Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-06-24
NO. 26.


the perpetuation OF false count. The
constitutional duty OF the two houses
OF Congress TO count the electoral votes
as cast, and to give effect TO the will OF
the people as expressed by their suf-
frages, was never fulfilled. An elector.
al commission, for the existence Of
which have no responsibility, was
formed, and 10 IL the two houses Of
Congress abdicated their duty to make
the count, by law enacting that the
count of the commission should stand
as final, unless oyerruled by the concur
rent action OF the two houses. It's
false count was not overruled, owing to
the completely Of Republican Senate
with the Republican majority Of the
commission, controlled by its Republ-
can majority of eight to seven. The
electoral commission counted out the
men elected by the people and counted
in the men not elected by the people.
That subversion OF the election created
a new issue for the decision of the peo.
pie of the United States transcending
in importance all questions of admins.
tration. 1t involved vital principles OF
self'government through elections by
the people. The immense growth OF
the means OF corrupt influence over
the ballotbox, which is at the disposal
of the party having possession of the
executive administration, had already
become present evil, and a great dan.
ger tending to make the election IRE.
sponsive TO public opinion, hampering
the power of the people to change their
rule and enabling the men holding the
mach arv nf tho oovarp 40 nnntin
ue and perpetuate their power. 1t was
my opinion in 1876 that the opposition
attempting TO change the administration
needed TO include at least two.thirds of
the voters at the opening of the can
yass in order TO retain a majority at the
election. If, after such obstacles had
been overcome and majority Of the
people had voted to change the admin
istration of their government, the men
in Office could still proceed to false
count founded upon frauds, perjury
and forgeries furnishing a pretext Of
documentary evidence on which TO base
that false count, and If such transac.
ton were not only successful, but If
after sllotments OF its benefits were
maze to its contrivers, abettors and
apologists by the chief beneficiary of
the transaction, it was condoned by
the people, a practical destruction of
elections by the people would have
been accomplished.
The failure 10 install the candidate
chosen by the people, a contingency con-
sequent upon no act or omission of
mine and beyond my control, has thus
left me for the last three years and
until now, when the Democratic party,
by the delegates in the national conven-
ton assembled, shall choose a new lead.
er, the involuntary but unnecessary
representative oS.his momentuous issue,
~ such denied the immunities of public
life without the powers conferred by
public station, subject to unceasing
ialsehoodT and calumnies from the
partisans Of an administration laboring
in vain to justify its existence. have
nevertheless steadfastly endeavored to
present the same to the Democratic
party of the United States. The su.
preme issues before the people for their
decision next November are whether
this shall be q government by the sover.
eign people through election or a gov
ernment by discarded servants holding
over by force and fraud and / have
withheld no sacrifice and neglected no
opportunity 10 uphold, organize and
consolidate against the enemies of the
representative institution of the great
party which alone under God can effect
uslly resist the overthrow. Having now
borne faithfully my full share Of the la.
Dor and care in public service, and
wearing the marks of its burdens, de-
sire nothing so much as an honorable
discharge. | wish TO lay down the hon.
ors and tolls of even quasi party leader
ship, and TO seek the repose of private
life. In renouncing a denomination 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 believe that il is renuncia.
ton of the reelection of the presidency.
To those who think my nomination
and reelection indispensable TO an ef.
fectual vindication Of the right Of the
people TO elect their rulers, violated In
my person, | have accorded ne long a
reserve Of my decision as possible, but
| cannot overcome my repugnance 20
enter into q new engagement, which
involves four years of ceaseless toll,
The dignity of the presidential Office in
above a merely personal ambition, but
II creates in me no illusion. Its value
is great power for good to the country.
said four years ago, in accepting the
nomination knowing as do, there.
fore, from fresh experience how great
the difference Is between rlidine
through an official routine and working
out reform Of systems and policies, it
is impossible for me to contemplate
what reeds to be done in the Federal
administration without anxious sense
of the difficulties of the undertaking.
II summoned by the sutfrages of NV
countrymen TO attempt this work, /
shall endeavor with Gods help TO be the
efficient instrument Of their will.p Such
work OF renovating after many wears
OF misrule, such : reform Of systems
and policies TO which would cheerful.
IL have sacrificed all that remained 10
81