Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-26

Death of Vice President Hendricks.
The death Of Vice President Hendricks
took the country by surprise. There was
no preparation for it. There had been no
announcement Of bis sickness. Death
claimed him suddenly and almost with
out warning.
He was not very old man, and he was
REGARDED as very vigorous one Tor MS
age. During the last campaign he bore
his burdens without indications OF ia
I tigue, and they were not light After his
inauguration as Vice President he took a
/ lively interest IN public affairs and dis
cussed matters pertaining to the admin
istration with a vigor that indicated both
mental and physical health.
Mr.. Hendricks had a very honorable and
successful career. He was an able man,
but will hardly be ranked with the very
few really great men that the country has
produced. His ability and integrity kept
him before the public much OF his life,
and he had the proud satisfaction of
knowing that he met fully the require
ments OF every position that he was called
to fill.
he was &C years Of age the It'll Of last
September. For nearly % years be held
offices OF importance. and il he had been
elected every time that be was a candi-
date. he would have spent very little Of
his life as a private citizen. He was a
member OF the Legislature Of his State,
aud a member of one Of it's constitutional
conventions. He was a candidate for
Governor three times, and was elected
once. He was a United States Senator
one term, and was twice elected Vice
President, but was defrauded Of his rights
the first time. In 1868 be was strongly
supported for the nomination OF his party
for the Presidency, and at each subsequent
national convention he had a strong fol-
lowing for that nomination. Since his
Inauguration as Vice President his name
has been frequently mentioned in connec-
ton with the Presidency, and it is prob
able that If he had lived he would have
been a prominent candidate for the nomi-
nation In 1888. He was popular with his
party, particularly with that faction of it
which does not believe in giving the civil
service law a wider application than the
trainers of 1t intended that it should have.
Mr.. Hendricks conduct during the
period when the whole country was ex-
cited over the great fraud OF 1876 was
admirable. Although he had much at
stake he did not for moment forget that
MIR. Tilden was the leader of the party.
He did nothing that indicated lack of
confidence in Mr.. Tilden's judgment and
patriotism. He trusted to time to repair
the wrong which be suffered, and he did
not trust in vain. While he did not live
long to enjoy the honor which ought to
have been mis- eight years before, he lived
long enough to have the satisfaction Of
occupying the place of which he had once
been deprived by fraud, and Of exercis-
ing his authority over some OF those who
helned TO perpetrate the fraud.
Mr.. Hendricks death will be deeply and
generally mourned. He was a good man
and q statesman. He may have been am
Billions, but his ambition was an no ora
HE one. The good OF his country was his
hrst consideration. His public life was
marked bya high and pure patriotism
| He aimed at truth and right, and his
methods of accomplishing his purposes
we're those of an honest and an honorable
man.
A Republican will be chosen, doubtless
10 preside over the Senate. The Republi.
cans have majority of eight, ana will
make senator Edmunds, probably, the
senate's presiding officer. Only one life
stands between the Republicans and the
Presidency, but there is satisfaction in
the thought that it is life that will likely
last until the people are heard from again