The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-07-14
Gath Sketches Hendricks,

Cincinnati Enquirer
| formed an estimate of Mr.. Hen,
bricks, after hearing his speech,
which you may take for what it is
worth. l have been looking at him
several years, both in the Senate and
elsewhere
A man admirable for. a neighbor,
for counsellor, and for a negative
associate worth very littlefor action,
for high responsibility, or to say No
His appearance is pleasure, but
neither refined nor magnetic. He
Woos you like the cat, by rubbing
againstyou pleasingly,warming your
legs, and making you say: ''Tom,
Tom, how nice and soft you are
But why can't we rub sparks out OF
your back in the dark ?p Because,
Tom. you are not a cat of that kind.
Large, fattish cats that stay around
home and never scratch nor stay out
all night awaken at length the sing
ular remark from little Johnny:
"Ma, why don't we have kittens,
too?
The temperament of Mr.. Hendricks
is not adapted to great sacrifices nor
great mistakes. His school-felloWs
and laW-studentS all like him, yet at
no supreme moment of their careers
did they ever see embodied in him
the fatherhO0d and authority, the
incisiOn and lightning, which made
them quail or honor him. Bred to
politics and descended from it, he
has not initiated other heirs of states
men like Dewitt Clinton, or Frank
Blair, Jr., or Mr.. Pendleton in ad.
vancing new positions, expressing
new indignations, or carrying
through minority to heroship any
especial cause. He is Hendricks,
the political faYorite and old belle.
His easy manners and respectable
habits and address and undisputed
honesty in fiscal things have always
made him a successful bureau officer
and governor. His training at the
Bar has made him a graceful and
pleasing Senator, and although never
taking the brunt of any battle, and
being always fortunate in the tactic
al place he appeared to be at, he has
invariably sustained himself by a
mixture of legal clearness and cour-
tesy. Such man emphatisly belongs
in the Senate. | still remember his
remarks at the conclusion of Andrew
JChnson's trial:
81 ask my brother Senators what
answer will they make to the people
when they ask why we selected him
for sacrifice for doing just what was
always recognized as right in. his
predecessors. Upon my oath | can
not strike such a blow. If we drive
him from the Office and give it to a
member of this body it does seem to
me that We will do an act Of such fla
grant injustice and cruelty as to bring
upon our heads the indignant con-
demnatiOn of all just men, and this
unimpeachment will stand itself inn
peached before the civilized world" "
That is a typical sentence from
Hendricks at a strong period of his
own career. at does seem to me-"
he says. Now, first-class spirit
would have had no seeming about
such a fact. The impeachment trial
was piece Of grand larceny, and a
Democratic Senator might as well
have said at does seem to me that
l see a man stealing something yon-
der" as to say that such an outra-
geous usurpation seemed to be what
it was.
If we had nothing to think about,
nothing to advance to, no issues and
only quiet times, Mr.. Hendricks
would make as good a President as
Frank Pierce. He would be respec-
ted and liked, and would greatly en-
rage the opposite party by his easy
way of shooting rapids and diving
under dilemmas. We would be a
widowed country, married to a fine
middleaged widower, no jealousy be-
tween us; no passion; nothing but
"Dear Columby" and "Dear Tom,"
and (which is your night-cap and
which is mine ?" and (which has the
frills on it?'
Is that all? Methinks if / was
such a widow | would have young
man or perish. If he was old he
should occasionally kick me out of
bed, at least to show his spirit.