The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-07-04
Mcdonald and hendricks.
New York Star.

talked of more generally and more approx.
ingly by Western Democrats than any OF aer
man who has been mentioned in connection
with the Presidency. He served with great
credit in Congress, gaining National repu-
tation by his ability and craftsmanship, and
his thorough Identification with Democratic
ideas. He apparently has less OF hold on
the Democracy of the East than some other
men-Bayard for instance. But his candi.
dature is strengthened by the feeling that
Indiana is doubtful State, and that il is i'm
portant to make sure of the ELECTORAL vote of
that State beforehand by putting an In
anisn at the head of the ticket. The Rspub-
licsns understood this maneuver and are
talking quietly, but much, of General Harri-
son, now Senator, whose grandfather was
elected by an overwhelming majority in
1910.
1t is to be regretted that in canvassing the
merits and strength of candidates the name
of Ex-Governor Hendricks is not mentioned
with more warmth. A recent unfortunate
interview, published without his consent or
even knowledge has placed INN in position
which is unjust and misleading He is gen.
erous to fault. He harbors no resentments.
And in the course of several conversations,
in which he spoke with the confidential
frankness of personal friendship, he showed
the magnaDimous character of his mind.
He could not now unsay anything attributed
TO him without appearing to reflect upon
others; and he generously prefers 70 bear the
misconstrucuon rather than infiict mo-
ment's pain. The attitude of Mr.. Hendricks
toward the events of 1867 and his
feeling in reference to them are matters of
history. and are too we'll known by too many
people 10 be swept aside in mood of prince.
ly msgnanimity. Mr.. Hendricks was nom.
mated for Vice President al ST. Louis liz 1876
against his will. He was persuaded to- &C
cept the nomination with no little difficulty,
L. 1r e.. 4
in New York. After his letter of acceptance
had been published he had next to nothing
to do with the campaign, and was hardly
consulted in it. When the Republican man
ayers began to maneuver to defraud the De-
mocracy Of their great victory, Mr.. Tilden
assumed the entire management of the case,
as though il were his personal concern, with
which no other had anything to do. And Mr..
Hendricks, one of the ablest constitutional
lawyers in the country, who was elected Vice
President by the same vote that made
Tilden President-elect, was ignored and
virtually pushed aside During the long
controversy over the Electoral Commission
his wishes were not consulted his opinions
were not sought. and be was treated as
though he had no rights ana was altogether
too Insignificant person to be noticed. The
injustice done to Mr.. Hendricks by Tilden
and bis friends was so palpable and marked
that both NJ. Hendricks and his friends
were cut TO to the quick and deeply wounded.
That they did not fill the country with COM
plants is due to their good sense aud
modesty, not to their want of proper cause.
Mr.. Hendricks early won distinction at
the Indiana Bar. His great talents his
generous and conciliatory disposition, his
nigh character, his unfailing common sense
and goo humor made him one OF the most
popular lawyers in the State He has many
traits OF character similar to those which
made Abraham Lincoln the favorite of the
people Office came to him unsought, and
every position to which he was chosen was so
ably d faithfully filled that he rose with
out fort to be Governor of the State and
Uni.ed states Senator. He always ran ahead
of lis iio&ei and was a tower of strength to
his party. In Republican Senate he CON-
mandtd respect and influence, and made
such q mark that in 1868 he was the most
popular and promising candidate before the
National Convention which met in this city,
the first great gathering in the then new
Tammany Hall. His nomination was con-
sideTed almost certain and then, in
the full vigor of manhood, with his
a host of admiTing and enthusiastic friends,
10 was believed that he could be
elected. But sinister intrigues effected what
could not be comprised by open opposition.
Tiden was even then an aSpirant for the
Presidency, and actively conspired to keen
had not yet come, he did not want any other
Democrat to be chosen. By what means he
drew Nallandingham of Ohio-an impulsive
and brilliant young man who had grown up
under the influence Of Hendricks-into the
| meshes of his scheme is not known; but he
succeeded IN pursuading VRllandingham
that Seymour was the only man of all others
to nominate, and Vallandingham made the
nomination in speech of ringing and mag.
netic power. The effect was almost electric;
and Tilden followed with an adr0it address
lauding Seymour in the highest terms con
Guiding with the regret that, as an old man,
weary OF public lire, Semour did not want
Semour was found; the nomi.
nation OyeTcEma him; he refused and
protested until he actually became
Ia ut, and stimulants were necessa Y to re-
store him. The nomination was literally
forced on him against his will. q nomination
which should have gone TO Hendricks, and
would nave been given to him but for the
willy intrgues of Tilden. who was the most
active man in the Convention. In the midst
of the campaign, when there was possibility
| that Mr.. Seymour might be elected, the
World, with whose editor Mr.. Tilden wa!
| personally intimate, declared that his nom
| ination was mistake, that his election wa
| out or the question and that he ought to 70
| ieve the party of a burden ii could not carry
| And Mr.. 1ilden, who was an active member
| of the Democratic Committee was not will
| ing that this dastardly blow, struck from
traitor hand from behind, should be author
| itatiyely disavowed by the New York Com
| mittee.
These historical facts show pla My enough
| that Thomas a. Hendricks has not had jus
tice done him. He was pushed aside by q
| dexterous and cunning trick in 1868, wheI
| he might and should have been the Dem ,
| cratic standard-beerer. In 1876 he was tn,
| first choice of the unpurchased delegations o
| the West. Had no corrupting influence beer
brought to bear on the Convention at st
Louis. there is little doubt that Mr.. Hen
/ dricks would have been the nominee Agar
| il was Tilden, and TildeD plus his barrel, anc
| Hendricks was given the second place to ia.
sure Western support. Bat his name gave a
| popular strength to the ticket which no othel
| could Lave given il. Histreaiment after tbs
nomination, and particularly after the cleo
/ ton, was inexcusable. He might have beer
| nominated for President in 1850 but for thu
| determination of Tilden and his friends tha
| the whole of the old ticket should ba nomi
| mated or rone. and their well-understooC
| threats 10 defeat Hendricks were he nomi