National Republican., 1884-09-19


Mr.. Thomas A. Hendricks is going
about the country--part of the timo In the
private palace cars of railroad magnates,
as it seems-dcmanding that oil mon now
in office be turned out and "honest men"
put in their places. Mr.. Hendricks is
himself candidate for high Office, aud
it is therefore probable that he regards
himself an honest man. Let us sec how
the record stands.
Mr.. Hendricks was high officer Of t6c
interior department when. Mr. Jacob
Thompson was sccrctagy.'' Mr.. Hendricks
was on friendly perhaps even familiar,
terms with his chief. Mr.. Thompson was
aVoweqiya party to q conspiracy to de-
stJSy this government, organized during
MS incumboncy of the high oilico referred
to, aud, SO far as possible, carried out be-
fore he left IL. Was Mr.. ~1Icndricks, as
Mr.. Thompson's friend and intimate,
privy to this conspiracy; and If so, did he
do anything to expose il? If not, is he
the kind of "honest man" he is recon-
mending for Office?
When Mr. Thompson deserted the high
Office referred to at the outbreak of tho
war he took away with him something
like three.quartors of million Of dollars
belonging to the Indian fund, which no
is supposed to hsvo converted 20 tho uses
of tho so.callod confederacy. Was Mr..
Hendricks privy to his intention in this
respect; and if so, did he do anything to
prevent tho carrying Of it outP If he did
not, is he the kind of "honest man" the
people want in oflice2
In 1864, during the darkest days Of the
war, reasonable organization was
formed in tho states of Indiana, Ohio, and
Illinois, variously known as "the Knights
of tho Golden Circle" and Sons of Lib
orty." The design of this organization is
thus set forth by this same Mr.. Jacob
Thompson in report to the confederate
secretary of state, dated Toronto, c. W.,
Dec. 81, 1864:
Ny first effort was TO learn its strength, its
principles, and its objects, and If possible, to
put myself in communicationSith its leading
spirits This was eflr cted without much
hiliNuitg VI tNlig' Nho iNNtlNth uihOHB
them with cordiality, and the greatest conf.
dence at once extended to me. Its
organization was essentially military; II had
its commanders of divisions, of brlgades, of
regiments, of companies. The uni
vcrsal feeling among It's members, leaders and
prcyates was that II was useless to hold n
presidential election. Lincoln had the power,
and would certainly re-elect himself, and
there was no hope but in force. The belief
was entertained, and freely expressed, that by
n bold vigorous, and concerted movement the
three great northwestern states of Illinois,
Indiana, and Ohio could be seized
and held. II T. The sixteenth
of August was fixed upon for general upris-
ing. ut was thought necessary" TO have a Sc
rles Of public meetings to prepare the public
mind, and appointments for peace meetings
were made-one at PEORIA one at Springfield,
and one at Chicago-on the 10th. The first one
was at Peoria, and to make 1t n success l
agreed that so much money as was necessary
would be furnished by me. About
this time Il large lot of arms were purchased
and sent TO indianapolis which was discov-
cred, and some of the leading men were
charged with the design to arm the members
of the order for reasonable purposes. =
The day on which the great movement was to
be made became known to Mr. Mcdonald,
candidate for governor of Indiana, and, be-
lieving 1t would mar his prospects for cleo
tlon unless prevented, he threatened to expose
all the parties engaged unless the project was
abandoned.
This reasonable organization had its
headquarters at indianapolis where Mr.
Hendricks then and now resides. Did he
have knowledge of its existence and de-
signs, as his old time chief Mr.. Thomp-
son had; and if SO, did he take any steps
Donald did2 If not, is he the kind of
"honest man" candidate for tho vice
presidency ought to go about the country
begging votes for?
The reasonable order referred to-,
which had its headquarters in Mr.. Hen.
dricks's own city, had fixed the time for q
general armed 'upr ising of the people for
Aug. l6. On the very day preceding the
democratic state central committee, with
which Mr.. Hendricks will not deny he
was in sympathy, issued an address to
"the people Of tho state of Indiana" in
which, after declaring the right of the
people to bear arms as necessary mean S
of defense. the committee said "We
especially recommend to tho people in all
their counties, townships, and election
precincts thorough organization" for
purposes 80 evidently dsloyal as to lead
Gov. Morton to issue proclamation in
which, after rooiting the facts, he said 4:
II do therefore solemnly warn the people
Of the state against accepting the evil
counsel they have reCoivOd 20 abstain
from all military organizations looking
directly or indirectly to resistance to
federal or state authority; to abstain from
all schemes Of resistance to tho laws, and
from all combinations, political OF mill
tary, tending to compromise them in
their allegiance and duty to tho govern
mont Of tho United States" Did Mr..
| Hendricks advise the issue of the address
referred to- and II so, does he now con-
slider himself an honest, patriotic citizen
Mr.. Jacob Thompson, under whom Mr..
Hendricks at one time held Office, says
further in the report referred to: "1n-
doed, l have so many papers in my
possession, which, in tho hands of tho
enemy, would utterly ruin and destroy
very many Of the prominent men in the
north, that a duo sense of my obligation
to them will force on me tho oxtremest
caution in my movements" Had Mr..
Thompson any papers from Mr.. Hendricks
in his possession and was he one of the
prominent men" referred to? II so IL
he the kind of"honest man"the people are
searching for TO fill the second office in
thoir gift2
The record of democratic dishonesty
published in to.day's issue Of THE
WEEKLY REPUBLICAN shows that more
than S2O,OOO,OOO were stolen by dishonest
/ a IL 4 H. q