Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-06-25


eight to seven, the electoral commits.
sion counted out the men elected
by the people and counted in the
men not elected by the people.
The subversion of the election
created new issue for the decision
of the people of the United States,
transcending in importance all ques-
tions of administration. 1t involved
the vital principle of self-sovern-
ment through elections by the peo.
pie. The immense growth of means
Of corrupt influence over the ballot
box, which is at the disposal Of the
party having possession of the exec
utive administration, already become
a present evil and a g.eat danger,
tonding to make elections irrcspon-
sive to public opinion, hampering
the power of the people to change
their rulers and enabling men hold
ing the machinery of government to
continue and perpetuate their pow
er. 1t was my opinion in 1876 that
the opposition attempting to change
the administration needed to include
ut least two-thirds of the voters ut
the opening of the canvass in order
to retain majority at the election.
If, after such obstacles had been
overcome and majority of the peo.
pie had voted to change the Admin
stration of their Government, mon
in Office could still procure false
count, founded upon frauds and per-
jurie, and forgeries furnishing a
pretext of documentary evidence
on which to basethat false count;
and if such transactions were not
only successful. but if after an
allotment of it's benefits we're
made to its contrivers, abettors
and apoloeists by the chief bene-
ticiary of the transaction. it were
condoned by the people, the practi-
cal destruction Of elections by tho
people would have been accom-.
.plished. The failure to install the
candidates chosen by the people, n
contingency consequent upon no act
or impression Of mine and beyond
my control. has thus left me for the
last three years and until now, when
the Democratic party, by its. Dele
gates in the National Convention
assembled, shall choose new leaders,
the involuntary but necessary repre-
sentative of this inomentus issue, as
such denied the immunities of pri-
vate life without the powers conferred
by public station, subject to unceas-
ing falsehoods and calumnies from
partisans of an administration labor
ing in vain to justify its existence.
l have, nevertheless, steadfastly en-
deavored to preserve to the Demo-
cratic party Of the United States the
supreme issue before the people for
their decision next November which
is, whether this shall be Government
by the sovereign people, through
elections, or Government by dis
carded servants holding over by
force and fraud, and l have with
held no sacrifice and neglected no
opportunity to uphold or organize
and consolidate against the enemies
of representative Institutions tho
great party which alone under God,
can etfectually resist their overthrow.
Having now borne faithfully my
full share of labor and care in public
service, and wearing marks of its
burdens, 1 desire nothing so much as
an honorable discharge. l wish to
lay down tho horors and tolls of
even quasi party leadership and to
seek the repose of private life. In
renouncing denomination .and re-
election. indispensable to an effect
i've vindication of the people to
elect their rulers, violated in my per-
son, l have accorded as long re-
serve of my decision as possible;
but cannot overcome my repugnanre
to enter into new engagement
which involves four years of cease.
less toll.
The dignity of the Presidential
office IS above mere personal am
bition, but it creates in me no illu-
sion. Its value is great power to IL
good country. 1 said, four years
ago, in accepting your nominations
Knowing us l do, therefore, from
fresh experience how great differ
ence there is between gliding through
an official routine and working out a
reform OF systems and policies. it is
impossible for me to contemplate
what needs to be done in the FEEDER
al Administration without an anxious
sense of the difficulties Of the under
taking. If summoned by the SUI
frages of my countrymen to attempt
this work, l shall endeavor, with
Gods help, to be the efficient instru-
ment Of their will" Such n work of
renovation after SO many years Of
missrule, such a reform OF systems
and policies to which l would have
sacrificed all that remained of my
health and life, Is, | now fear. be-
yond my strength. With unfeigned
thanks for the houors bestowed on
me with "A heart swelling with emo