San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1884-06-26

from fresh experience, how great the
difference is between gliding through
an official routine and working out
tho form Of systems and policies u 70
impossible for me TO contemplate
what needs 10 be done in the Federal
Administration without an anxious
sense Of the difficulties OF the under.
taking. II summoned by the
suffrages Of my countrymen to at'
tempt the work, I shall endeavor,
with Gods help. TO be the efficient
instrument OF their will" Such .
work OF renovation after many years
of misrule, such q reform Of systems
and policies to which I would cheer.
fully have sacrificed all that remained
to me Of health and life, is now, !
fear, beyond my strength"
THE PRESENT SITUATION.
NV purpose to withdraw from fur
ther public service, and the grounds
Of il, were at that time well known
10 you and others and when, at
Cincinnati, though respecting my
wishes yourself, you communicated
to me an appeal from many valued
friends, to relinquish that purpose, /
my determination un-
In the four years
which have since elapsed nothing has
occurred to weaken but everything
to strengthen the considerations
which induced my withdrawal from
public life. To all who have ad-
dressed me on the subject my ipten-
ton has been frankly communicated.
Several Of my most confidential
friends, under the sanction of their
own names, haye publicly stated my
determination to be irreversible.
That I have occasion now to consider
the question is an event for which I
have no responsibility. The appeal
made to me by the Democratic masses,
with apparent unanimity, to serve
them once more, is entitled to the
most deferential consideration, and
would inspire a disposition to do
desired of me il it were
with my sense OF duty.
believe there is no instrumentality
in human society SO potential in its
influence upon mankind for good or
evil as the governmental machinery
for administering justice and for max
ing and executing laws. Not all the
eleemosynary institutions OF private
to which philanthropists
may devote their lives are 80 fruitful
in benefits as tho rescue and preserva-
tion of this machinery from the
that make it the instru-
ment of conspiracy, fraud and crime
against the most sacred rights and
interests Of the people. For fifty
years, as q private citizen, never con-
an official career, have
devoted ut least as much thought and
effort to the duty ofinAuencing Alright
The action of the governmental institu-
lions Of my country as to oil other
subjects. / have never accepted
official service, except for brief
period, for q special purpose. and
only when the occasion seemed TO
require from me that sacrifice Of
private preferences to the public
welfare. I undertook the State
administration Of New York because
i was supposed that in that way only
could the executive power be arrayed
On the side Of the reforms to which,
rs private citizen, I had given three
years ofmy life. Iaccepted the nomi-
nation for the Presidency in 1876
because OF the general conviction that
my candidacy would best present the
ssue of reform, which the Democratic
Of the people desired to have
worked out in the Federal Govern
ment, as it had been in the State Of
New York.
THE REroRM IDEA.
I believed had strength enough
then to renovate the administration
Of the Government Of the United
States, and at the close Of my term
10 hand over the great trust TO sue
cessor, faithful to the same policy.
Though anxious to seek the repose of
q private life, 1 nevertheless acted
upon the idea that every power Is q
trust and involves duty. In reply
10 the address OF the committee
communicating my nomination, 1
depicted the difficulties Of the under
taking, and ikened my feelings in
engaging in it to those Of soldier
entering battle, but ] do not with
hold my entire conservation Of my
powers to the public service. Twenty
years Of continuous maladministra-
lion, under the demoralizing infuen-
ces OF intestine war and Of bad fin
ance, have infected the whole COVER
mental system Of the United States
with cancerous growths OF false con-
structions and corrupt practices
Powerful classes have acqired pecuni-
sry interests in official abuses, and
the moral standards Of the people
have been impaired To redress
these evils is q work Of great difficulty
md labor, and can only be ac-
by the most energetic
md efficient personal action on the
part or the Chief Executive Of the
republic. The canvass and admins
tration, which II is desired I should
undertake, would embrace period Of
nearly FIVE years Nor can i admit
Any illusion ~ 10 their burdens.