The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-06-19
New YORK. June 10, 1884.

Democratic State Committee OF New York
In my letter of June 10, 1880, adj
essed to the delegates from the STATE
New York, to the democratic
tional committee, 1 said:
Having now borne faithfully my
share of labor and care in the
bile service, and wearing the marks
its burdens, / desire nothing sc
lch as an honorable discharge" i
,h to lay down the honors and
IS of even a quasi party leader
p, and to seek the repose of private
I. In renouncing the denomination
the presidency, l do so with
doubt in my mind as to the vote OF
state of New York, or of the Uni
States. TO those who think my
domination and reelection indis-
5ible to an effectual vindication of
rights of the people to elect their
RS, violated in my person, 1 have
,rded as long a reserve of my de-
IN as possible; but L cannot over
my repugnance to enter into a
enlargement which involves four
s of ceaseless toll. The dignity of
presidential Office is abovea merely
onal ambition; but it creates in
10 Illusion of its value, which is
. great power for good to the
TRY. l said four years ago I'm
J in accepting the nomination,
knowing as L did, from expert
how great the difference between
ng through an official routine and
ing out the form of systems and
les, it was impossible for me to
smplate what was needed to be
in the federal administration
put an anxious sense of the diff
IS of the undertaking. If sum-
ID by the suffrages of my
trymen to attempt this work, 1
endeavor, with Gods help, to be
dicient instrument of their will.
work of reno walton, after
years of misrule; such reform
stems and policies to which /
! cheerfully have sacrificed all
remains to me of health and
S now, 1 fear. beyond my
9Th"
purpose, to Withdraw from fur
.ublic service and the grounds of
e, at that time, well known to
nd others, and when, in Cincin-
though respecting my wishes
slf, you communicated to me an
! from many valuable articles to
uish that purpose. l reiterated
determination unconditionally.
four years which have since
d, nothing has occurred to
n, but everything to strengthen,
editions which induced my with
| from public life. To all who
addressed me on the subject, my
ton has been frankly commune
Several of my most contider-
ends, under the sanction of their
names, have publicly made
emy determination to be irrev-
That L have occasion now to
or the matter is an event for
i have no responsibility. The
made to me by the democratic
J, with apparent unanimity, to
hem once more is entitled to
ost deferential consideration.
inything desired of me, if it
onsistent with my Judgment of
ity. 1 believe there is no in
mt alike in human society so
Aal in its influence upon man.
pr good or evil, as the govern
machinery for administering
y and for making and execut-
<he laws. Not all the
,mosynafy institutions of private
dolence, to which philanthropists
y devote their lives, are so beauti-
in their benefits as the rescuesand
servation of this machinery from
perversions that make 1t the in
lment of conspiracy, fraud and
ne against the best, most sacred
hts and interests of the people.
r fifty years, as a private citizen,
Jer contemplating an Of
al care, 1 have devoted
least as much thought and effort to
duty of influencing aiight the
ion of the governmental lnstitu-
MS of my country as to all other
,iects. / have never accepted Off
service, except for a brief period,
a special purpose, and only when
occasion seemed to require from
sacrifice of private prefer,
,eS to the public welfare. /
dertook the state administration
New York, because it was supposed
that way only could the executive
wer be arrayed on the side OF the
'orms to which, as a private citi-
4, had given three years of my
g. accepted the nomination fol-
. presidency in 1876 because the
ndidacy would best present
Q issue of reform which the demo
stic majority of the people desired
have marked out in the federal gov
as it had been in the state Of
wv York. / believed that 1 haG
rength enough then to renoyate the
of the government o.
. United States and, at the close Of
y term, to hand over the great trust
a successor faithful to the same
'licy. Though anxious tt
elk the repose of private
'e, nevertheless acted upon the ides
at every power is a trust, and in
lives q duty. In reply to the address
the committee communicating my
animation, l depicted the difficulties
the undertaking, and likened my
elings to those of q soldier entering
battle, but l did not withhold
q entire conservation of my
'wers to the public servic,
wenty years of continuous mal-ad
under the demorallzlnl
fiuences of intestine war, and OF ba
nance, have infected the whole gov
system of the United State:
18th cancerous growths of false con
;ructions and corrupt practice;
owerful classes have acquired pr
lniary interests in official abuses, an
le moral standards of the people hav
zen impaired. To redress theseevils
Iork of great difficulty and labor, an
accomplished without tn
lost energetic and efficient person;
ction on the part of tt
hief executive of the republic. tt
anvass and administration which,
J is desired that / should undertai
hem would embrace a period
early five years. Nor CO
admit my illusions
0 their burdens. Three years
experience in the endeavor to refor
he municipal government of the CT
f New York, and two years OF e
,erience in renovating the admin
ration of the state of New for
lave made me familiar with the
luirements of such work.
At the present time the considel
lions which induced my acti,
IN 1880, have become imperati
ought not to assume task which
have not the physical strength to ca
~ through. To reform the admin
tration OF the federal government,
realize my own idea, and fulfill I
lust expectations of the people wol
indeed warrant the attempt. as til
could alone make compensation
the sacrifices which the undertake
would involve; but, In my Ct
dition of advancing years. a
al E~l.,r ~ rucrr ro-