Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1885-11-28

sentimental. One is klnQ-noarUeu anu
strong-willed, and did all in her power to
advance the fortunes of her husband.
~
Thomas A. Hendricks was born near
GAINESVILLE, O., September Z, 1919. On
the maternal side he was of Scotch Irish
descent His parents moved to Madison,
Ind, when Thomas was six months old.
Thomas entered Hanover college in 1887,
and graduated in 1S41. He then studied
law in The office of an uncle, Judge Thom-
son at Chambersburg, Penn, and was adj
mitted to the practice of law in 1S43. He
returned to Shelbyville, Indiana, where
he entered the practice of his profession
with success which was phenomenal.
In 1S45 Mr.. Hendricks was married to
Eliza G. Morgan. At the age of 26 he
was elected to the state legislature. In
1851 he was elected, without opposition,
a member of the state convention to re-
wise the constitution. He was elected to
congress from the fifth district in the
same year, and was reelected in
1853. Upon the expiration Of this term
in congress, Mr.. Hendricks intended to
return to the practice of law, but Presi-
dent Pierce appointed him commissioner
OF the general land Office. In 1860 Mr..
Hendricks was given the Democratic NOM
ination for Governor of Indiana, but he
was. defeated at the election. In the
same year he moved from Shelbyville to
Indianapolis. He and Oscar B. Hord
formed law partnership in that city in
1862. In 1868 Mr. Hendricks was elected
y. S. Senator. In 1868 he was candi-
date for the Democratic nomination for
the presidency, but was defeated. He
was the Democratic nominee for governor
of Indiana in the fall of that year, and
suffered defeat. At the close of his sena-
torial term, he resumed the practice of
law In 1872 he was elected governor of
Indiana. He was permanent chairman of
the Indiana State Democratic convention
in 1874. In 1876 he was nominated by
the Democratic national convention for
vice-president. He was a member of the
Democratic national convention in 1884,
and placed in nomination for the presi-
dental candidate Joseph Mcdonald, of
his own state. Mr.. Hendricks himself
received at that convention the nominal
ton for vice-president by the entire vote
of that body, Sl6. He was feet, 9 inches
In height, and a consistent member of the
Protestant Episcopal church.
~
We have not been an admirer of Thos.
A. Hendricks political career. In the
sense of having volunteered his help and
sympathy to the Southern wing of the
democracy and the class of Democrats in
the North who have been allied with them
IN sympathy, Mr.. Hendricks was an un-
wavering Democrat. He belonged to this
wing of the Democracy in ante-bellum
times. His kind of Democracy would
have been eminently respectable if it had
won complete victory in the war OF the
rebellion. As it is, it is measurably SO
through its persistent struggles, and its
series of partial successes. If the cause
OF liberty had fallen, Hendricks would
have been patriot. The cause of liberty
won; Hendricks was not patriot. This
is not on arraignment of the qualities of
his heart. We concede his honesty, and
have no possible doubt that, as a neigh
Dor, he was without fault; in his private
life, hero.
-
AS far as the veal of the country is con-
cerned, Mr.. Hendricks's death creates
anew the wrangle concerning the presi-
dental succession. Secretary of State
Bayard expresses pain at the death of Mr..
Hendricks, but greater pain at the
thought that it leaves only one man-Mr.
Cleveland = between secure government
and anarchy.
The practical view of the case seems to
be that Mr.. Hendricks refused to vacate
the vice-president's chair long enough to
admit Of the election of q president FRO
femfoye of the senate. He hoped that the
Republican texture of that body would be
changed 70 Democratic. There seems to
be a general adherence to the doctrine
that If such an election had taken place,