New-York tribune., 1872-07-22
THOMAS 4. HENDRICKS.

Whatever is said of national affairs by the
Hon. Thomas A. Hendricks is sure to be
worth the careful attention which it receives
An honest iurist, an able and incOuupuble
statesman, and wise politician, his views on
pubhc questions are entitled to great weight
A lifelong Democrat, and frequently occupy
ing places of power and trust in various de-
partments of the Government, he speaks with
authority for his political associates. And now
that he has been placed III nomination fOr'the
Office of Governor of the great State of In
diana by the enthusiastic suttTages of Liberal
Republicans and Democrats, his utterances
have special significance. His speech, delv-
cred at indianapolis last Saturday, and printed
in The TRIBUNE to-day, is an admirably cool
and dignifed review of the political situation;
it is statesmanike and dispassiOnate, and i'll
refreshing contrast with the vapid common
places and bursts of ill-temper which we have
already heard from the other side OF the
political debate in all parts of the country.
The keynote of Mr.. Hendricks's speech will
be found in the phrase which he gives as
watchword for the campaign" Just laws and
"public vi1tue." We have before now heard
some such sentiment as this from the lips OF
men who have come fresh from making re-
pressive statutes and from divisions OF corrupt
official spOils but i'll the mouth of man like
ex-senator Hendricks, the sentence means all
that is honest and true. His record as Senator
Representative, Commissioner, and State legls-
lator is pure and untarnished ; and whatever
he is able to do for justice and public morals
when chosen Governor of Indiana, we may be
sure he will do. Reviewing the steps which
have led to the present situation in national
politics, he is wisely willing to leave
all past differences as immaterial to
the intelligent consideration of the work
before u.s. TO secure the enactment of just
laws we must agree to drop all nOn-essental,
merely partisan differences. When public
morality is to be revived, good men of all
parties must combine. Pursuing this noble
principle, then, Mr.. Hendricks refuses to be
distracted by the petty cries of men eager to
alienate natural friends 10y recalling old-time
differences He frankly says that if Mr.
Greeley has said sharp things of the Demo
Gratis, so have they been equally keen in their
reoinders. But what have these old disputes
TO do with the new questions to be met to-
day2 There are men who would be glad to SOW
dissensiOns still between those who were once
divided on other issues but honest and patri-
artful revival of these bygones. The account
is balanced.
And so of all the questions which have been
settled by the war and subsequent legislation.
Whatever may have been our opinions as to
the expediency of the steps by which we have
arrived at the present situation of affairs, we
are here and have no choice but to accept that
which is finally accomplished. The abolition
of Slavery, the amendments to the fundamen-
tal law, and the long train of events and acts
which we call "the consequences of the war;"
are numbered with the finalities; we can have
no possible quarrel about these. What we
have now to do is to put an end to unjust
legislation and reform the abuses which bur-
den the whole Government. We will not he
deferred from this labor by those who strive
to arouse evil passions that partisan su-
premacy may be maintained. We have been
promised peace; we have not had it, because it
better suits the purposes of those in power
that the dying embers of civil strife should be
rekndled and fading aDimosities revived.
Liberal Republicans and Liberal Democrats,
they say, cannot meet upon any common plat