Life and Public Services of Thomas A. Hendricks: With Selected Speeches and Writings (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from Life and Public Services of Thomas A. Hendricks: With Selected Speeches and Writings

Entering upon that wider stage at a time when ques tions of unparalleled gravity were forcing themselves for ward for solution, his career as a national statesman ex tended through the most momentous period in the life of the Republic. Throughout that season of trial he studied to understand the true interests of the whole country, and strove with his might to promote those interests as he un derstood them. As a member of the majority, his care was given to the development and civil organization of the public domain; in the thankless part of leader of the Opposition, his unvarying aim was to strengthen the Ad ministration with all the people, by rendering its meas ures acceptable to the powerful minority he represented; and finally when war was over, his efforts were directed to conciliation, the lightening of burdens, and the restora tion of prosperity.

A strictly independent view of the controversies which led to war, and of the positions of parties during the period of insurrection and reconstruction, is presented in the following pages, with the constant endeavor to deal fairly with men and measures. The attitude of Hendricks as Representative, Party Leader, and Senator is given clearly, but not in a spirit of vindication for where fidel ity to country and honesty of purpose are manifest, there is nothing to vindicate the simplicity of truth is fame. Subsequent events, from whose sentence there is no ap peal, have shown the wisdom of his views on most of the questions once fiercely disputed; and, where mistakes must be admitted, the sincerity and fearlessness and skill with which he maintained his opinions still command ad miration. Every honest soul loves an open and sturdy partisanship.

Finally, 'as affording the best insight into his mind and the sources of his power, a selection from his speeches and writings is given. The instrument of the statesman, the means by which he attains his ends, is Speech. As a speaker Hendricks was singularly able. Clearness, force, grace were the qualities of his style persuasiveness was the characteristic of his utterance. Many of his efforts were addressed to questions of great public interest, and possess a high historic value others dealt with questions that may again be brought up for review, and should therefore be preserved for future reference. Of both these kinds, some of the most important specimens are reproduced. Of minor importance, but interesting as illustrations of his modes of thought and literary style.

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