New-York tribune., 1883-06-06
DOWy AMONG THE DEAD MEN.

Mr.. Thomas A. Hendricks, of Ddiana, it may
perhaps be remembered. was the Dem ocratic
candidate for Vice e-President in 1876 1t may
also be remembered that Mr. William II. Eng
lish was candidate for the same place in 1850.
Do We assume too much in saying that these
facts are within the public memory, or shall
we be called upon for afiidavits1 However
that may be, the two gentlemen themselves
have evidently not forgotten the circumstance.
By q singular coincidence, within the past week
bubbles have como up over the spot where
each went down. In the case of Mr. Hendricks,
who has been the longer under water, no
artificial means were used to produce the
effect. All of himself lie bubbled and babbled.
In Mr.. English's case. if we may use common
figure of speech, guns had TO be fred over his
watery sepulchre to raise him. He was lifted
up by lawsuit. 1t only needed an interview
ing reporter to whisper over the spot where
Mr. Hendricks went down an inquiry as to the
probable Democratic nominations in 1884 to
sol that gentleman's moist remains bubbling
violently. The reporter caught therefrom the
important admission that the remains had
changed their mind since 1880. In that year
the remains, then only four ycars submerged
and in good degree of preservation refused
with indignation to consider the proposition to
renominate the ticket Of S76, upon which the
remains played second fiddle TO Mr.. Tilder,
though the remains were willing to take the
first place themselves. The remains are now
of the opinion that nothing could be more just
or proper than the denomination of precisely
that ticket. Unkind people suggest that the
change of view is due to the fact that Mr. Tilden
will be eight years older and good deal
feebler in 1854 than he was In 1875, and not so
liable to live out a Presidential term. 1t is
said that Mr.. Tiden, who is good deal more
dried up but nowhere near SO dead as the In
diana remains, when he heard the proposition
winked viciously with great rapidity with his
well eye for several minutes without saying
word.
The other body was brought to the surface
by lawsuit. Nothing else would fetch him,
not even proposition to renominatc the ticket
of 18S0-uness with the understanding that
somebody else should foot the bills. Mr.. Eng
llsh, as 1t seems, in the fatal year 1880 made a
contract with Mr.Willam d. Murphy, of Albany,
by which he agreed to pay that statesman
81 200 TO 20 to indiana and use his powers OF
persuasion upon the stump to induce the In
diana voters to support the Democratic can
didates, of whom Mr.. English was one. Mr..
Murphy never having received but 500,
brought suit for the remaining 81, 100 by an
attachment in the Supreme Court of this State.
In his answer Mr.. English contended that even
though he admitted the contract it could not
be enforced, being in violation Of the Consti-
tuition and subvcrsive of good morals, and
the contract having been made in this city, at
the Fifth Avenue Hotel, in the presence of Sem
ator Mcdonald, of Indiana-being In open
violation Of the statute law Of this State prohib-
iting the expenditure Of any money by candi-
dates for Office for any other pnIpvse than print
ing and circulating tickets, bringing voters to
the polls, etc. Unfortunately for the cause of
political morality, it was discovered that the
State of Indiana, In which Mr.. Murphy's pat
riotic labors were performed, did not rejoice
in such a law, and as the court held that the
contract must be governed by the laws of tho
State In which the work was done and not by
those of the State In which the contract was
merely signed, the defence fell to the ground.
The consequence was that Mr.. English, whose
interest In the case, as will readily be observed,
was solely that of conservator OF public
morals was unable to teach Murphy the lesson
in political morality at which he aimed. Some
thing of q tribute to morality was extorted