Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 February 1886 — EXTOLLING THE DEAD. [ARTICLE]

EXTOLLING THE DEAD.

Speeches Hade in Praise of the Late Vice President in the United States Senate. Remarkable Maiden Effort of Mr. Spooner ia Lauding the* Memory of the Deceased. *. There was an unusually large attendance in lie Senate of the United States on Tuesday, fan. 26, and an unusual number of fine speeches, •he well-marked characteristics of the late Vice President furnishing themes for memorial ora•ions that some of the fce3t orators utilised. The most marked speeches of the cay were •hose of Voorhees, Harrison, Evart;, ana Spoon)r. It was the first time the latterhas spoken n the Senate and he fully iustiied the reputation that followed him lom his State, where his oratorical lifta have long been recognized and admitted, iside from being a scholarly and eloquent proluction, it has the merit of originality, which is rarely found in funeral orations, and Mr. Spoon■r s treatment of the lifo and record of Mr. dendricks created quite a sensation. Proceedings were opened by Mr. Voorheeß, of Indiana, who called up his resolution expressive of the Senate’s deep sense of the public loss in tM leathof the late Vice President Hendricks. Th\ •esolution having been read, Mr. Voorhees aov Iressed the Senate: “For the emirfent citizen of the Republic,” he laid, “who lately fell from His place, and who low sleeps in honor in the bosom of the State ho .oved so well and served so faithfully, we can do 10 more than has already been done by tongue, ud by every method which human affection san inspire. The heavy drapery of woe had larkened alike the public building, the stately palace and the humble home. The prond colors if the Union have drooped at half-mast throughlut the United States and every civilized land leneath the sun. Eloquence In the forum and In •he sacred desk has paid itsrichesttributetohis sxalted abilities and to his stainless character. The tolling hell, the mournful dirge, the looming, solemn minute-gun, the mighty multitude of mourners, have all attended the Mineral of Thomas A. Hendricks, and borne witness to the deep love and grief with which he was lowered into his last resting place. All the honors due to the most illustrious dead have been paid by the Chief Magistrate of the Govamment, by the authority of the States, and by the unrestrained affection of the people. In the Senate, however, we mayenot be silent, even though the cup of honor memory is full »nd overflowing. In this exalted theater of action—here, on this brilliantly lighted stage—he fulfilled his last official engagement and plosed his long and commanding public career.” Then, in strong and graphic English, Mr. Voorhees reviewed the life and public servides pf Mr. Hendricks. In dealing with Mr. HenIricks’ political views, Mr. VooThees said it hod been, and especially late in his life, charged as i reproach against him that he was a partisan, ts, by that, the speaker said, was meant that he sincerely believed in the principles and pm-' poses of the party to which he batKged-, and sought, by all honorable methods, wist he believed to be the public good by placing its measures and its men in control of the Government, then the accusation was true, and the term of reproach became a just tribute to an honest man. It was the partisan of deep, honest convictions dealing justlj with opposing views who, In all ages of tho world, in every field of human

