Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-11-27
THOMAS A. HENDRICKS.


The news of the death of Vice-Presi-
dent Hendricks was a surprise to all and
sadness to all Although advanced in
years, yet he seemed in the vigor of life.
His life has been a busy one, and was
filled with years and honors.
Thomas A. Hendricks was born on a
farm near GAINESVILLE, O., September Z,
1919. When Thomas was but six months
of age his father removed to Indiana, set
tliug near Madison, on the Ohio. His
father was the founder of the Presbyterian
church in indianapolis, and in that
denomination Thomas was educated.
After graduating from the college at
South Hanover, young Hendricks en-
tered the law office OF Judge Major as
student at law. From the office of Judge
Major he entered the law office OF his ma
ternal uncle, Judge Thompson, OF Cham
bersburg, Pa, and was admitted to the
bar in 1S43. In 1S4S he was elected to
the State Legislature, but declined re-
election in 1850 In 1851 he was elected
10 Congress, defeating his oppo
nent by nearly four thousand ma
jority. He was beaten for the
next Congress by Lucian Barbour,
and in 1855 returned to Shelbyville,
where he resumed the practice of the
law, and in August Of that year, Presi-
dent Pierce, in an autograph letter, ten
the General Land Office, which he finally
accepted at the urgent solicitation of |
friends. He resigned this offire in 1859.
In 1868 he was elected to the Senate of /
the United States, where he faithfully /
served his State and country for six years.
In 1872 he was elected Governor of In
diana. In 1884 he was elected Vice
President of the United States on the
ticket headed by Grover Cleveland, and
in that office he died Thus closed his
official career.
In 1868 he was candidate for the
Presidency, but the nomination was given
to Horatio Seymour. Again, in 1876, he
was candidate, but again he was de-
feated, Samuel J. Tilden, of New York,
being nominated first on the Democratic
ticket, Mr.. Hendricks finally accepting
the second place on tie ticket, although
he did so with aiuctance and felt it to be
4 humiliation The Presidential election
)f 1876 is still fresh in the minds of the ;
people, and that Tilden and Hendricks {
we're elected here can be no doubt. Mr.. I
Hendricks WIS in favor of taking the oath /
,f Office, and demanding the Presidency t
'f President Grant, and leaving the ulti-
nate decision Of the question to the
supreme Court, ne always having opposed
he Electoral Commission His election
o the Vice-Presidency in 1884 seemed t
lmost poetic justice f0~ the great wrong t
le had suffered in 1876. Y
Vice-President her, II X was a Demo- q
rat of the old schooi, aad in his Democ- O
acy never once wavered. His Democracy O
'as such that at times he seemed to be r,
the past rather than Of the present, and u
uch being the case, he was never heart b
y in accord with the reform spirit of the 9,
arty. As time goes on, new conditions al
rise, and parties must conform them Of
elves to these new conditions. The al
olicy which would be appropriate and T
roper under the condition of one cl
me may be inappropriate and tt
nproper at another time And this al
peculiarly so in n country whose dl
'owth has been SO rapid and of
onderful as the growth OF The United vi
ates. The United States are no longer C,
swaddling clothes, but they are Ma co
IN among the Nations. The methods th
hich were in use forty years ago are in wi
'propriate to-day, and still Viee-Presi- de
mt Hendricks was very largely attached de
those methods. He was attached to It'll
EN- because he thought them best cal tn
lated to further the interests of his to
untry, and for no other reason. The m,
iAiN va VIZ etSS olliti W anu Tile uO
lrit of the age is a better and safer u.s.
ide than any precedent. is
In person he was most comely, and his an
lnners were OF that mild, sweet kind cit
lich win the hearts of all. He was the an
of a gentleman, and in of
'ial life had no superior His wife is is s
accomplished as a lady as he was as a to
and their home was the home fin,
happiness and sunshine, although that kee
me was wanting in children, those sur
gels who are sent to tighten the burden anc
1 sorrows of this world How calm the
l beautiful must have been the soul mo
ich could say, as death drew near, the
I am free at last,''- of
4 how sweet must be its Sleep to
VIII,