Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-07-02
NEw Yong. Jnna 10. lSs!

NkW fohk, June III, 1884.
To Daniel s. Manning. Chairman Of III,
Democratic State Co,~mittee Of Ne,
York:
In my letter OF June IS, 1880, ad
dressed TO the delegates from the Stat,
of New York TO tho Democratic Nation.
al Convention. / said:
''Haying now borne faithfully my full
share Of labor and care in the public ser
vice, aud wearing the mark, Of it, bur
den, desire nothing No much as au hon
orable discharge. wish TO lay down
the honors aud tolls OF oven quasi party
Leadership and to seek the repose OF pri
vate life.
CONFIDENT OF ELECTION.
'ln ronouncing the denomination for
the presidency, do so with no doubt IN
my mind as to the vote Ol the state OF
New York or Of tho United States, but
because | believe that it is u renuncia.
tion Of reelection to tho presidency. To
those who think my denomination aud
RS. election Indispensable to an etiectuai
vindication OF the right Of the people Ia
elect their rulers, violated in my person,
have accorded as long u reserve of IN y
decision as possible, but cannot over.
come my repugnance to enter into u new
engagement which involves four years
Of ceasoless toll.
DIGNITY ~ THs OFFICE.
"The dignity Of the presidential oiic,
IN above u merely personal ambition, but
1t creates In me no illusion. Its value is
us 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 b,tween glidiug through
AN official routine aud working out the
form of systems aud policies. 1t IL i'm
possible for me to contemplate what
needs 10 be done in the federal admins.
tratiOn without M anxious sense OF the
difficulties Of the undertaking. II sum
moned by the suil AGES OF my country
men to attemDt'th,s work shall end av
or, with Gods help. To be the efficient
instrument OF their will Such IA work
Of renovation after many years of mi,'
rule; such q reform oi Systems aud poll
cies TO which | would cheerfu.ly have
sacrificed all that remains to me ci
health aud life, is now, fear. beyond
my strength.
My purpose to Withdraw from further
public service, and tho grounds of 1t.
were at that timo well known TO you
aud others, aud when at Cincinnati,
though respecting my wish yourself, YOU
communicated to mo an appeal from
many valued friends to reliusuiSh that
purpose, | reiterated my determination
la tho four years
which have since elapsed nothing has
occurred TO weaken, but every hing to
strengthen the considerations which in
luced my withdrawal from public life.
TO all who have addressed me on ths
subject my intention has been frankly
Several Of my most con.
friends, uuder the sanction oi
their own names, have publicly stated
my determination to be Irreversible
That | have occasion now to consider
the question is M event Tor which |
have no responsibility.
THE coUNTRy's CALL.
The appeal made to mo by the Demo
cratic masses with apparent unnnimity
to serve them once more is entitled to
the most deferential consideration, and
would inspire n disposition to do any
thing desired Of me ii il were consistent
with my judgment of duty. i believe
there is no instrument ,llty in human so
ciety 30 potential in il. iluence upon
mankind for good or evil as the govern.
achinery for the administration
of justice, and Tor making and executing
laws. Not all tho eleemosynury instltu.
tons OF private beuevoleuce To which
philanthropists may devote their lives
are III fruitful in benefits as the rescue
and preservation Of this machinery from
the perversions that make it he instru
ment of conspiracy. fraud and crime
against the most sacred rights and inter
ests of the people.
GREAT WORK OF REFORM.
For fifty years as private citizen,
never contemplating an official career,
have devoted at least as much thought
and effort to the duty OF influencing
Alright the action Of the governmental in
subjects. | have never acc pted services
except for brief period for a special
purpose, and only when the occasion
seemed to require from me that sacrifice
of private preferences to the public wei
fare. undertook the State administra-
tion of New York. because 1t was sup
posed that in that way only could the
executive power be arrayed ON the side
of the reforms to winch, as q private
citizen, had given three years Of my
life. accepted the nomination for the
presidency in 1876 because OF the gener.
al conviction that my candidacy would
best present the issue OF reform, which
the Democratic majority OF the people
desii ed to have worked out in the feder.
al government as it had been in the
State of New York. | believed ! 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 a
successor faithful to the same policy.
Though anxious, to seek the repose oil
priyate life l Nevertheless acted upon
the idea that every power is II trust aud
involves duty. In reply to the al.
dress of the committee communicating
my nomination | depicted the difficult
ties of the undertaking aud hkened my
feelings in engaging in it To those OF u
soldier entering battle, but do mol
withhold the entire conservation OF my
powers to the public service.
GREAT WORK TO BE DONE.
Twenty years of continuous maladmin
istration, under the demoralizing iniiu
ences OF intestine war and OF bad finance
have infected the whole governmental
system of the United States with cancer,
Gus growths of false constructions and
corrupt practices. Powerful classe.
have acquired pecunlary interests il
official abuses and the moral standard,
of the people have been imi aired. T.
redress these evils is work OF great dif
ticulty and labor, and can only be &C
complished with the most energetic and
efficient personal action on the part o
the chief executive of the Republic
The canvass and administration which il
is desired that should undertake would
embrace period OF nearly five years
Nor can | admit any illu sion ~ to theil
burdens; three years of experience il
the endeavor to reform the municipa
gov, rnment of the city OF New York
and two years of eX erience in reno
vaiiug the administration Of the State o
New York have made me familiar witl
the requirements of such work.
HEsITATEs TO ACCEPT.
At the present time the consideration
which Induced my action in 1850 hav,
become imperative. ought not to as
sume task which have not the phys
ical strength to carry out. To reform
the administration of the federal govern
mcnt, to realize my own ideal and to ful
ii the just expectations of the people
would indeed warrant, as they coul,
alone compensate, the sacrifice whicl
the undertaking would involve; but il
my condition OF adv ancing years aud de
clining strength feel no assurance a
my ability to accomplish those ohjrcts
am, therefore, constrained to say, def
nltely, that cannot new assume tn,
labors of an administration or OF can
vass. Undertaking. in nowise that hes
gift of heaven-the occasion and til,