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
q sadness to all Although advanced in
years, vet he seemed in the vigor Of life.
His life has been busy one, and was
filed with years and honors.
Thomas A. Hendricks was born on Il
farm near GAINESVILLE, o., September Z,
1919. When Thomas was but six months
of age his father removed to Indiana, set
tling 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 a
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 10 the
bar in 1S43 In lS4s he was elected to
the State Legislature, but declined re-
election in 1850. In 1851 he was elected
TO 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 Shelbyvillc,
where he resumed the practice OF the
law, and in August OF that year, Presi-
dent Pierce, in an autograph letter, ten
dered him the office of Commissioner Of
the General Land Office, which he finally
accepted at the urgent solicitation Of
friends. He resigned this oflire 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 ]. 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 reluctance and felt it to be
humiliation. The Presidential election
OF 1876 is still fresh in the minds of the
people, and that Tilden and Hendricks
were elected there can be no doubt. Mr.
Hendricks was in favor OF taking the oath
OF Office, and demanding the Presidency
of President Grant, and leaving the ulti-
mate decision OF the question to the
Supreme Court, he always having opposed
the Electoral Commission. His election
to the Vice-Presidency in 1884 seemed
almost poetic justice for the great wrong
he had suffered in 1876.
Vice-Presdent Hendricks was Demo-
crat OF the old school, and in his Democ-
racy never once wavered. His Democracy
was such that ut times he seemed to be
OF the past rather than OF the present, and
such being the case, he was never heart
lily in accord with the reform spirit OF the
party. As time goes on, new conditions
arise, and parties must conform them
selves to these new conditions. The
policy which would be appropriate and
proper under the condition OF one
time may be inappropriate and
improper at another time. And this
is peculiarly so in country whose
growth has been so rapid and
wonderful as the growth OF the United
States. The United States are no longer
in swaddling clothes, but they are Ma
ton among the Nations. The methods
which were in use forty years ago are in
appropriate to-day, and still Viee-Presi-
dent Hendricks was very largely attached
to those methods. He was attached to
them because he thought them best cal
culated to further the interests OF his
country, and for no other reason. The
spirit OF the age says otherwise, and the
spirit OF the age is better and safer
guide than any precedent.
In person he was most comely, and his
manners We're OF that mild, sweet kind
which win the hearts of all. He was the
personifcation OF Il gentleman, and in
social life had no superior. His wife is
as accomplished as lady as he was us Il
gentleman, and their home was the home
OF happiness and sunshine, although that
home was wanting in children, those
angels who are sent to tighten the burden
and sorrows OF this world, How calm
and beautiful must have been the soul
which could say, rs death drew near,
Il am free at last,"-
and how sweet must be its Sleep!