Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-12-02
THE PRESIDENT DID NOT GO.

HIS REASONS FOR NOT ATTENDING THE
FUNERAL-MRs. HENDRICKS LETTER.
The President Sunday afternoon deter
mined not to make the trip to indianapolis.
To the representative Of the Associated
Press he said:-
Gin the first moment of the shock of Mr..
Hendricks's death l yielded to my inclina-
tion, and declared my intention to be pres
emit at the funeral. Of course, in reaching
that conclusion, 1 did not put out of view a
peremptory press of public business, or
what deemed sufficient consideration of
my duty to the people. The public bust
ness thought l could dispose of by addi-
tional application and more hours of work,
and considered it to be my duty to the
people to answer tender sentiment of re-
spect and affection to the dead Vice Presi-
dent which does them great honor.
81 am satisfied now that l was at fault in
considering the question, in that l did not
take as comprehensive view of the duty l
owe the public as l should; that is, I did
not look at every phase of it, and 1 am
afraid my strong personal desire somewhat
clouded my judgment.
81 am now reminded by some of the best
and most patriotic and thoughtful of our
citizens that the real and solemn duties of
my office are at the national capital, and
that in the present peculiar and delicate
situation ought not to take even the remote
chance of accident incident to travel to
crafty sentiment so general and so char
acteristic as that involved in this subject
l have been profoundly impressed by these
considerations, but most of all influenced
by their strong and unanimous presentation
by the devoted friends of the late Vice
President living in his State and city, and
their Endorsement by the noble and patriotic
woman who, in tho infinite sorrow of her
widowhood, reflects the spirit and character
of her hOnOred husband in her solictude for
the public good.
81 am now certain that neither my desire
nor the sentiment referred to- nor the diff
Guilty that attends in this case a change of
design, nor any stubborn idea of heroism
will justify me in subjecting the country to
any greater chance of disaster than attends
my performance of strict duty here, and
that ought not to inflict upon my country
men even the unrest and anxiety attending
my departure, absence and return in attend
ance upon the funeral ceremonies
A considerable number of Senators, Re-
representatives. and public officials, as we'll as
many distinguished citizens of Washington,
called on the President Saturday to urge
him to reconsider his determination to at
tend the funeral of the Vice President. -
Their argument was, not that there would
be more than the ordinary danger involved
in the proposed journey, but that the emer-
gency is such that it is his duty to the
country to avoid every possible risk of &C
cident to his life and health until Congress
meets and presidential succession is pro-
vided. Large numbers of kilograms to the
same effect poured in upon the President
Saturday from leading men in all sections
of the country, including one from Hon.
Samuel ]. Tilden, and number from dis
tinguished friends of the late Vice. Presi-
dent at Indianapolis. At a late hour Sat
urday the following was received from Mr..
Hord, his law partner and intimate friend:
Indianapolis, Ind, Nov. 2S.-To the
President: Mrs. Hendricks requests me to
thank you for your message of sympathy,
and also Miss Cleveland for her kind and
beautiful letter. She requests me to say
that your presence at the funeral of her
husband would be very grateful to her feel
ings, but that she fully appreciates the
weighty public reasons that exist at this
time against your coming West and begs
that you will be governed entirely by your
sense Of public duty.
"OscAR B. HoRD."