Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1885-11-26
DEATH OF VICF-PkEsIDENT HEN
NAREEKS

tnat ne was showing some signs ot over
work, of over-exertion consequent upon
his anxieties aad lsbors during that
eager contest. But these were not re-
garded by his friends in the least de-
gree serious or as forebodings of the sad
event that to-day puts the nation in
mourning a statesman whose worth
has often b. d acknowledged, and wiling
ly, even by his opponents. But they were
evidently mistaken, and lie himself per-
haps most of all. Always prodigal of his
powers when Democratic principles were
at stake, he had no mercy on him
self during the eventful months
while the issue of Cleveland or
Blaine was before the people.
Through the Western and Eastern states
he travelled from city TO city making some
OF the strongest, most telling and tren-
chant speeches of his life and earning for
himself with the people everywhere
character for more serious and profound
consideration Of the great political
questions involved such as is not often i'm
pressed by the public men of our day.
He seemed to feel that siuce the dignity
OF the Presidency ought not TO be sunk
In canvass even SO serious as
that which ended so triumphantly for the
Democratic party, he must, as the candi-
date for ths second place, assume the per-
sonal responsibilities of the campaign and
meet the people face to face. How well
and to what purpose he did this the his
tory of that campaign will tell. He en-
tered upon it looking as If in the prime
and vigor of life, as if the forces OF intel
lect, by which he bad elevated himself to
the love, respect and confidence of his
fellow-CiLizsns, were grouping themselves
for at least tsS more years of labor
in the maintenance of those PRINCIPLES bv
which he had during his whole life be-
lieved government of and for the people
could best be administered. He looked
ssnsle and hearty, as if in the possession OF
the rugged health that has been and still
is characteristic of so many of the public
men of the West, and he acted as
he looked, SO that those nearest to
him did not permit themselves even
go much as to think that the dread
visitor WAS 80 near his door. The frank.
ness with which he accepted the nomins-
ton at Chicago, end the enthusiasm with
which be entered upon The labor of urg-
ing and defending the ticket, was re-
marked upon iJy all who saw him at that
most remarkable gathering of the
Democracy Of the country - re-
n9fkable for the great number
of conspicuously able men who
were of it. His enthusiasm was part OF
the spirit of the occasion, and induced the
belief with many that he might survive
even a second term of Mr.. Cleveland and
at last reach the place to which he aspired
and where so many Democrats. both North
and South, desired to see him placed. But
the strain Of this enthusiasm and the
anIieties insepsrsble from what was
from the fTs. to many a doubtful con-
test toiI upon a system already
tasked by many years cf activity in
pEolic hfe, and the penalty was paid yes
tsrday by the sudden passage from life to
death almost at the moment when he was
about to take his seat as the President of
the Senate. Paralysis Of the brain tells
the whole story Of the mental strain under
which MIR. Hendricks must have been liy-
ing for, years and of the too frequent
drafts he made upon resources that were
originally very great. And thus another
lie has been cut short in its time of great
est Usefulness and when the eyes Of the
whole nation were fixed upon the man as
upon one who had proven his
title to their highest consideration and
confidence. He was first of all the public
men of Indiana, and in the whole West
only Senator Thurman could compare
with him for signal ability aud statesman
ship. Like that sturdy Democrat Mr..
Hendricks was a Western man, typo of
a class that has almost passed away, and
whose power with the people was always
readily Acknowledged because it was always
with the people and never rose above them
save when selected to perform the duty
o. leadershipin critical junctures, or when
party exigeucy made such duty impera-
tive. MIR. Hendricks was bonn in Mus
kingum county, o 10, on the 18th Of Sep
tembeT, 1919, while the State now go rich
in resources, and especially rich in states
men OF very high merit, was still in
the wilderness. Three years later his fami-
ly removed t. Shelby county, Indiana, and
there he made his home for many years
He wss graduated from Hanover College
in 1871, snd in lS43 was admitted to the
bar, at which be rose to the highest place,
sharing with Mcdonald, Voorhees, and
others the pre-eminence of leadership.
He beZan his political career as a member
Of the state House Of Representatives
in 1878, ehere he served two years and
was then promoted to the State Senate
in 1852, leaving his seat in that body
to enter upon the duties of member
of the Federal House of Representatives,
where lie served two terms, and until 1855,
when he was appointed Commissioner Of
the Land Office, position be filed with
great credit unit. 1859, when he was NOM
mated for Governor by the Democratic
party, but was defeated. lie was elected
to the United States Senate in 1868, and
served until 1869, being again defeated in
1865 as the Democratic candidate for Gov
ernor. Nominated for that offiee for the
thiid time IN 1872, he was elected
by a msjority that was the turn
ing of the tide that for many years in Iu-
diana had flowed in the direction Of Re-
publicanism. This triumph brought him
Conspicuously before the Democracy of the
nation, and he became q prominent and
much-islked-of candidate for the Presi-
dency. Bat for many reasons Mr.. Til
den of New York, then the most
successful of Democratic leaders, was
preferred for the first place, and
Mr.. Hendricks yielding to the earnest
solicitation Of his friends accepted
the second place on ticket that will al
ways be most conspicuous in the political
annals of the country because of the
frauds resorted TO by the Republicans to
count it out aud prevent the accession CT
the choice of majority of the people of
the United States TO the Prcsi-
dental chair. But this infamous outrage
upon the rights of the States and the
people only served as time and the con-
fessions of some of the benefcisries by it
made it more convincingly apparent, to
endear both Mr.. Tilden and Mr.. Hend-
ricks to the people, and even as
late as last Joly thousands Of DEM
ocrats were sill of the opinion
that the ticket of '76 should sgain be
nominated as the strongest rebuke that
could be administered TO the political