The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1885-11-27
THOMAS A. HENDRICKS.

ana SranueSt STATESMEN wednesday az
ternoon in the demise of Hon Thomas a..
Hendricks, the twice elected vice pre- 81
dent of the United States. The news of
his death fell like a thunderbolt from a
clear sky, and deep seated gloom settled
over nation on the eve of a national
Thanksgiving
Thomas A. Hendricks was a man in all
that the name implies and in
the nninviling shadow of the
grave, is seen the reelection of
high and cultivated mind, a generous
nature and statesman Of the brightest
cast. He was lawyer, whose firm had
a large and renumerative practice lie
loved public life, and his dearest foe can
not truthfully assert over his bier that
in the discharging of the various public
posts with which he was ntrustcd he was
not diligent and patriotic. He died
too soon for his country, but
not too soon for his fame. which he
secured before he reached the vice.
presidential chair; but his election
to that place in the fall of 1884 after the
counting out of Tilden and Hendricks in
1876, was regarded as a personal and po-
litlcal vindicatiou of great national I'M
portance, and seemed to give lasting ems
phasis to the popular favor in which he
had long been held
As member of the legislature and
governor of Indiana, and as Il representa~
tive in congress and a senator of the
United States, not to specify other public
positions which he has held, he had taken
rank as one OF the leading men in thought
and action, and had impressed himself far
more indelibly on the history of the
country than he could as the mere presidN
ing officer of the senate. His election
in 1884 was vindication Of the party to
which he belonged rather than an honor
worthy of his achievements and steadfast
democracy.
1t is not easy-indeed it is not desira-
ble--to consider Mr.. Hendricks apart
from his character as partisan. He was
democrat of the strict sect. lie was a
statesman and publicist, but he hcwcd
his public life to the democratic line, and
was fair illustration of the truth that
parties are indispensable to our republi-
can form of government. lie WAS a
thorough student of affairs and firm be.
lever in the principles of the democratic
party, and he swerved not to the right Or
left of his party allegiance. IIewas i'm
bued with the fact that no man was
greater than his party, and that great re-
forms, or needed changes in government,
were accomplished through parties rath-
or than thorough individuals. He under>
stood that parties were the organizations
for the expression of the peoples will.
The death of such man at any period
would have been public loss; but at
this time, when new administration
needs his counsel and guidance, the
calamity becomes national. The political
effect of Mr.. Hendricks death will be to
throw the succession of the vice prcsidcn-
cy into the hands of the republican party,
which has majority in the senate aud
will elect presiding officer rs soon MS
congress meets.
The dead vice president occupied
a warm spot in the hearts of
Rock Island democrats and
his unex pected death caused the pro-
foundcst sorrow. The court house and
Harper house flags are suspended at half
mast. 1t is with sincere regret, however.
ing contemporary on the sad fatality, but
that il does not reflect the feelings of the
community is evident from the number of
protests against the unprecedented utter
ances of this remarkably conducted sheet.
1t says:
1.-THE Union has seen nothing to admire
in the public career of the man who has
gone and does not think the loss will be
a severe one even to the democratic
party
Such an utterance is enough to disgrace
the paper that makes it in the eyes of an
intelligent people. How different is the
opinion of the indianapolis Sentinel, pubs
lished in the dead statesman's city:
The press of the land will speak this
morning of his career as great states
man The Sentinel, published ut his home,
would speak to his home friends of his
great heart and soul. However much en-
crossed in professional or public affairs,
he never forgot his humblest friend nor
failed to strike to advance his interest
No member of the community in which
he lived and was familiarly known ever
heard of charge of dishonesty orinjustjce
in business affairs made against him Ma
ture created him a lawyer, and as an ad
vocate his generation knew few. if any,
superors. lie possessed personal mag
netsm that attracted admiration and affec-
tion far beyond the circle of his personal
acquaintances. During the last few years
of his life he commanded a popularity
never cXcelled by any statesman on this
continent. Indiana admired him because
he was great. and loved him because he
was sympathetic and kind. This morn
ing, however the heart of This community
Is saddened not so much because great
citizen IS gone as because q loved neigh>
Dor and friend is dead.
Evidently those who knew him best
loved him most. II is sufficient to know,
however. that the entire press of the
country, excepting the Uaton) and prom
inent men of all political shades. have
only words of praise and commentator
for the dead vice president