The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-14
GENERAL POLITICAL NEWS.
/ Fayette County Mans Interesting
"reminiscences Of Hendricks.
He Also Gives Reasons Why Veterans, Pro-
hibitionists and COlOred Men Will Not
Support Him-0ther Political Items.
4 nENDRIcKs REmINIsoENoE.
why Veterans, Prohibitionists and CoIored
Men VIII Oppose Him.


WHY Veterans, Prohibitionists and CoIored
Men VIII Oppose Him.
correspondence Of the Indianapolis journal.
C-oNNERsvILLE, Ind, Aug. l3.-Dr. S. w.
Vance, an old and wellknown resident Of this
city, has for nearly half a century figured promi
nently in the politics of this county, as well as
in his profession. He was one Of the earliest
pioneers to the incipient city Of Connersville,
and took a conspicuous part in the organization
Of the first medical society of this county, forty
years ago. He refers with pride to the fact that
he was for some fifteen years the sole representa-
tive IN this bail1wick Of that Spartan band Of
Free.soilers who voted for a principle inthedays
when anti-slayery timber was SO scarce-eyen in
the Northern States-that the presidential can
aidates Of his little, prosecuted faction Of ultra
Abolitionists had to make the race on a side
track, as it were, without a single representa-
tive in the electoral college.
The Doctor is rich in reminiscent lore and
lavish Of his inexhaustible stock of anecdote and
narrative touching on those p~erilous times when
It was martyrdom to inveigh against human
slavery and heroic to stand for the principle that
Fall men are created free and equal He was
one or the WORTHLESS who felt impelled to yield
to the memorable logic of his creed, and upbraid
as IA league WIN nell ana a covenant WlLIl Qealu
the instrument that professed to endow all its
people with certain inalienable rights. and yet
hnated its national emblem over a slave IN his
chains.
The Doctor is a man of strong convictions,
and swears for azirms@ "by the grace of God
that he will always vote for principle, though
his dearest friend be thereby made to suffer de-
feat. He is an ardent advocate Of temperance,
and win support Blaine and Logan on the
ground of texpediency.p He declares that
cleveland is a political ~lipertine. if nothing
worse; and as for HendrickS-but / will let the
Doctor tell his own story:
SIN 1922 he said to your correspondent, this
morning, myself and several other temperance
Republicans, having heard it bruited about that
General Tom Browne, who was that year the
Republican candidate for Governor of Indiana,
was anti-temperance both in theory and prac-
tice, determined to vote for his opponent Thorn
as A. Hendricks, provided that gentleman would
answer certain questions. We based this de-
termination upon the general belief that Mr..
Hendricks was a man of correct moral habits
and an abstainer from intoxicating drinks.
NWel, the Democratic candidate appeared in
due time IN this city, to address the people; and
before he spoke, six or eight of us called upon
him at his hotel. As had been chosen spokes-
man, / addressed the great man asfollows:
tMr. Hendricks, yon see before you several
ardent Republicans who feel inclined to support
you for Governor this year, on your general
record as u moral and upright citizen; but before
we pledge our consciences to that act, we desire
to ask Won two questions"
The statesman dropped his head forward and
said. simply, Proceed. gentlemen.
well, sir, our first question is: Do you in
tend to keep up your old hostility to the colored
race of this eountFygp
Mr.. Hendricks raised his head, and, with a
slight tinge Of embarrassment in his tone, re-
piled:
q Gentlemen l frankly confess that opposed
the emancipation Of the slaves, opposed the pol
icy of arming the blacks to kill their white mas
tiers, and afterwards seriously questioned the
~prepriety Of placing the ballot in the hands of
nearly a million of ex-slaveS. But your party
has fairly enforced all these measures; and they
now form a part of cur organic system. i cheer
fully yield to the inevitable, and my future con
dHct. In or cut e~f0fice, willcertainly be in accord
with these enactments.
EVERY well. Now, Mr.. Hendricks, our next
question is: Should you be elected Governor,
viii your public acts be in accord with your past
moral conduct-in other words, will you favor
in all legitimate ways the cause of temperance,
to the end that no act of yours. at least, will
serve to retard or hinder prohibition in the State
Of Tndianap
81 can freely promise you, gentlemen, that
my administration, should ! be elected, would in
no wise interfere with the progress OF temper
sfnce; and that I shall at all times be glad to aid
IN the promotion If a cause SO noble and so ex-
allied in my native State
Eve Withdrew 2 said the Doctor, satisfied;
and afterwaFd helped to elect the Democratic
candidate. His subsequent acts showed how
lightly he valued his word and his honor; and
also the s~hallowness of his sympathy for the
cause of sobriety and temperance. I then
marked him down a political reprobate and
hypocrite, and ] still carry the record in my hat
predict that he will never be any nearer Vice
president of this Republic than he is now. No
good temperance man who is acquainted with
his notorious acts Of self -stultiicati0n can posi-
bly, vote for him. He will get no support from
the soldiers or the colored men, and he will lose
his own State by at least Il, 600 votes. Veterans,
ProhibitioHists and colored men alike owe Tom