San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1880-06-26
executive


of tho executive admin
istrstion had already been a present
evil, and q great danger tending to
make elections irresponsive to public
opinion, hampering tho power Of tho
people to change their rulers aud en-
abliug the men holding Tho machinery
of the government to continue and Per-
petuate their power. 1t was my opin'
ion 10 1876 that the opposition attempt
Ing to change the administration need
cd to include at least two'thirds OF the
voters st tho opening OF the canvass
in order TO obtain . majority 10 the
election, II, after such obstacles had
been overcome and . majority OF the
people had voted to change the admin
istration oftheir government. the men
in Office could still procure q false
count. founded upon upon frauds per
jurios and iorgeries, furnishing pre-
text for documentary evidence on
which to base that false count, and II
such transaction were not only success.
tul, but if after the allotment OF its
benefits were made to its contrivers'
sbettors, and apoloigists by tho CHIEF
beneficiary Of the transaction, 1t were
oondoned by the people, . practical
destruction Of elections by the people
would have been accomplished. The
failure to install candidates chosen by
the people, q contingency consequent
upon no act or omission Of mine, and
beyond my control. has thus left me tor
the last three years and until now, when
tho Democratic party by it's delegates
in national convention assembled shall
choose . new leader. the involuntary
but necessary representative Of this
momeutous issue.
As such. denied the immuoities OF
private life, without the power confer
red by public station, subject to un'
oeasing falsehoods and calumnies from
the partisans Of an administration Ia
boring in vain to justify its existence, l
have nevertheless steadfastly endeav'
ored to preserve to the democrati G
party of the United States the supreme
issue before the people for their decision
next November, whether this shall be
a government by the sovereign people,
through elections. or a government by
discarded servants holding over by
force and fraud, and have withheld
no sacrifice and neglected no opportu-
nifty to uphold, organize and consoli-
date against the enemies of repre-.
institutions the great party
which alone, under God, can etfectu
ally resist their overthrow.
Having now borne faithfully my full
share Of labor and care in the public
service, and wearing the marks of its
burdens, l desire nothing so much as
ap honorable discharge. l wish to
lay down the honors and tolls Of even
quasi party leadership and to seek the
repose Of private life. In renouncing
re nomination for the presidency, | do
so with no doubt in my mind as to the
vote of the state Of New York or of
the United States, but because be.
lieve that it is a renunciation of re.
election to the presidency. To those
who think my denomination and re-
election indispensable to an effectual
vindication of the right of the people
to elect their rulers, violated in my
person. I have accorded as long a re-
serve Of my decision as possible, but l
cannot overcome my repugnance to en-.
ter into new engagement which in
wolves four years Of ceaseless toll.
The dignity Of the presidential Office
is aboye a merely personal ambition,
but it creates in me no illusion. Its
value is a great power for good to
the country. ! said four years ago in
acceptipg the nomination
knowing as do therefore, from
fresh experience how great the differ
ence is between gliding through an
official routine and working out a re-
form of systems and policies, It is i'm.
possible for me to contemplate what
needs to be done in the federal admin.
istration without an anxious sense of
the difficulties of the undertaking.
II summoned by the suffrages of my
countrymen to attempt this work l
shall cndeayor with Gods help to be
the efficient instrument Of their will"
Such q work Of renovation after
many years of misrule-such reform
of systems and policies to which 1
would oheerfully have sacrificed all
that remained to me of health aud life
is now, 1 fear, beyond my strength.
With unfeigned thanks for the honors
bestowed upon me, with heart swell