The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1876-08-11
TaOnaE 4. Hendricks

The Chicago TrBrne prints a
long letter from a citizen of lndi-
ana who puts some very serious
questions to the Democracy CON
ceEning the record Of their nomi-
nee for the Vice Presidency, and
We condense some Of IFS points
for the benefit of our readers who
may not have seen the whole let
ter. Our space forbids giving it
entire:
"By nominating Gov Head-
ricks for Vice President Of the
United States your party claims
for him the qualities Of a States
man and a leader. Ideny that he
has ever given evidence Of pos
sessing any such qualities, and ]
put you oa your proof to show it.
| challenge any Democrat, or any
association Of Democrats, to prove
that Mr.. Hendricks has ever rem
dered any service to the country,
or that he possesses any OF the
qualities Of a Statesman " lead
err. When did he ever take
a position in advance Of any
authoritative party declaration!
When did lie ever labor to move
his party up to any measure or eff
fort that IL hadn't already deter
mined upon? Did anybody ever
hear from his lips a suggestion
that hadn't already been worn
threadbare in party discussion be-
fore he touched it? Never, that |
heard of. If you have, tell me.
Did he ever suggest an act that
affected the interests of the whole
nation? Was he ever the author
of anything that marks the States
man and the man fitted for great
responsibilities?
He has led nothing or nobody, but
has always been led, and some
times forced unwillingly up to the
party line. He is just as much Of
a leader Of his party or country as
a chunk in a freshet is the leader
of the current.
Has he ever exhibited those
qualities of resolute honesty,
courageous candor and undeyia-
ting truth which often make men
leaders with no unusual force Of
intellect or prescience of popular
inclination to set them ahead and
compel a following that gives
them respect and power? Il
Did not he, still following, never
leading, support the Vallanding-
ham scheme of a division Of the
country into several Confedera-
tons, and especially enlarge on
the Importance of a Confederacy
of the States connected by the
Mississippi and its tributaries )?
You know he did. When the war
broke out, did he not carefully
abstain from any work Of encour
agement to the Government, and
did he not boast at Shelbyville Of
this dishororable silence? 4
Did he hint the slightest objec-
ton to the fraud by which a case
was stolen out Of Judge Finch's
court into the Supreme Court, to
allow the Democratic Judges Of
the latter to make a decision
which, hut for Coy. Mortan's en-
ergy, would have ruined the
States credit forever? Not he.
He saw all this reasonable and
mischieyous work in silence and
full approval, for if he had said
one earnest, positive word against
it he would have killed it. Did he
not, in his speech at New Albany,
in June, 1870, deliberately quote
an extract from one Of Gov. Nor
tons messages to sustain q state
ment, and deliberately leave off
the very next sentence, which
gave the lie to his garbling? 4
Are such acts and omissions as
these characteristic Of the candor,
courage truth and patriotism that
make leaders Of men of no COM
handing strength or wealth Of
brains? He beheld
gross frauds practiced by his par
ty in the State administration,
gross treason practiced by his par
ty in the National Administration,
systematic encouragement given
to rebellion, systematic destruc-
ton thrust into the military ser