The New York herald., 1876-12-22
Governor Hendricks "Friends."

Every able public man has sycophants
who call themselves his friends so long as
they hope to get into Office by clinging to
his skirts. When Governor Hendricks was
expecting the nomination for President
he had n larger number Of them than
he has now but even a Vice President is
deemed by the unreAecting person OF IN
fuence, and self-seekers, who have no other
ladder to climb upon, will naturally fight
against its being taken away. There are
plenty Of rumors that this class of friends
are laboring with Mr.. Hendricks to
stiffen him in asserting his title to
the Vice Presidency. He is too wise
such interested advisers. He cared moth
ing for the nomination for the Vice
Presidency, and his unwillingness to
take 1t was not affected. He would have
liked the frs. place, but did not want the
second, and a considerable pressure had to
at last overcome The Vice Presidency is
place Of digniied insignifcance. A Pres
ident pro tenpore Of the Senate is person Of
some importance, because he is also Sem
ator. He can vote on oil pending questions,
and can go upon the floor and take
part in the debates whenever he
pleases But the Vice President can
not engage in the discussions, and
he has no vote except in the rare instances
when there is q tie. There is so much
habtual decorum in the Senate that very
littlo ever depends on the ruling
where flibustering is frequent, a party
victory often depends on the astute-
ness of the Speaker in applying
the rules. The Speakership Of tho
House is an altogether more important Office
than the Vice Presidency. The Speaker
appoints the committees, and thereby cxerts
potent influence on legislation. The Sen
ate elects all its own standing committees,
SO that the Vice President has no real
influence on its proceedings, and merely
sits in cushioned chair and puts the
questions when they come to q vote. We
do not doubt therefore that Governor
Hendricks reluctance to accept the Domina-
ton for Vice President was sincere. The
st. Louis Convention put him on the ticket
against his positive refusal to permit
such q use of his name, and it
was weeks before he could be per-
suaded to accept. If his party was strong
enough to elect its ticket he was certain to
be offered some more desirable position.
The democratic party does not so abound in
statesmen of his ability, experience and
political strength that he could pos
sibly be ignored in filling the great
positions Of trust by q democratic
President But in the Vice Presidency
he could add nothing to his reputation as
statesman and would find the position irk-
some. He was prevailed upon to accept the
only by urgent representa-
tions that he owed this sacrifice to his party,
which could not otherwise expect to carry
either of the important October States, and
that his popularity would save one of them
and prevent a stampede to the republicans
in November. He did render this service,
and would now probably be glad of an
honorable release from the dignifed inanity
of the position if he could see Mr.. Tilden
installed as President There are other
places which he would naturally prefer if
we are to have democratic administration,
and we are confident he will do nothing to
obstruct the settlement which now seems
probable.