The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-27
Newspaper Opinion.
HIS HONESTY OF PURPOSE.

Newspaper Opinion.
HIS HONESTY OF PURPOSE.
New York Tribune
OF conciliatory ways and winning manners, he
was probably the most popular man In his party,
and came the nearest to representing it's true
views and honest wishes That fact alone had
much to do with the repeated defeat of his efforts
to secure a presidential nomination the time
had not arrived when the Democratic leaders
saw the way open to success with candidate
who presented no aims other than those popular
with the masses of the party. just at time
when the light seemed to be dawning bright in
the path of Mr. Hendricks ambition his
busy and eventful life is brought to an
abrupt and peaceful close. 1t was only
a few days ago that he was rejoicing
over what seemed to him an indication of
Democratic sense in the choice and election of
David b. Hill for Governor of this State The
current of Democratic thought seemed to be set
ting in Mr. Hendricks direction, and had he
lived until another national convention set it is
possible that he would have been a more formid-
able candidate than ever before. Mr. Hendricks
was a born politician, and his career extends
over the most eventful period of the Nations
existence. Unfortunately, it cannot be said that
he has left upon the country any special i'm
press for good. His excessive caution never led
him in advance of his party, and his vigorous in
tellect was not used to uphold the government
during the war It was unfortunate
that Mr. Hendricks did not permit the choice of
a President pro tenn of the Senate at the last
Ger, and should anything happen to the Presi-
dent there would be one who could become
his unquestioned successor
HIS OPPOSITION TO CIvIL-sERvICE REFORM
New York Herald.
The distinguishing feature of Vice president
Hendrickss political position at the time of his
death was his opposition to the progress of what
! is called "civil-servce REFORM and the motive
| which led him to take this position and make
himself the rallying point of all the Democratic
opposition to President Cleveland's reform policy
| is indicated, we believe, by this analysis. It
| sprung from what he understood to be the aver
age sense of the people. He did not believe that
| they wished for anything of the kind He con-
WINGED himself that they wished the ''spoils sys-
TEN" to be continued and therefore he was
champion of It's continuance. If he had been
convinced that the popular is the other
way, SO would also have been his conduct It
remains to be proved whether his understanding
of the peoples wish is accurate. Our con
viction is that it is not. But that he earn
est and sincere in his championship of the PERM
cious system which President Cleveland is
pledged to abolish ought not to be doubted for
moment. However violent antagonsms Mr..
Hendricks encountered in e long life full of bit
ter controversies, those noble qualities, honesty
and sincerity, never have been deliberately de-
MED to him by any adversary.
STEADY PARTISAN. BUT NOT AN EXTREMIST
Louisville Courier j ournal.
Mr.. Hendricks was less conspicuous for brill
liant talents than for level head a cool judy
ment and kind heart. He rarely lost
ms balance He was steady partisan,
but neither implacable nor extreme His
powers OF persuasion were very great. He inn
pressed an audience with his sincerity and his
amiability A more plausible vote-catching
speaker has seldom appeared in our political an
nails In his personal relations he was courteous
and tolerant to the last degree 1t may be
doubted whether he left enemy behind him,
TOT, despite his strong points OF intellect and
character, malice could not but pass him by
The mistake of his life was his separation from
Mr. Ilden and the idea of the ''old ticket" in
1885, but for which he would have been nomi-
mated and elected President, Mr.. Tden decin-
ing to be candidate then as he did four years
later. But Notwithstanding this error in a ca
reer slngularly free from errors and the resent
ment which followed it. Mr.. Hendricks had a
strong hold upon the confidence and affections of
his party, shown by that wonderful
demonstration in the Chicago convention when
he was nominated for Vice president.
A FAITHFUL DEMOCRAT.
New York Sun.
Mr.. Hendricks has been conspicuous as a pub
Tic man for more than thirty-five years. ADOPT
ing the Democratic faith at the beginning of his
career, he was faithful to it to the last There
was no eccentricity and no compromise in his
political idea. The doctrines of jefferson and
jackson were hlsedoctrnes and he held fast to
the traditional craftsmanship of his party. He
belonged to the people, and knew nothing of
that Pharisaic and Federalist pretension which
holds them in distrust and contempt His DO
litlcal speeches were filled with this spirit and
like his forensic arguments, commanded re-
spect by their breadth, elevation vigor of rea-
sonlng, and catholic comprehensiveness In
social life Mr.. Hendricks was dignifed kindly.
cordial, unaffected and generous. His sympa-
thies were never denied to any deserving cause,
or to any young man ambitious of usefulness
and honor. Happy in his home beloved by his
feliow-citZens. his life was enviable, and
though he did not fulfill all the days that his
friends wished and hoped for him. his DEATH too
was enviabe. He rests from his labors and the
sorrow and affectionate esteem of the whole
country follow him to the tomb.
HE HAD THE CONFIDENCE OF HIS PARTY.
Cincinnati Commercial Gazette.
He was very gentlemanly man-cam, pleas
ing, courteous, persuasive; gifted with brains
and information, intelligence and will good
lawyer, and politician one who held in a
surprising degree, through personal magnetism
and winning qualities difficult to define, the con
fidence of the people He said at the Chicago
convention that he was there ito speak for q
mighty State" He had great power in Indiana,
and the first serious appearance that the Chicago
convention of the Democracy had TO Republican
observers, was not when Cleveland, but when
Hendricks was nominated. There is reason 30
believe that if he had consented to have the .old
ticket reproduced by the Cincinnati convention
of 1880, the political history of the last five
years would have been wonderfully changed.
Certainly Mr.. Hendricks had on the