The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1884-06-19

public welfare. / undertook the state
I administration of New York because it
was supposed that in that way only could
| the executive power be arrayed on the
| side of the reforms, to which, as private
citizen, 1 had given three years of my
| life. | accepted the nomination for the
presidency in 1876, because of the general
l conviction that my candidacy would best
present the issue of reform, which the
Democratic majority of the people desir-
| ed to have worked out IN the Federal
| government, as it had been in that of the
| state of New York.
| believe that had strength enough
| then to renovate the administration of
| the government of the United States,
| and at the close of my term to hand over
| the great trust to successor faithful to
the same policy. Though anxious to
| seek the repose of private life, never
| theless acted upon the idea that every
power is a trust and involves duty.
| In reply to the address of the COM
| mittee communicating my nomination, |
depicted the difficulties OF the undertak-
ing, and likened my feelings in engag-
| ing in it to those of soldier entering a
| battle, but did not withhold the entire
| conservation of my powers to the public
service. Twenty years OF continuous
maladministration, under the demoral-
izing influences of intestine war and of
| bad finance, have infected the whole
governmental system Of the United Stat
| es with the cancerous growth of false
construction and corrupt practices.
Powerful classes have acquired pecIIniary
interests in official abuses, and the moral
standards of the people have been i'm
paired.
To redress these evils is a work of great
| difficulty and labor, and cannot be &C.
complished without the most energetic
and efficient personal action on the part
of the chief executive of the republic. -.
The canvass and administration, which
it is desired that l should undertake,
would embrace period of nearly five
years. Nor can [ admit any illusion as
to their burdens. Three years of exper-
fence in the endeavor to reform the
municipal government, of the city of
New York, and two years of experience
| in renovating the administration of the
state of New York, have made me famil
lar with the requirements of such work.
At the present time, the considerations
which induced my action in 1880, have
become imperative. L ought not to as
sumo task which [ have not the physi-
cal strength to carry through. To reform
| the administration of the Federal govern
ment to realize my own adeal, and to
fulfill the just expectations of the people,
would indeed warrant, as they could alone
compensate the sacrifices which the
undertaking would involve.
| But in my condition of advancing years
and declining strength, feel no assur-
ance of my ability to accomplish those
objects. [ am, therefore, constrained to
say definitely, that [ cannot now assume
the labors of an administration OF. of a
canvass.
Undertaking. in no wise that best gift
of Heaven, the occasion and the power
sometimes bestowed upon a mere in
dividual to communicate an impulse for
good, grateful beyond all words to my
fellow countrymen who would assign
such benefcient function to me, l am
consoled by the reflection that neither
the Democratic party nor the republic,
for whose future that party is the best
guarantee, is now or ever can be depend
ent upon any one man for their success.
full progress In the path of noble des-
tiny. Having given to their welfare
whatever of health and strength [ pos
sessed or could borrow from the future,
and having reached the term of my
capacity for such labors as their welfare
now demands, l but submit to the will
of God in deeming my public career
forever closed.
SAMUEL j, TLDEN,