The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-28
The HOOsier's PretensiOnsa Subject OfAmuse-
meht in New YOrk-A Back Seat Pro-
vided for His Occupancy.
Good Advice to People Who May Have
Business with the President-Elect
Gen. Logan Attributes Republican Defeat to
the Allterative Burchard-John Kelly's
Paper on Civil-Service Reform.
HENDRICKs's PRETENsIONS.
Modification at Having to Play Second Fid-
dle-A Back Seat Ready for Him.

dle-A Back Seat Ready for Him.
Albany Letter in Chicago News.
The recent pranks and pretensions Of Thomas
A. Hendricks do not surprise the Democrats of
this section. 1t was known long before the Chi
cago convention that this Hoosier trickster was
traf6cking for the first place on the ticket. Mr.
Tilden had given out that feebleness of constitu-
ton forbade him undertaking the hardships of
another campaign. Much as the Sage of Grey
stone desired a vindication of the great fraud"
he valued his health more than the presidency
and exhibited natural desire that his declining
years should be rounded off with that peace and
quietness which only can be found among troops
of friends in the calm of private life. Political
ambition, however, never deserts Hendricks,
who was anxious that all the glory attending any
''vindication" should fall upon him. and he was
willing to take any steps which might secure him
the presidential nomination When the conven-
ton expressed its decided preference for Cleve-
land, the sef-esteem of Hendricks was staggered
for the moment It was with ill-concealed NOR
tifcation that he accepted the second place: but,
having accepted, he set to work to raise himself
on a pedestal of political pretensions, and to be-
little the man whom the united Democracy had
honored as its chief
The tactics that this pestferous Hoosier
ployed are known to everyone who watched the
campaign closely. He came East with a flourish
of trumpets He took rooms at the Grand Union
Hotel, at Saratoga. He gathered interviewers
about him and discussed the character
and antecedents of Governor Cleveland
with familiarity bordering on contempt
His tongue was ever ready to wag upon
delicate topics. He made more of the Maria
Halpin story than all the Blaine newspapers
combined. 1t was mentioned in all his conver-
sations. His opinion about it WAS given gratu-
itously to every Tom. Dick and Harry whom he
happened to meet. And, while pretending to be
horror struck by the way in which the story was
being used he left the unpleasant impression
that he gloated over its circulation and saw in it
a chance for Pecksniffan comparison between
Cleveland and himself
His behavior at the notification ceremony also
showed a desire to overshadow Cleveland The
President-eleet received the notification commit
tee in the parlors OF the executive
mansion. There was no display-no
spl re. Everything, even the subsequent
collation., was characterized with the simplicity
born, of good taste and true Democratic prin-
ciples. Hendricks, however looked upon his
notification as grand opportunity for pomp
ana ceremony. His private rooms were not big
enough for his overwhelming pride He was
content with nothing less than the large, elab
orately furnished rarlors of the Grand Union,
crowded with ladies n summer attire, and ar
ranged on the plan of a gorgeous dramatic tab
leau, His speech was masterpiece of selfcon-
seriousness. lie pictured nlulSeiI as lce-preSl-
dent deciding questions of awful moment Others
might regard the e-presidency as more of an
ornamental than useful Office, but he intended it
to be n living potential reality He dwelt upon
the responsibilities of the office, intimating that
its weighty duties would be discharged by him
with a punctilious regard to the expectations
and requirements of the people" The ceremony
was rare show in every sense of the term
and Hendricks pufed and strutted to the full
extent of his immense capacity
Next came his visit to Governor Cleveland, in
Albany. Hendricks had never met Cleveland
He said patronlzinglY, that he guessed the Gov
ernor would meet all his expectations-that
Cleveland's record was fairly good and hinted
that, with his valuable aid, the federal govern
ment could be run to the satisfaction of the De.
mocracy. They meJ and were closeted together
for several hours. What took place at this con-
ference Dan Manning Governor Cleveland, Dan
Lamont, and Mr. Hendricks alone can tell. The
interview did not make any percephble change
in Cleveland, and it did not check the current OF
the Hoosier's verbosity. Hendricks was gibber
than ever He thought Mr.. Cleveland very
nice gentleman He regretted that Maria Hal
pin had been dragged into the campaign, and
was reader than ever with apologies for his col
leagues offenses The idea gained strength in
his mind that he could carry Cleveland on his
shoulders. He displayed jealous alacrity to
assume all the burdens and responsibilities of
the campaign. He jumped at every sug-
gestion of Cleveland's withdrawal He
wrote aletter seriously discussing proposition
of that kind, and mstook the avalanche of abuse
it brought upon him as evidence of un
bounded popularity. He twtted Cleveland with
tariness in issuing his letter of acceptance say
ing to every casual acquaintance; What's the
use of fussing about his letter! Tliden and
made short work of the matter in 1876. My let
ter can be ready in five minutes l don't intend
to waste time here waiting for Cleveands letter"
He did not wait in Saratoga for the letter He
went to New York in huff, and subsequently
to Indiana, where his own brief epistle was in
dited and sent forth to the country
Hendricks is perfectly well understood here.
His pretensions are laughed at and his arrogance
will not go unrebuked. He will find out soon
enough that he is mere fgurehead. and that
his part in the administration will be con
fined strictly to the duties of Vice president and
all the insignifcance that pertains thereto. He
will soon experience that back seat is con
ducive to his personal comfort and that Gov
Cleveland is no more in accord with his pre-
posterous Bourbon notions than he is with the
Blaineish corruption he was elected to rebuke.