgotten-but there is some interesting his
tory in regard to the speech. The Governor
was asked to address the State convention
two years ago, and, OF course, consented.
He spent much time preparing his address,
and the night before the convention he
called in some of his closest friends and
read his speech from the manuscript. When
he came to the part quoted above he was in
terrupted by a friend, with more zeal and
ardor than good, sound judgment, who fnti-
mated that he did not think it exactly wise
for a man who was looking forward to-
ward the White House to take up matters
of a national character when the occasion
1nf don nd nd
was question which would probably be the
leading one OF the next campaign. The
good friend even went so far as to say that
Governor Matthews might want TO take diff
ferent views when the time came for him TO
express himself to the Nation.
Those are my sentiments," said the Gov
ernor, or words to that effect, "and pur-
pose to stand by them through thick and
thin
Argument did not do any good. and the
overzealous friends finally dropped the
manned to be read the next day. 1t was
not very long after that until the Governor
saw his mistake. He began to talk OF sound
by the term until finally his expressions led
those who had forgotten this speech to
think that he was really In favor or sound
money.
Affairs continued in this way until a short
time ago. when correspondent Tor an
dacy of Indiana's Governor, came out here
to investigate little before his paper
should commit itself. This investigation
soon led to the discovery of this speech, and
then bomb fell in the Statehouse. camp.
1t was taken to the Governor, and he was
told plainly that this powerful friend in the
East could not support man whose ideas
were expressed IN that speech.
why, If that should come out on you,
you could not get a vote east Of the AL
legheny mountains this correspondent
said to him. The matter was talked over
and the Governor said to the correspondent
that, while that speech expressed his sem
timents at that time. it does not do SO fully
now Then the correspondent called his at
tention to the statement recently made by
him that he would not accept the nomina-
tion on gold platform. Ut was then that
the farmer Governor realized that he was
between Scylla and Charbydis. When the
correspondent left it was with the under
standing that the Governor should en-
brace the first opportunity to make
speech This speech was to be one that
would fully define his position. The East
ern paper was to await this speech before
declaring for or against the Hoosier Gov
ernor II ii was found then that he would
declare himself for sound money in the
true sense of that term. which this corre-
spondent understood to mean gold stand
ard of International bimetallsm. the paper
would come to his support and be
his champion In the East, otherwise he