West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1896-05-07
GOVERNOR MATTHEW'S

great national contest upon which
we are to enter, it is something so
natural, and so in keeping with our
American independence and free
dom Of thought, to make our indi-
vidual "guesses" and to express
our individual preferences, that
early as It is. quite list Of pros
pective Presidential candidates are
under the ''training" of their re-
spective admirers. We are proud
OF the fact that our party can furD-
lsh so large a list of good men,
from which to select our standard
bearer, and still not "exhaust the
panel" In slang phrase, "the
woods is full of them" There are
certain considerations, however.
that ought to have great weight in
the selection OF a candidate. The
first requirement or qualification
ought to be, fitness-ability and
honesty. els he capable Is he
honest ?" The second, availability.
The first Of these requirements Is
not the product of any particular
soil, or climate, or of any geograph-
icsl position. Every State in the
Union, perhaps, could furnish at
least one who would measure up to
the standard in that particular. But
as to the second, fines and ayaila-
bility are not necessarily united in
the same individual.
What we want, is a candidate
combining both of these qualifica-
tons IN the highest possible degree.
1t certainly is apparent that the
candidate should come from the
West. 1t is also apparent that the
demand for the restoration of silver
cannot, and we think, ought not,
to be ignored by the great Demo
cratic party of the country. 1t is
but just and wise, therefore, that
the double standard element, which
seems to DO decidedly in the ma.
Jority in nearly all the States from
which we can reasonably expect
Democratic electoral votes, and
which appears to be sufficiently
strong to make number of West.
ern States doubtful, with an ac-
ceptable candidate, it is but lust
and wise, we say, that the true
bimetallists should be casting about
for a standard bearer.
Without any disparagement to
others who have been named, and
for whom we could cheerfully
throw up our hats" we desire to
present to our readers the name of
Indiana's Democratic Governor,
CLAUDE MATTHEWS.
de has shown himself 10 DO a
"sure winner" carrying his State
In Presidential year, when Gen.
Harrison got the electoral vote.
His record is clean, his Democracy
of the genuine type, his home far
enough west, and his position on
the great questions Of the day, un-
ambiguous and frank. If he is
nominated at Chicago, the conven.
ton can do no wiser thing than to
adopt his utterances on the fnan-
cial question as the money" plank
of the platform, and with such
candidate, and such a platform, we
can sweep the country. Here it is:
cit cannot be denied that it
would be great thing for the COM
mercial relations of the world. and
of our country, too, could some
plan be agreed upon. / further be.
lieve that an honest determined ef
fort should be made to hold this
conference; that the United States
should take the initiative in this
matter; demand and insist that this
conference should be held, and not
ask it as a concession. =
If England block the way, leave
her out, and enter into an agree
ment with other nations. If all
fail, let the United States adopt
that policy which will be Just to an
her people. To the banking interest
there is little doubt that the Sound
money" phrase means the gold
standard alone, but this interest
the banking-comprises but a small
part Of our citizens. We are a
natioR Of farmers, workinpmen.
manufacturers and business men.
IL has been dem.
onstrated beyond a doubt, that the
business OF this country cannot be
conducted upon tho single standard,
be that either gold or silver. To
do this Establish either), would be
unjust, perilous, and destructive.
We need the double standard Of
value; an honest and bimotallism.
geld and silver Of ooual and fptov