The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-06-14

4
for me to contemplate what needs to
be done in federal administration
without an anxious sense Of difiiculties4
of the undertaking. If summoned by
the suilrages of my countrymen to att
tempt this work / shall cndeayor with
God help be the efficient instrument
of their will"
Such work ofrcnovation, after many
years OF miS,ule. such reform OF sys-
TENS and politics to which would
cheerfully have sacrificed all that re-
manned to me OF health and life, is now
| fear beyond my strength My pur-
pose to withdraw from furthur public
service and the grounds of it were at
that time we'll known to you and to I
others, and when at Cincinnati, /
though respecting my wishesyourseh
you communicated to me, an appeal
from many valued friends to relinQuish |
that purpose. ] reiterated my deter |
animation Internationally. In the
four years which have since elapsed
nothing has occurred to weaken, but
everything to strengthen the consider
alton which induced my withdrawal
from public life, and to all who have
addressed me ON the subject, my inten-
ton has been frankly communicated.
Several of mymost confidential friends
under the saction of their own names
have publicly stated my determination
to be irreyersible that have occasion
now to consider the question is an
event for which have no responsible
ity The appeal made to me by the
democratic masses with apparent
unanimity to serve them once more, is
entitled to the most deferential con-
sideration and would inspire DISPOSE
ton to do anything desired of me If it
were consistent with my judgment of
duty. I believe that there is no instru
mentality in human society so poten-
tial in its influence upon mankind for
good or evil as the governmental
machinery for administering justice
and for making and executing the
laws Not all elemosynary iTistitu-
tons or private benevolence to which
philanthropists may devote their lives
are so fruitful in benefits, as the rescue
and preservation of this machinery
from the pervorsions that make it the
instrument OF conspiracy, fraud and
crime against the most sacred fights
and interests of the people, ~. l.,5
For fifty years, as private citizen,
never contemplating an official career,
| have devoted at least as much
thought and effort to the duty of in
fiuencing Alright the action Of govern
mental institutions OF my country as
to all other objects. have never ac-
cepted official service except for brief
period and for special purpose, and
only when occasion seemed to require
from me that sacrifice of private pref
erences to the public welfare. | under
took the State administration of New
York because it was supposed that in
that way only could the Executive
power be arraycd on the side Of re-
: form to.whith, as a private citizen, |
; had given three years OF my life. ~
! accepted the nomination for the
| Presidency in 1876, because Of The gen
eral conviction that my candidacy
would best present the issue OF reform
which the Democratic majority OF the
people desired to have worked out IN
the Federal Government, as it had
been in that Of the State Of New York
| believed that had strength enough
then 10 rcnovatC the administration
Of the United States, and ut the clost
: of my time to hand over the great
trust to my succcssor-faithful to the
same policy, though anxious to secl
> repose Of private life
! nevertheless acted upon the idC;
= that every power is in trust and invol
: YES duty In reply to the addresSc,
: of the committee communicating my
nomination, | depicted the difficulties
: of the undertaking and likcned my
$ feelings in engaging in it to those o
Il Il soldier entering battle. but | die
!, not withhold the entire consecratiol
" OF my powers to the public service
Twenty years Of continuous mai
u administration under the dem0ralizin|
l. infunces Of an intestine war and o
= Bad finance have infested the who'll
/, government system of the Unite
: States, with cancerous growths Of. falls,
9 constructions and corrupt" practices
i Powerful classes have acquired pecH
lniaryamtercSt I'm ofiieiM abuses an1
I the mora standard Of people, havl
I been impaired "a -
Y ra To redress these evils is the work 0
l. great difficulty and labor, and canno
i be accomplished without the mostte h
ergetic and efficient and personal nc
ton on the part of the chief executive
. of the Republic. The canvass and ad
L ministration which it is desired that
IS should undertake would embrace
period of nearly five years, nor, can 3
admit any illusion as to their burdens
! Three years OF experience in endeavo
!, to reform the municipal government
J of the city of New York and two year
u of experience in renovating the ,ad
ministration of the State of New York
!, have made me familiar with the re
v lQuirements of such a work at thepres
, ent time. The considerations whiel
y indnced my action in 1880 have be
~ come imperative. I ought not to as
sumo task which / have not tn
physical strength to carry through
To reform the administration of tn
Federal Government, to realize m
own ideal and to fulfill the just expe(
tations of the people, would indee
q warrant, as they could at once con
% pensate the sacrifices which the.ur
- dertaking would involve, but I'M m
condition of advancing years and dt
D. clining strength ] feel no assurance {
( my ability to accomplish these object
a Iam, therefore, constrained to say dt
= e firnativelv that I cannot now assum