The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1885-12-03
The Funeral Or Thomas A. Hen
bricks,

The burial of Vice-P President Hendricks
at indianapolis on Tuesday was attended
by . vast concourse of persons from all
parts of the Union. The funeral services
were at the Episcopal cathedral of St.
Paul, and the officiating clergy were
Bishop Knickerbocker, of the diocese of
Indiana; Rev. DR.. Stringfellow, of Mont
gomery, Ala, first rector Of St. Paul and
under whose ministration Mr. Hendricks
joined the Church; Rev. DR.. Fulton, OF
st. Louis, and Rev. DR.. Jenckes, rector OF
St. Paul The immense procession from
the Cathedral to the grave in Crown Hill
Cemetery was in four grand divisions.
The first consisted of military companies.
followed by the hearse; the second IN
cluded carriages in which rode Mrs. Hen
bricks, relatives of the deceased, members
of the Cabinet, United States Senators
and Representatives, Governors and stats,
ex-Senators and Representatives, q. s.
army officers, U. S. Judiciary, State Off
GERS of Indiana, presidents and professors
of colleges, mayors of cities and other
civil officials; the third division
was composed Of non-military or
CARNATIONS, including many political
clubs from all parts of the State that
took part in the presidential election the
fourth divi ion was made up of local or
CARNATIONS and the FIRE department. The
column moved to the slow music of dirges
played by the bands, and the firing OF
minute guns continued until the inter
ment was over.
President Cleveland's announced inten-
ton to attend the funeral called forth i'm
mediate protests from different parts OF
the country against a journey which
would expose to risks the life or health sc
valuable to the people. In Difference to
the expression of this feeling, and in
which Mrs. Hendricks joined, the Presi
dent abandoned his purpose, as is set forth
in the subjoined publication which, like
all his utterances, is distinctively charac-
teristic of the man-whose individuality
though so marked and powerful, is evel
subordinated to a controlling sense o
duty:
WASHINGTON, Nov. 29.-The President thi
| afternoon determined not to make the trip to In
dianapolis. To representative of the Associa
ted Press he said: In the first moment Of thu
shock of Mr.. Hendricks death yielded TO my
inclination and declared my intention to be pres
ent at the funeral OF course, in reaching tina
conclusion l did not put out ofview the peremp
tory press of public business or what l deemed
sufficient consideration of my duty to the PEG
PIE.
my public business thought could dispose
| of by additional application and more hours o
work, and consider it 10 be my duty to thu
people to answer the tender sentiment of respec
and affection TO the dead Vice President, which
| does them great honor. am satisfied now tina
l was at fault in conside. ing the question: ir
that did not take as comprehensive a. view o
| the duty owe the public as l shOuld-that is,
did not look at every phase of it, and am afraio
my strong personal desire somewhat clouded my
judgment
Il am now reminded by some OF the best anC
most patriotic and thoughtful of our citizen:
that the real and solemn duties of my office are
at the National Capitol, and that in the present
| peculiar ana uellCatc SItuatlOu OUGHT moi u
take even the remOtcst chance OF accident Incl
dent to travel to crafty sentiment so genera
and 80 characteristic as that involved in this
subject l have been profoundly impressed BY
these considerations, but most of all influenced
by heir strong and unanimous presentation by
devoted friends of the late Vice-Presdent, living
in his Stale and city, and their Endorsement by
the noble and patriotic woman, who in the in
finite sorrow of her widowhood, reflects the
spirit and character of her honored husband in
her solicitude for the public good.
81 am now certain that neither my desire, mol
the sentiment referred to- nor the difficulty tina
attends in this case change Of design nor any
stubborn idea of herosm will justify me in sub
jecting the country to any greater chance OF dis
aster than attends my performance OF my strict
duty here, and that ought not to infict upor
my coun,rymen even the unrest and anxiety
attending my departure, absence and return in
attendance upon the funeral ceremonies"