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

There is melancholy comfort in the manner Of
his death. He died as one might wish to die-as
one we'll prepared to 60 Gods finger touched
him. and he slept"
fThis was Mr.. Spooner's maiden speech in the
Senate, and attracted general attention, not only
tor its directness and force, but for the grace
and feeling of his delivery
Mr.. Vest took a melancholy pleasure in speak
ing OF Mr.. Hendricks character here, where ne
first knew him, and learned to love him as
friend. In Mr.. Hendricks he had seen the In
carnation of the vital spirit of our government.
the sovereignty of the people; he was nesrer
the hearts of the masses than any man of his
time He was partisan in the highest and best
sense Of the term because ne believed that de-
votion to party was necessary to the best inter
ests OF his country He had no respect for the
political astheticism which could not distinguish
friend from foe Asking and giving quarter.
he did not sprinkle rose water on the enemies of
his party or give sweetmeats to the wolves
ready to spring at his throat He fell suddenly,
as falls the armed chief some stricken field,
and 1T is better one pang. one throb than weeks
of slow decay. Pure in life, prepared for death,
his career rounded and complete, crowned with
the love and respect of his countrymen, and
breathing with his last words the name of one
dearer to him than all else, our leader passed
into that shawdowy realm where mis- spirit
waits her coming.
SENATOR HARRIsoN's ADDRESS.
Mr.. President-The principal incidents In the
public career of Mr.. Hendricks have been SO fully
and so eoquently depicted by those who have
preceded me ss to make it not only unnecessary.
but even inappropriate, that should attempt
anything like biographical sketch of the dis
tin guished dead. A brief alluslon to some of the
incidents of our long acquaintance and to some
OF his personal and professional traits, as OBJ
served them. must constitute my tribute to his
memory His political course was long
very strong and enduring hold upon
a wide and widening circle of political friends
1t cannot be safely said that his popularity had
eliminated at the time of his death, for We can
not tell or read the future: But it can safely
be said that 1t had not waned. He seemed never
to have been more loved and admired by his
political friends than upon that day when deaths
sudden message separated him from them. The
fact that he maintained SO long, as we'll in
verse as in success, the clear leadership of his
party in the State of Indiana-that in its ex
treme needs it always called for him-is convinc-
ing proof that he possessed in high degree
those qualities of mind and disposition
that attract the love OF men, and inspire hope
and confidence He was not aggressive as a
leader, but always met an assault with yigor and
courage He was shrewd. prudent and quiet,
rather than rash and boisterous, in his methods
He did not make himself offensive by too open
assertion or display of it, but nodded and
guided by suggestion rather than by decree. No
leader was ever more accessible to friends of
every deeree-none ever accepted counsel
more kindly, or more wisely and
cordially applauded the efforts Of the
aspiring young men who delighted
to follow his political fortunes. His manner as a
public speaker was animated and graceful. In
style he was clear, often pungent and always
persuasive. Large audiences always assembled
to hear him, and if he did not win over his adj
versaries he left them kindly disposed and al
ways strengthened and consolidated his own
party. More than once he was called by the
unanimous voice of his party to accept a nomi-
nation that he did not want He could not re-
sist the friendly urgency of his party associ
ates, and yielded his preferences to theirs.
at great personal inconvenience and sac, iice. My
first vote was cast against Mr.. Hendricks as the
candidate of his party for Congress, in the year
1854. The first joint meeting with political
opponent in which / was ever engaged, was with
Mr.. Hendricks. He was the Democratic candi
date for Governor in 1860, and T. then very
young man, was the Republican candidate
forreporter of the decisions of the Supreme Court.
By chance, during the campaign of that year we
met at Rockville and found that our meetings
were announced for the same hour and place.
1t was arranged that we should hold joint
meeting Mr. Hendricks spoke first. and we'll re-
call the effect OF his persuasive address upon a
responsive audience and upon myself. as I sat be-
fore him, waiting. in great trepdation for my
time to come. When he concluded, Mr.. Hen
dricks with great kindness requested his friends
to remain and hear me. and often afterwards al
luded in very kind terms to my youthful per.
formance It was an illustration of prominent
trait of his character and disposition, to encour
age with kindly praise the efforts of young men,
From that time forward in every political cam
paign we were both upon the stump in Indiana
the earnest advocates of the political principles
OF our respective parties. He thought the poll
tics / advocated were adverse to the best inter
ests of the country and said SO, and with equal
planness and sincerity criticised his public acts
and political views. But am not aware that
either ever charged the other with oversteppine
the fair limits of public discussion.
liz was rs a practising LAWYER that knavy Nv
Hendricks best. Often associated with him in
the trial of causes, have seen him in the free
dom Of Office consultation and have listened
to his arguments in court from the stand point
Of an associate. Often upon adverse sides I
have had occasion to feel the force of his simple
and effective eloquence upon jury. He was
remarkakably urbane and courteous
in his manner, as we'll to the
of temper. he was yet firm and courageous in the
defense of his own rights and those Of his client
l saw MIN once conduct with uuhinching cour- |
age civil cause for damages, gro wing out of |
the trial during the war, before a military com
mission. OF citizen accused of disloyal prac-
tees. The Supreme Court had decided the i'm |
prisonment of his client to have been ille- |
GAL and his technical right to damages
was clear. But the defendants were SOL |
diers. some Of. them wounded soldiers who I
had acted under military orders in the trial of |
his client. Noadvocate ever had stronger ad- /
verse current OF popular opinion and Sympathy to +
stem that did Mr. Hendricks in this cage. A T
verdict for more than nominal damages was T
hopeless and yet through a long trial Mr.. Hen
tricks never faltered, but with the greatest tact
and courage demanded of court and jury full |
damages for the long Imprisonment his client |
had suffered.
Through his long public career Mr.. Hendricks
always maintained his connection with the law
irm of which ne had so long been member,
sScept when holding an Office the duties Of which /
we're incompatible with any professional ern-
,loyment. The profession was more to him than
, livelihood. He was thoughtful student of /
she philosophy of the law, and a kindly student /
IF human nature The springs of human motive
and action are uncovered to no one as they are I
10 a lawyer, and to Mr.. Hendricks this study did |
not end with the demands of cause. He once I
said: 1.-THE law to me has always been |
business. I never go into court
room to try case but it seems picturesque /
ground to me. like to watch case begin and |