progress had led the way, _ _ In conclusion Mr. Voorhees said: ‘ “As long as American history treasures up pure lives and faithful public services—as long as public and firivate virtue, stainless ancl without blemish, s revered, so long will the name of Thomas A.« Hendricks he 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 a monument more preciors tohiH memory and more valuable to the world has already been grounded in the hearts of the people whom he served so long, faithfully,.and with such Ugi. al ability. In tho busy harvest cf death ts the year 1885 there was gathered into eternity no nobler 'spirit, no higher intelligence, no fairer soul.” Mr. Spooner, of Wisconsin, while not believing that he could add to tho effect of what had been said, desired, as a native of Indiana, to speak a word of tribute to the memory of the deceased. He was a man of strong convictions, and had little respect for those who were not. He had shown that above all things he was no “trimmer” in politics. Mr. Spooner continued: “To him no political partisanship, honorable in its methods, was offensive. In party he saw only the instrumentality through which, and through which alone, might be wrought out the triumph of his prinoipleA Hi-active, faithful, party service ho sa<v, therefore, devotion to principle, not mere lust for offico. Ho believed that tho party clothed by popular will with tho responsibility of administration should everywhere trust tho execution of its policies to those who wero in political sympathy with them, and who had at heart its continued and complete success. He believed that those of the ruling party who hod done the most and sacrificed the most in honorable active effort should, 'if fit for public duty, be by that party everywhere first called to tho public service. I have a tender feeling in my heart for tho man who for twenty years, in sunshine and in storm, had led his party again and again to certain defeat; who had kept alive its organization in every State, and county, and town, and who. by unwavering allegiance and effort, had mad* possible its ultimate success, and I cannot brook with any degree of patience tho suggestion in the hour of his partv’H triumph'that such men should' be reproachfully termed politicians and denied recognition lest some political esthete should say; ’lt is a reward for party service.’ The imputation that ho was a spoilsman rather angered than grieved Mr. Hendricks, for he knew it came from those who had either been of a hostile comp, or, if of his own, had been wont to linger in the shade and slumber while he and the ‘boys,’ as he sometimes loved to call the party workers, had borne the heat, and dust, and burden of the battle. Spoilsman or not, he went down to his grave loved, trusted, and mourned by his party ; and I dare to believe that the element .of party fealty which brought to him this reproach will not -cause his memory to suffer with the great moss

of his opponents. “There is a melancholy comfort in the manner of his death. He died as one might wish to die who was as well prepared to go. God’s linger touched him and he slept." Mr. Sherman, of Ohio, bore testimony to the marked ability with which Mr. Hendricks had always maintained his opinions. He had been ready and courteous in debate —never wild in manner or sentiment. He was a man of easy approach, affablo and kind to all—the best type of an American citizen. Mr. Hampton, of South Carolina, said that when one of the great actors in the political arena fell, all animosities were buried with him. This impression was indelibly fixed on the speakor’s mind by the extraordinary spectacle beheld at the funeral of Gen. Grant, when among those who boro the body of the great oaptain of the Union armies to the grave were Confederate soldiers, who, a few brief years ago, were his mortal enemies. The same generous feeling marked the obsequies of the dead Vice President. If political and personal animosities ceased at th 3 grave, should we not bo tolerant and charitable in judgments on our contemporaries, ho asked, even thoigh they were oar political opponents? “All of us, sooner or l*t«r,” he continued, “must claim irom the liv ig the tender recognition which we nov bestow on the dead, for our hearts, like muffled drums, are beating funeral in arches to the grave." Mr. Evarts, of New York, referred to his long acquaintance w*th Mr. Hendricks, and said that many years ago he was pointed oat to him in court as a man who, it was natural to expect, would be a future and probably successful aspirant to the Presidency of the United States. The speaker thought that of all those who took part in the debates at the tizqp of the impeachment of President Johnson no man appeared to better advantage in composure of spirit, calmness of judgment, and circumspection of doliberation than Mr. HendL / ks. He could avoiC extravagance and could skillfully draw the line between fidelity to the Constitution and adhesion to the supremacy of party. Mr. Vest, of Missouri, said that Mr. Hendricks was nearer to the hearts of the masses than any other man of his time. He was a partisan in the highest and best sense of the term, becauso he believed that devotion to party was neceßsary to the best interests of his country. Asking and giving no quarter, he did not sprinkle rosewater on the enemies of his party or give sweetmeats to the wolves ready to spring at his throat Mr. Harrison, of Indiana, said, he did not think that Mr. popularity had culminated at the time of his death. He seemed to have been never more loved or esteemed by; his political friends than just before his death. He was a man of great political oonrage, and, while not aggressive as a leader, always met assault with force and skill. He had never made his leadership offensive by too open an assertion or display of it His oratory was persuasive, his style clear and Incld, ana, if he aia not win his adversary over, always left him kindly disposed. The speaker paid a high compliment to Mr. Hendricks’ legal ability. In his private life he was a man above reproach, Strong in human sympathy, and loving the charms of home. He had been blessed In Ms married life. The wife whom he wooed and won in his young manhood walked with him in ove and affection to tho t nd.