Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-06-11
TIE DEMOCRATIC OUTLOOK
A TALK WITH HoRATIo' sEYMoUR-wHY
HE POSITIVELY DECLINES OFFICE.

TALK WITH HOHATIO bEfMOUR-WHi
HE Positively DECLINES OFFICE.
Gov. Soymour's attention was called
to the recent correspondence in rcla.
tion to himself, and also TO the action
Of the conference which met in New
York TO urge his nomination as Gov,
Robinson's successor. He said IL
am at a loss to understand the mean.
OF this talk, and of these proceedings.
found The Suns letter copied into
the Rochester Union, of which Mr..
Purcell is editor, and | find that his
name figures in the New York confer.
encc. Now ho knows my position
perfectly well. | wrote him an EN-.
phatic letter when this discussion first
began, telling him frankly that under
no conceivable circumstances would
consent to the use OF my name for any
Office whatsoever Lately have taken
occasion to write him again to tho
same effect, but with even greater en-
phasis. | have said before that il was
unpleasant to go about declining offices,
but am forced by the pcrsistency of
my unwise friends to do something
still more unpleasant-to proclaim my
physical infrmities. My health is in
very precarious state. 1t is an empty
compliment to tell me that look well.
| know, unfortunately, that do not
feel well. | am wholly incapable of
protracted exertion of any sort. An
animated conversation will sometimes
flush my face and give me, perhaps,
the appearance of strength but that
is usually followed by reaction, under
which | am often obliged to keep my
room for days together. | cannot
write, except at rare intervals and for
short periods. 1t is unspeakably dis.
tasteful TO me to advertise my sick.
ness, but it seems necessary in order
that some of my friends may under
stand what mean when | say that |
could not accept an office under any
circumstances. 1t would be an act of
Immortality for me to run for Governor,
for l am not capable of discharging
the duties, and the effort would hasten
my death. After this frank avowal, l
hope to be relieved from the importuni.
ties of over.zcalous friends"
The Governor was reminded that in
1868, when he was the Democratic
candidate for President, he seemed to
gather strength from the excitement
Of the campaign, and that always in
earlier life he appeared to enjoy him
self most during the activity of a 20.
itical canvass. He unused a moment
and said
81 am now as | was then. A dozen
'r twenty years sometimes add great
weight to mans life. My health was
not broken then. But as it was, | ran
or Office much oftener than was wise.
never loved the exercise of power,
,ever cared particularly for public
places, but | always liked politics, and,
What is more, 1 like politicians. They
re a much.abused class. II is the
ashton to sneer at them, but think :
hey are better men as a rule than
nerchants and bankers and other rep.
esentatives of what is called respect.
bility. They make more sacrifices
nd do more unselfsh work for others
han business men ever think of doing. =
hey cultivate certain chivalric !,
,nse OF honor. Even some who are
aturally corrupt will refuse the most
'mpting bribes when the integrity of y
ieir party is involved. | have seen =,
,ough OF political life to satisfy me :"
lat its influence is elevating and not
'grading. | would much rather be |" ""
led by jury of my political oppo- ="
'nts who whore acknowledged pollti. :,
ans, than by a jury of respectable - :,
lslness men who said that they took y =
particular interest in politics, but "
ually voted the Republican ticket.
rom them l should expect gross in -
stice and prejudice ten times as in. ~
nse as my avowedp political opponents -
ould display. The man who serves y
cause, if it is not positively bad \. \,
use, is ennobled by the service. He W
lrns to look at men, us well as doc. Il"
mes, from a higher standpoint than
're personal selfishness. Hence 1 "'
peat that like politicians as well as M
ltics, bat | do not like office. va
"The duties Of the Governor of New .,t
'rk," continued Mr.. Seymour, "are .a'
ceedingly onerous. In the matter w
pardons, he is clothed with exclus. VOL
power to act, and he is compelled "t
instantly to listen to the most heart. uo'
iding reciials, the most touching ap. w,
ais from the innocent wives, mothers,
children Of those who have offend. w
against the laws. Sometimes, when ao'
was Governor, these piteous cries ~
re Irresistible, and | extended elem. ua.'
y in certain cases where strict ius. W
}, perhaps, wonld have withheld il. IN
could bear the criticism of the Pe'
IS (for | was hardened to that more I"
lily than | could the tears of women eA'
children. And when | was obliged nav
'efuse pardons (as | was, of course. u
'he great majority of cases., | have Vi
sed many sleeplsss night contem. sor =,
ting the misery which inclination 'o''
'pted me to relieve, when duty for.
o. The Governors office is no sine. owe
Q. To stand the wear and tear and 'io' 'io'
'ry of the place, a man wants to be 'ne
iall mental and physical vigor- OF .,
ch | am not ho
liter some further conversation. ivy
: Seymour, still speaking of him. y, ~.
dor he said he would expose him. ~ ~
to the charge of egotism that SUI