The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-12-03
The Dead Vice President.

The Dead Vice President
The death of Vice President Hendricks,
which we briefly announced last week,
removes from the theatre Of American pol
itics one who, in many respects. was the
central representative of the Democracy of
to-day. That he was nearer to the hearts of
the masses Of his party than any other of
its leaders, few will deny. He possessed
the elements Of political leadership that
is the leadership of actual forces a re
markable degree. Warm. hearted, gener-
Gus. kindly in his nature, Of pronounced
personal magnetism, honest, earnest, and
a firm believer IN the right Of his cause.
he inspired his followers with an enthusi-
asm few could evoke, and shared in their
feelings with genuine fellowship. The bit
terest enemies he had-he has no enemies
Eow-could never accuse him of hypocrisy
or deceit. He lifted no uncertain banner.
He spoke no cant. The blows he dealt
were straight from the shoulder. The pro-
LESSONS he made needed no interpreter.
A pronounced partisan, he asked for a
verdict upon that single plea. He accept
ed its responsibilities without hesitation,
and claimed its rewards without rebate.
He occupied no middle ground he prac-
ticed no arts Of deception. His position
before the world was such that all the
world might see, and those who upheld
and supported him could count the cost of
their partisanship.
1t was the possession of these positive
qualities that won to him earnest follow
ers and gave him place in American his
tory. Without them, Thos. A. Hendricks
would not have reached to national dis.inc
ton. He was man of broad brain. Gull
tivation, faculty for details and Of untir-
ing energy but he was not statesman.
Starting at the lower round, he had ascen-
ded the political ladder, step by step until
there was but one beyond. Yet in all that
long career, with all the opportunities open
before him, there was not one great act
which contributed to the growth and glory
of the Republic that bears the stamp of
his patronage or advocacy. He was we'd
ded to the past he viewed the present
through the glasses of an era that was
gone, and in looking to the future, the
change of conditions was an unknown ele-
ment in the sum of his estimate. We
search his record in vain for statesmanlike
grasp, deep penetration and that far reach
ing comprehension that lays the founda-
tion for nations prosperity. Without
recurring to his record during the war,
the position he held upon the questions
Of finance, of homestead, of tariff, and
issues of like prominence, which for the
last score of years have held so important
a place in the minds Of the people, is suffi-
GENTLY well known. Upon each Of these
he took distinctive stand against any
advance, throwing himself squarely across
the pathway Of national progress. That
he was honest in his purpose, none doubt.
That he was wrong, the history Of the
Republic attests. 1t was, however, the
very tenacity with which he held to the
past, that In recent years gave him pro-
nounced prominence in his party. When
Democracy swerved from its ancient
moorings, and began to coquet with Civil
Service Reform, Mr.. Hendricks was one
of the few who viewed the departure with
illconcealed disapprobation. Not even
for the prospect of party success.
after long years Of exclusion from power,
was he willing to lower the old flag, or re-
,,nnpco tho Tookconian orood uo voc
too honest to profess belief for which he
had nothing but contempt. Even when
the fight had been won upon policy he
distinctly opposed, there was no surrender
OF conviction upon his part-no tolerance
of the new party profession. Had his life
been spared, there is every reason to be-
lieve that hostility more or less open
would have existed between him and the
executive. Already the indications Of
their disagreement were plainly discern
able, and with the masses Of the party
ranged under the lead of the Vice Presi-
dent, and the army of Office holders and
Office seekers seeking favor with the Pres
ident, the contest between the two ele-
ments promised to be prolonged. and not
without exciting incidents. Whether the
mantle of the dead leader shall fall upon
another Of equal honesty, equal boldness
and equal ability, remains to be deter
mined. but certain it is, few can supply
the place he held in the hearts Of his peo-
pie.
In the deep sorrow which Expresses the
wife he loved SO dearly, the nation joins in
sympathy, and political friend and foe
mite in a tribute to the tender
loving husband, the staunch friend, and
the man whose candor, conviction and
strength of character made him parti-
san, and forced him to scorn canting
hypocrite.