The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-03

partiSans out always sincere. always manly, al
ways truthful. This siacerity of character was
best understood where he was best known. His
nomination for Vice president in 1884 in his
Mr. Hewittsl opinion, secured the success of
the Democratic ticket. 1t presented an issue
addressed to the conscience of the people, and
IN New York. especially, was acceptable to a
portion of the party otherwise dissatisfied that
personal grievances were to large extent,
swallowed up and postponed to the
larger duty of justice TO the man In
whose person the will of the people had once
been defeated. But for the existence of this
feeling the accession of independent voters
would not have neutraliZed the strong current
OF feeling among portion OF the Democratic
voters for the candidate of the other party This
feeling of loyalty was largely due to the patriotic
course of Mr.. Hendricks during the agitation
which followed the election of 1876. When an
adverse result was reached he did not express
any vain regrets as to his hard fortune, and he
never called in question the courage and patriot
ism Of majority of the representatives of the
people in the decision of one of the greatest
problems ever encountered in the history of the
world. On the contrary, he recognized, to the
fullest extent. the mistaken fidelity, the true
patriotism of the Democratic majority. while he
opposed the measure of settlement by which
peace and order were restored to the Nation at
the cost of only temporary delay in the trans
fer of the administration to Democratic
control. he was partisan, but his par
tisanship was never exerted at the expense
of his patriotism. He Mr. Hewitt made this
statement because he had seen desire in some
directions to exaggerate and eXtenuate Mr..
Hendricks partisan feeling There was no
need for apology or explanation. so far as Mr.
Hendricks views on the matter OF appointments
to public Office were concerned. These views
were given in his letter Of acceptance OF the
nomination for Vice-president in 1876, and CO.
incided with the views of Washington and Jeffer-
son.
Mr. Brown. of Indiana, SIS a political opponent
of Mr.. Hendricks. bore witness to his sterling
qualities of heart and mind. He was. without
challenge, the chief representative of the Indi
ana Democracy. If he did not formulate its
policy, he accepted it as the true faith if he did
not 90 before, he went well abreast of the party
alignment. He went into the thickest of the
fight he congratulated his forces in victory, or.
in defeat. covered their retreat. He was not
political boss; he governed without whip or Das
tile. lie was king, but he regned by common
consent and make his subjects his peers He
was ever true to himself and true to his honor.
No temptation beguiled to venaity. No dishon-
est dollar ever touched the palm of his hand
Mr.. Randall, of Pennsylvania, expressed his
admiration and regard for the dead states man.
whose,life had been the embodiment of that old
Latin saying. mild in manner and resolute In
execution" His ways were gentle and kind,
but in matter of right and wrong he was fixed
and immovable. No seductions could allure, no
terrors brighten him. To duty he was fidelity
itself AS he was greater than others, be was
always stronger than the political organization
to which he was attached. He was deep stu
dent of our republican government. and was the
firm defender Of we'll balanced power and the
distribution OF duty between the States and the
general government He believed that our
liberties were secured only when all tendencies
toward GENERALIZATION were to be restrained and
destroyed In his public conflicts he never lost
the sweetness and gentleEess of his character,
and he died as he had lived, calmly and serenely.
Like shadow thrown softly and sweetly from
passing cloud. death fell upon him.
Mr.. Springer, of illinois, cited an incident of
Mr.. Hendricks, illustrative of his kindness and
charity of heart, and paid high tribute to the
purity of the public and private character of the
deceased. In conclusion he said: LAS Death
lays his hands upon emperors and kings. SO must
all die, sooner or later Our Vice president was
no exception to the inexorable law. In his death
the people mourned the loss of great and good
man. Universal sorrow was mani tested on
every hand The highest honors were paid him.
But these honors and the peoples sorrow
not call him back to earth again. He has passed
from the busy and exciting scenes of this life to
the sweet repose of the blessed; but to such as
lived as he lived, even in the hour and article Of
death, in the silent tomb. in the day of judg-
ment, in the life to come, all is WE'LL all is we'll.
Mr. Geddes, of Ohio. added Ohio's voice to the
exclamation of sorrow over the death of Thomas
A. Hendricks. Measuring time by years. Mr..
Hendricks had lived three score and five, but the
length of life was best measured by its useful
ness. HE lives most who thinks most, feels
the noblest, acts the best" Applying this stand
ard, no limit could be fixed to the life OF Mr..
Hendricks
Mr. Lowry, Of Indiana, deplored the loss of an
exemplary and generous man. a patriotic public
servant, the greatest of contemporary Indian
ians a typical American, wise and revered
statesman, and an honest friend, the symmetry
of whose illustrious career, the beauty and
grandeur of whose character had been stamped
upon the annals of his country, and whose
patriotic services were craven upon the hearts of
his countrymen.
Mr. Hall, of Iowa, in an eloquent address, laid
Iowa's tribute Of regard and sorrow upon the
tomb of one whom she had always loved in life.
Mr.. Owen, of Indiana, said: ''Vice-president
Hendricks has joined the silent senate of the
dead. AT his death great sadness fell on many
hearts. He was man OF the people. No citi-
zen Of the Republic had larger personal follow
ing Thousands who differed with him felt that
in some way he was by their right hand In that
'habitation. giddy and insure, built upon the
public mind, he lived for quarter of century
in undisturbed tenure. Our era has witnessed
an exciting struggle over governmental policy
and national principle. and in the forefront of
its every battle could be his FURNISHED
mail Not that he sighed for the gage of bat
tie, his nature was the reverse not that he loved
dsputation, his soul was for concord; not that
he was ambitious of leadership he preferred an
undistinguished equality; but when he took
stand it was seen; followers rallied to it His
position became the center of desire
Measured as an orator he was not among the
greatest; nor as jurist. nor as a statesman. He
was crowned by no dizzy spromontory of geniIs,
while the remainder of his nature was shrunken
ia barrens creation had given his parts with even
generosity. He was of wellordered growth.
equally advanced in all bearings, SO symmetrical
in his developments that did not catch his
measurements until he had gone, and we beheld
the vacancy. Taken orator jurist, leader
husband, man. all and in all, his equal is rare.
''What made him leader, don't know.
Wherein was his strength, l cannot answer
You can understand the shaft yonder, but who
knows mountain? Our estimate of greatness
is on temporary quality. 1t is something We
can fathom. We want dash; we must have it
lurd This is our ideal. Time coos enthusi-
asm, admiration wanes, and our favorite hob
bles into oblivion. while award the crown
otherwhere. Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln,
Grant, Cromwell, Hampden, Gladstone, grew
to be towers among men; but they are not our
described heroes. In their day men were per-
sisfently showing where they were failures, and