The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-13
GOVERNOR MATTHEws,s wREsTLE
WITH SILVER.

prove very embarrassing. The Journal
has felt friendly towards the Governors
presidential boomlet from the beginning,
because he is an Indiana man and
clever gentleman, barring occasional
outbreaks of Democratic partisanship
over which he does not seem to have any
control, or at least none that he cares to
exercise. In spite of these occasional
outbreaks the Journal has done what it
could to shield and protect his boomlet
during the early stages while it was
taking root, but he seems determined to
destroy it.
The Governor got tangled up with the
silver question nearly two years ago,
and has been trying to extricate himself
ever sinceA AS lover and breeder of
horses he will understand the Journal
when 1t says he made a false start at
the beginning. In a speech at the Dem
ocratic State convention in August, 1894
after declaring that the Democratic par
ty had been through storms and
through sunshine the persistent friend,
able advocate and brave defender of sill
ver," he said:
have not that faith in international con-
crosses or agreements that would cause me
to patiently await such movements. They
are too far in the future and too doubtful
OF coming. believe the government of the
peop:e. with its 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 class of this
country, cons titutirg by far the larger part
OF our citizens whose interests should sure
ly be dearer to us all than all the word
besides without further delay we should
declare our faith in silver, restoring ii to its
old position prior to its cunning and outra-
geous dethronement by the Republican party
in 1873, and proceed 10 the coinage of both
gold and silver without Discrimination
against either, adjusted by such safeguards
or legislation as will insure the parity of
the two metals.
This was square avowal in favor of
the free and unlimited coinage of sill
yer by the United States alone. 1t was
popular Democratic doctrine in Indiana
at that time. and may be to-day, but In
diana is not the United States, and es-
pecially not the Eastern States. About
that time the Governor had his ear pref
ty close to the ground, and it was not
long before he discovered that his decla-
ration Ia favor of free silver coinage was
not at all suited to the Eastern market.
After nearly year of quiet and dispas-
sionate reflection he concluded that his
first utterance needed revising, and in
an interview published In June. 1895, he
said:
/ have always looked upon the demoneti-
zation or silver as a great wrong, and
nave ever been and am now ready TO sup
port any reasonable proposition looking TO
its restoration. 1 appreciate the fact that
an international agreement. am bmetai-
list. i do not believe that there is gold
enough in the world to meet the demands
Of commerce. 1 would like TO hear less talk
about the prospect of securing an interna-
tional agreement and to see some definite
steps taken in that direction. / think the
United states should lead in the movement
to secure international agreement. This
is great country, boundlesS in its re-
sources and Almost limitless In it's capabil-
United States, If exerted energeticaliy in ia
vor OF the restoration of silver, would go
far toward accomplishing such an end. 1
have said, and i now say again that / am
not in favor OF opening the minis of the
United States TO the coinage of silver until
International agreement has been made and
has resulted in failure When we have made
proposition for the coinage Of silver and
IL has been rejected by the other nations,
overtures looking TO the rehabilitation of sill
YER are to be ignored by other nations. then
ity OF Independent action by this govern
ment. This does not mean that would, in
any event, favor the unlimited coinage of
silver by this government alone at the ratio
of 16 TO 1. The question as to the amount
OF coinage and the question TO the ratio
are matters of detail which could only be
appropriately determined when this govern
ment was ready to try alone the experiment
of restoring silver to coinage. / am in favor
Of the maintenance of a stable currency and
will never favor any proposition that
threatens to unsettle values and to democrat
lie our money system.
This put the Governor on both sides OF
the silver question. In August. 1894, he
was in favor of restoring silver to it's
old position" and of its free coinage by
the United States without regard to the
action of other nations. and in June
1895, he was in favor of free silver COIN
age only on the condition Of interna-
tional agreement. He would not open
the mints of the United States to the
coinage Of silver until an earnest effort
had been made and failed to secure in
ternational action. Then he would be
willing to consider the advisability of in
dependent action by this government,
but this does not mean that would in
any event favor the unlimited coinage of
SILVER Dy tniS SONcIututnt diouc sAl TIE
ratio Of is to L.
These two statements left the Gov
ernor very comfortably located on both
sides of the fence, but it is hard to tell
where his last one leaves him. In a let
ter to friend in New Castle. Ind. he
repudiates a statement attributed to
Colonel Matson that he favored a
straddle on the money question" and
says:
| This kind OF political platform Is never
right, and especially would it be harmful
| and unwsse this year, when the public Is
| in no frame of mind to tolerate It. What
| ever position we may take upon the financial
| problem, let Ii be pain, clear, honest and
| fearless. 1 believe. and. distinctly stated To
| Colonel Matson, that a straddle upon this
| question would be nearly, IL not quite as
| disastrous 10 the Democratic party as the
| adoption OF a pure, stralght-out gold resolu-
| ton. / believe further that a positive, not
| too radical. declaration in favor OF silver
! for the maintenance OF the double standard
| both silver ard god. and for the speedy res
\ toration OF silver 10 the position held prior
| TO 1873, would insure success 10 the Demo
| cratic party and bring TO the country a
| complete and permanent prosperity. To dc
| otherwise the issue VIII be exceedingly
| doubtful and prove caiamitous 20 the inter.
| ests of the great body OF our people.
From this one gathers that while the
| Governor Is unalterably opposed to a