Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-06-12


New YoRK, June 10, 1884.
TO Daniel Manning, Chairman Of N,
Democratic STATE Committee Of Neu
York:
''In my letter Of June 18th, 1880, ad
dressed to the delegates from the state
of New York to tho Democratic Ma
tioi al Convention, / said. Having now
borne faithfully my full share Of labors
aud cares in the public service, and wear
ing the marks Of its burdens. desire
nothing 40 much as an honorable dis
charge. wish to lay down the honors
aud tolls Of even quasi party leadership
and to seek the repose Of private lie.
la renouncing denomination for the
Presidency, do 50 with no
doubt In my mind az to the vote
of the State Of New York, or Of the
United Stues. To those who think my
re nom nation and re election indispensa-
BILE to an efectnal vindication Of the
right OF the people to elect their rulers,
violated in my person, | have ac-
corded as long u reserve Of my de-
cision al possible. But I cannot
overcome my repugnance to enter into
new engagement, which involves
four years Of ceaseless toll.
My purpose to withdraw from further
public service and the grounds Of it
were Mt that time well known to you
and others, aud when at Cincinnati,
though respecting my wishes yoursel YES,
you communicated to me al appeal from
many valued friends TO relinquish that
purpose, reiterated my determine
i'm. an ftnnullxf L., t..f f,....
which have since elapsed nothing has
occurred TO weaken but everything to
strengthen the considerations which in
duced my withdrawal from public life.
10 all who have addressed me on the
subject my intention has been frankly
communicated. Several Of my most
confidential friends, under the sanction
of their own names, have publicly stated
my determination to be irrsvocabIe
The dignity of the Presidential office
is above merely personal ambition, but
it creates In me no illusion. Its value IL
as great power for good to the coun-
try. | said four years ago that 'iu nc
cepting the nomination, knowing, as l
do, how great the difference is between
gliding through an official routine and
icies, it is impossible for me to contem-
plate what needsto be done in the feder.
al administration and an anxious sense OF
the difficulties OF the Undertaking II
summoned by the suiirages OF my coun-
trymen to attempt this work, shall en-
deayor, with Gods help, TO be the eff
eient Instrument Of their will--such q
work of renovation, after many years OF
misrule--such a reform Of systems and
policies TO which l would cheerfully
have sacrificed all that rem lined to me
of health and. life, is now, fenr, beyond
my strength"
The a peal made to me by the Demo.
cratic masses, with apparent unanirnity.
to serve them once more is entitled 10
the most deierential consideration, and
would inspire disposition to do my
thing desired of me, If it we're consist
ent with my Judgment of duty. | be-
lieve that there Is no instrume ntality in
human society SO potential in its intlu-
ences upon mankind for good or evil as
the governmental machinery for
administering justice and for
making and executing laws.
Not all the oleemosynary institutions of
private benevolehce to which philan-
thropists may devote their lives are so
fruitful in benefits as the rescue and
preservation of this machinery from the
perversions that make il the instrument
OF conspiracy, fraud and crime against
the most sacred rights and interests OF
the people. For fifty years, us a private
citizen, never contemplating an official
career, l have devoted at least as much
thought and effort to the duty of infu
encing Alright the action Of the
governmental institutions of my
country as to all other objects.
| have never accepted official
service, except for brief period and for
SPECIAL purpose, and only when the
occasion seemed to require from me the
sacrifice of private preferences to the
public welfare. l undertook the State
administration OF New York because it
was supposed in that way only could
the executive power be arrayed on the
side of the reforms to which, as pri.
vate citizen, l had given three years of
my life. accepted the nomination for
the Presidency in 1876 because Of the
general conviction that my candidacy
would best present the issue of reform
which the Democratic majority of the
people desired to have worked out in tn,
Federal Government az it had been in
that of the State of New York. be
lieved that had strength enough then
to renovato 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,
nevertheless acted upon the idea that
wolves u duty. Iu reply to the ad
dress of the committee communi
eating my nomination. depicted
the difficulties of the undertaking ant
likened my feelings in engaging in it t.
those of soldier entering battle. but
did not withhold the conservation of my
powers to the public service. Twent,
years of continuous maladministratioI
under the demoralizing influence of in
testine strife and bad finance have in
fected the whole governmental system
of the United States with the cancerou'
growths OF false constructions and cor
rupt practices. Powerful classe
have acquired pecuniary interest
in official abuses, and the NOR
al standards of the people have beel
impaired. To redress these evils Is
work of great difficulty and labor an,
cannot be accomplished without tn
most energetic and efficient personal &c
tion on the part of the chief executive O
the republic
The canvass and administration whicI
it is desired that should undertak
would embrace period of nearly fiv
years: nor can admit any illusion as t,
their burdens. Three years of expert
ence in the endeavor to reform tn
municipal government of the city @
New York and two years of experience
in renovating the administration of tn,
State of New York, have made m'
familiar with the requirements of such
work. At the present time the consid
erations which induced my action il
1850 have become imperative. l ough
not to assume task which | have no
the physical strength to carry through
To retorm the administration of tn
Federal government, to realize my owl
ideal and to fulfill the just expectation
of the people, would, indeed, warrant
as they could alone compensate, tn
sacrifice which the undertaking woul,
involve. But in my condition of advanc
ing years and declining health, fee
no assurance of my ability t.
accomplish those objects; am, there
fore, constrained to say definitely tina
cannot now assume the labors Of al
administration or canvass. Underval
uing in nowise that best gift of heaven
the occasion and the power sometime
bestowed upon mere individual +
communicate an impulse for good, AM
grateful beyond all words to my fellow
eountrymen who would assign such
beueticent function to me, l am con
soled by the reflection tina
neither the Democratic party no
the Republican, for whose futur