The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-27

In conclusion, Mr.. voorhees, said: s'As long as
American history treasures up pure lives and
faithful public services; as long as public and
private virtue, stainless and without blemish, is
revered. so long will the name of Thomas A.
Hendricks be cherished by the American people
as an example worthy of emulation. monuments
of brass and marble will lift their heads to
heaven in honor of his name; but monument
more precious to his memory and more valuable
to the world has already been grounded in the
hearts IF people he served so loIg, SO faithfully,
and with such signal ability. In the busy har-
vest of death of the year 1885 there was gath
cred into eternity nobler spirit, no higher in
telligence, no fairer soul"
Mr. Hampton followed. when DEATH" he
said, laid its hand on Thomas A. Hendricks,
Vice presdent of the United States we had a
new and fearful illustration of the truth of the
old adage, Death loves a shining mark. Mr..
Hendricks was best loved wherever he was best
Z known. Crowned with almost every civic honor
which a grateful people could bestow. blest by q
domestic happiness as perfect rs it was beautl-
fnl, bedid, indeed, offer shining mark to the
unsuitable archer, when one of the great actors
in the political arena fell. In the presence of
death, friends and foes alike recognized the fact
The scenes around the death-bed proved the
brotherhood of mankind. and showed that one
touch of nature made the whole world kim This
thought had made adeep impression on the speak
er's mind, and that impression" continued Mr..
Hampton, twas indelibly fixed by the extra
ordinary spectacle beheld at the funeral of Gen
w
touching ceremonies of that mournful occasion.
and certainly one who witnessed them could
ever forget them. But the feature that struck
me as the most significant, the most impressive
was the fact that among those who bore the body
or the great Captain Of the Union armies to the
grave, were Confederate soldiers who, a few
brief years ago. were his mortal enemies Demo
Gratis and Republicans-me who wore the blue
and men who wore the gray-met at this tomb
90 pay the last tribute of respect to his memory
Hara odd VIII orr dnin RI a
me ory of our late Vice president, we see exhib-
tied the same kind and generous feeling which
marked the obsequies of the dead ex-President
If, then, our political and personal animosities
cease at the grave, should we not be tolerant
and charitable IN the judgments we pass our
contemporaries, even though they are our pollt-
ical opponents2 All of us, sooner or later must
claim from the living the tender recognition
which we now bestow on the dead, for our hearts,
like muf1ed drums are beating funeral marches
TO the grave"
Mr.. Sherman bore testimony to the marked
ability with which Mr.. Hendricks had always
maintained his opinions. He had been ready
and courteous in debate never violent in manner
or sentiment. He had satisfied Congress with
out irritating adversaries His arguments were
always clear and lucid. After the war his ground
was that, as question of law, the war could
not, and had not, disturbed the relations Of that
States To use his own words: "When peace
came it found State with its constitution act
ualiy unTepealed and in full force, holding that
State to the Federal Union" Hic principles,
Mr.. Sherman added, were openly avowed and
ably defended He carried of the bitter
ness of politics into his private life. He was
man easy OF approach. affable to all, the best
type of an American citizen.
Mr. Salisbury characterized the deceased as
man of fine intellect and wide culture, who for
more than quarter of a century had been
known statesman Of large and commanding
Influence, highly esteemed not only by all who
had the honor to know him personally, but by
millions of his feilow-citizens who knew him
only by reputation, earned by long. faithful and
eminent public service Mr.. Salisbury ex-
pressed the belief that greater safety could be
found for the future of our Republic than that it
should find its future statesmen as true in TIL cir
devotion to free institutions as Mr.. Hendricks
had been.
Mr.. Evarts expressed his pleasure at the fact
that he had been asked to participate in an ex-
preston OF the feelings Of the Senate on this oc-
casion. 1t so happened that he had O very good
acquaintance with Mr.. Hendricks. dating from
an early period in his public career. Many years
ago Mr. Hendricks had been pointed out to him
in court as a man who. it was natural to
expect. would be future and probably success
ful aspirant to the presidency of the United
States. In the course of the impeachment trial
OF President Johnson, Mr.. Evarts had opporsu-
nifty to observe tho courage and the constitu-
tional value OF Mr.. Hendricks opinions. The
speaker thought now, as he thought then, that
among all the eminent men who took part in the
debates of that time, no man appeared to better
advantage in composure of spirit calmness of
Judgment and circumspection of deliberation.
he could avoid extravaganees, and could skill
fully draw the line between fidelity to the Con
shtntiop and adhesion to the supremacy of party.
AS to Mr.. Hendricks partisanship-of which
something has been said-Mr. Evarts could find
in history ne other mode Of conducting the DO
htical affairs of great and free people, EXCEPT
oy great and firm parties. He believed, there
fore, that steadfast and intrepid adhesion to
party was merit. He had observed among
Ihe most prominent characteristics of Mr. Hen.
bricks that he was always governed by strong
Unborn convictions. These eulogies in the pres
ence of DEATH said Mr. Evarts, ''are formal and
commonplace. But death. however frequently
brought to the notice of mortal man, is never
formal nor commonplace. However men NAV
live IN the market place. ia the crowded court In
ne Senate Chamber, at the head of armies and
the objects OF popular applause, man always
les alone; whether it meets one in the palace of
:. king, or In the cabin of the poor, the supreme
event, and when the mortal puts on immortality,
1t swallows up all incidents and circumstance
From these contemplations, Mr. President, it
seems to me- that the wisest man gains 10 wis
dom, and the boldest man feels some tremor in
the presence of the nvincible antagonist"
Mr. Ransom believed it almost impossible, at
this time, to measure the worth to our country
OF agreat character like that of the late Vice pres
dent. Wewerei yet too near his fe to write his
history. He had lived forty three years con-.
spicuousy before the public, and had always
proved himself the earnest. faithful champion
OF the peoples rights He had always proved
himselfa lover of his whole country and its iber-
A.. "He SoSthern States, in this emergency
FELT deer sfsc,rs and ayeraowing sympathy and
sorrow at the bere-sssme-Hsof their Northern
sisters. 's1hank Almighty Coz, Sa.la t"r nan
son. THAT the everlasting covenant iofo Is
established in our hearts, and through the Ctouos
Of this sorrow we can behold the bond that IL i!
neyer to be broker"
Mr. Spooner said: "He was a man of strong
convictions and had little respect for those who
we're not similarly earnest. He had shown that,
above all things. he was no trimmer in politics
Mr. Hendricks was heart and soul Democrat
lie thoroughly believed in his party and its prin-
cipies: indeed think if he might give direction
to our affairs to-day he would bid us say that ne
sgas 4 nartisan Democrat To him no political
partisanship, honorable in its methods. was
offensive In party he saw only the instrumen-
Asli4.. Al ,,nh which alone inight be wrought