New-York tribune., 1879-04-10
TILDEN AND HENDRTCKS.


| paper to which Mr.. Hendricks for the most
part cheerfully assented. Mr.. Tilden expresses
| regret that he cannot hear Hopkins lecture
it is not announced what Hopkins is ecturing
about-and proceeds Immediately to remark
that the Democracy was " "defrauded OF the
"fruits of victory by false count of the
electoral votes" in 1876. So, of course, the
letter was genuine. You may always know
his letters by that ear-mark. AS Mrs. Par
tington said, when the late Mr.. Partlngtons
shade, in reply to the question whether he
wanted anything, raped out, "S-l-d-u-r,"
That's him; no mistake; he always spelt it
"tlat way.n He says that wrong casts upon
"tlis generation the responsibility OF far
"greater question than the original one upon
which the election was carried, which was
| merely "the restoration of the Government in
esprit and substance as well as III form to the
"benign character in which it was created by
"our patriotic ancestors" The great duty"
now, he says ais to vindicate the right OF the
"pe0ple to elective sef-gOvernment." Unless
this is attended TO, he tremble for " free gov
"ernment and the best hopes OF mankind
because, he says, elf the snbversOn of the
elective system proves successful and pros
"perous those who are in power will count
themselves in ut every election and prolong
"their dominion indefinitely" We do not
know the precise bearing of these re-
marks on Hopkinss lecture, or how they
affected Hopkins, but we do make
out with reasonable clearness that he has no
more idea of condoning fraud now than when
he came out bareheaded and swOre about it.
He SAYS "the wrongs Of individuals become
insignificant in comparison with the crime
"against the people," from which we infer
that he doesn't care a copper about it on his
own or HendTIcks's account, but that rather
than have free government busted" nd the
hopes of mankind wiped out he would con-
sent to stand up just once and be vindicated.
Ii will be a great relief to Mr.. Kelly and Tam
many Hall to know that he is willing to run
again.
The interview with Mr.. Hendricks occurred
the same day at Fort Wayne, Indiana. 1t has
been said that Mr.. Hendricks is disposed to
be re,cent upon political questions, but the
remarks of the representative of The
World, to which he seems to have cheer
fully assented, prove the contrary. And
even to direct and personal questions
he returned the most frank and cour-
the interview by asking in the most pointed
manner if he remembered the 7th of March
speech of Mr. Webster in 1850. With un-
dauntcd courage Mr. Hendricks replied that
he did not hear it, but expressed the opinion
from what he had heard of it that it was
good speech. He did not hesitate to
say that he admired 8lillard Fillmore. En-
couraged 10y this frank avowal the correspon-
dent asked him point blank if he did not at
one time have an uncle. He reluctantly adj
mitted that he had, but Immediately added
that he I" could almost say that he was born
" in Indiana" as his father removed to that
State when he was not more than six months
old. Upon that exciting question, the Pa
cifc Railroad, he said he thought that
in 1852 ard 1858 the sentiment was
that there ought to be railroad,
and it should start from st. Louis. In COM
municating these views, let it be said in JUS
tice to Mr.. Hendricks that, although little
shy perhaps. he did not prevaricate or at
tempt any evasion. In making the remark
he did concerning Daniel Wcbster's speech
in March, 1S50-and 1t seems TO have
been the first purpose OF tho inter
view to draw him out on that sub
consequences. SO, too in the remark
which he seems to have volunteered con-
ccmng the late Millard Fillmore, there is
degree of candor quite refreshing. Few men
in public life would dare indulge such free
dom And yet Mr.. Hendricks has been
charged with being noncommittal on great
public questions.
Having drawn out Mr.. Hendricks upon these
absorbing topics the correspondent incidcn-
tally dropped the following brief casual
inquiry:
"wha, is your information, Mr.. Hendricks, ~ you
havo any TO the physical stamina OF hr
11d-n. | 10 Ms firness to undergo now
Presidential contesti And, by the way Mr. Hen
drcks. when do you first remember hearing Of Nj
Tden IN public life And from your observation of
the Presidential office in your long experience do you
believe that in the state OF health in which Mr.
Tden IL said 20 be- or IN fact any not I'm very
sound health. cond endure the strain oicesecEers
the hard work OF the necessary Democratic reforms
al Washington e.
1t is recorded that the great man sat
thOughtfully for moment or two, quietly
Smiled as if 10 himself, and then politely
"but absolutely refused to answer" But
little later he sand that the story that he was
coming out boldly for Tilden WAS "unquali-
"iiedy false" and that he did not feel un-
" der any obligations to again accept second
"place upon the ticket" So that we
now know Mr.. Hendricks's opinion of
Daniel Webster and Miard Fillmore
and tho Pacific Railroad. together
with many of his views on swamp lands and
Capitalization and we are quite certain that
he does not want any more second places.n
Ho is not taking small beer when there is
champagne cork in the air and it is not
too much to infer from the letter and the