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Indianapolis, Indy, February 4, 1885
My Dear Friend:
I often think of you, and always with pride and pleasure; and , yet I must confess, with regret. The real leaders of nations and races are never allowed to enter their promised lands; and, therefore, you are always coupled in my mind with regret. Moses could look at Canaan from the top of Pisgah, but might not enter with the people of God. He is the type of all true and truly great leaders. I once hoped tht the Republican pary would be great enough to honor itself, by placing at its head, in the day of its power, the real leader of its opinions; and the real exempler of its manhood. You combined more of both than any other man. Your opinions are never so ideal and so distant from factual life as not to be capable of union with it; and by bravely accepting the duty of writing them and it in all perilous times and places, your life brcame the extension
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of what the American People's life has to become before slavery could be ended, and the unity of the nation fully established. It was therefore fit, according to the dramatic writing, that you, the embodiment of the contest, should have delivered the final blow to the infinite wrong of slavery, and placed the glorious crown of perfect liberty upon the head the nation. But we must be content. Standing in the rising dawn of the new day, your shadow will fall ahead of the march the people for thousands of years, pointing out to them the true West, whether "The Star of Empire wends its way." I shall soon hunt my quiet grave, and go to sleep there in confidence that you will still live and march on, the leader and the exemplar of all true men and nations.
1. I have just ascertained that Vice President Hendricks' paternal Grand Father was Abram Hendricks. His maternal Grand father was a Mr. Thompson, or Thomson.
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[top left] 3641
GORDON & BAILEY, Attorneys at Law, OFFICE, 2, 5, 6 & 8 THORPE BLOCK.
[right margin] JONATHAN W. GORDON. LEAON O. BAILEY.
[main text] 3.
Indianapolis, Ind, .... 188
2. I will see Senator Moon as soon as he returns to his post, and learn the name of the reformed preacher whose name you ask; and when I learn it, I will let you know it.
3. The Shanks family - father, mother and sons - are still living in Portland, Jay County, Indiana. I will stir up "[their?] pure [minds?]", today, touching the matters you refer to; and not the lines between you and them will soon be open again. The young C.M.C. Shanks if alive and able, ought to write you. I understand Shanks' sons are well educated. It may be that they are away from home.
I am glad your work is drawning to a close; and doubt not that it might adopt for motto: "Finis opus coronat." It was once my wish to have gone down the tide of time with you; and my heart often said in silence to you;
O while along the stream of time, thy name Expeanded [flies?], and gathers all its fame, Say, shall my little [barque?] attendant said,