The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-07-01

DrOWne, HAL WIZ uao Dol W. SAS~.s
ably in the war, but who had brought
| into civil life the recklessness and dlssl-
patton which are forgiven to the soldier,
| but make the statesman distrusted. 1t
was 70 Brownies further disadvantage
that the temperance sentiment was at
that time, as has since been, very strong
in Indiana, and the first stirring OF
that spirit which afterwards broke out
IN the temperance crusade was then
felt. As the fanatics on this subject are
mostly Republicans, it was a severe trial
to their allegiance to be compelled TO
vote for q man whom, had he been q
Democrat, they would have described as
drunkard. Browne hardly mended
the matter by saying, in his speech be-
fore the convention which nominated
him, that if by eating meat he had hlth-
erto offended his brother, he would eat
meat no more. "Eating meat" became q
cruel piece of campaign slang. With
these circumstances in his favor, Gov.
Hendricks won by majority of l,l4S.
The result was not known for three or
four DAYS, as the election precincts in the
State sre very large, and when the ticket
is long returns are delayed, even where
there is an honest effort to forward
them. Sometimes they are delayed tor
fraudulent purposes. Attic Democratic
headquarters the politicians sat counting
up maiorities and making estimates hour
, after hour, and even the most experienced
arithmetic men were puzzled. Joe Bing
ham, the editor OF the Indianapolis Sen
tinei, was the only one who predicted the
actual result: from thee beginning, and
stuck to his opinion. During the long
suspense Mr.. Hendricks listened to an
anxious friends estimate, based on the
very latest returns, and throwing HIM
out by half a dozen votes, and SAID with
a laugh, ~ wonder if l am always to
lust miss being Governor of Indiana"
The fact that Republican Lieutenant
Governor would succeed him in case OF
vacancy kept Mr.. Hendricks from any
thought of the Senstorship two years al
tor wards, and chains him 10 his post I'M
I'll the end of his term. In general terms
it may be- said of his administration that
it has been able, conscientious, high.
minded He has aimed fairly 10 do his
duty and his official conduct cannot be
criticised. His course on the liquor ques-
lion has been most frequently assailed,
4 and the matter may be worthy of few
words Of explanation, as it is said that
his action has alienated the German vote
1t is we'll to receive with caution all the
stor. 81 that are told about the German
vote, East or West. Briefly, the facts
are these: The Repub lean Legisla-
lure chosen in the fall of 1872 passed
The following winter what was called
the Baxter bill, after the author OF
it, an English Quaker and earnest tenn
! perance agitator, now settled IN Indiana.
The principle of the measure is what is
| known elsewhere as local option, and
the effect of it seems to be to give drink
ing communities an opportunity to get
all the liquor they want, and to prevent
temperance communities from getting
anything to drink. This bill Governor
Hendricks signed. He did 80 professcd
| " in obedience to the will of the ma
iority in the Legislature and the will Of
the people. His approval was merely a
matter of form, AS his veto could be
over ridden hy simple majority vote,
II. own CONVICTIONS were in favor
OF rigid license system, and in
the State Convention of 1874, at
which he presided,he set forth the Demo-
cratic doctrine on that subject in clear
argument. Public opinion had so far
veered around in the mean while that the
Legislature chosen that year repealed
the Baxter bill during the following
winter, the Senate which was Republi
can, voting with the Democratic House.
Thus Mr.. Hendricks course on the
liquor question may be summed up by
saying that he concurred in popular
temperance legislation. which he could
not prevent, and after q fair test urged
the substitution of better system for
the Baxter law. The whole legislative
session of 1876 was struggle between
the House and the Senate tor partlzsn
advantage and the decisive stroke tor
which the Governor, who had watched
the contest impartially, stepped in, in be-
nslf OF the public good, and put an end
to the strife, was admirable. The session
was limited by law, and the Republican
SeLate, adopting the tactics which the
Senate ut Washington is now pursuing,
refused concurrence in the measure urged
BY the House, and: although conference
committees had agreed upon all vital
questions, DELAYED action until after mid.
night on the last day, hoping in this way
TO block the business Of the State o. force
the Democrats into long and ex'
pensive extra session, which would con.
denim the party IN q granger COM
munity. The session closed on Satur
day night, and the Governor
issued his proclamation on Monday, re-
assembling the Legislature on Tuesday,
without giving the members chance to
scatter, and politely suggesting that, al
though they had right to stay forty
DAYS, it would be much healthier for
them to do their work and go home be-
fore the close OF the week. They gathered
together like little lambs. The whole
scheme OF making party capital, one way
or other, was abandoned. They took W
their work where they had laid it down
finished ii, and were gone by Saturday
much to the qualification of all good citi
Zens.
Since the action of the Cincinnati Con.
vention refusing to indorse the Resump
ton act, the financial issue will net be
| likely to play an important part in the
campaign, but it may be we'll to give
some facts in regard 10 Governor Hen
bricks course during the great cur
rency agitation of the last two years
At the beginning Of the clamor for more
money, in the fall of 1878, hs was not in
any way called upon to express his
opinions on financial questions, and
although his convictions on those topics
were based on sound old Democratic
principles it was bis nature to sympa'
thize with the distress which he saw
about him in every direction rather thar
set out TO preach to the people the mar
row and difficult path tosaivatiou through
sel;.denial and suffering. The strength
OF the popular conviction that relief Wa
possible through imitation could hardly b
over-estimated. Some believe hrmly
that unlimited quantities Of paper
money issued on the faith OF the Gov
eminent was the true American iheory