Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-06-17

official service except for Il brief per-
iOd, for special purpose, and only
when the occasion seemed to require
from me that sacrifice of private pre-
fercnccs TO the public welfare. l
undertook the state administration
Of New York because it was suppos-
ed that in that way only could the
exec utivc power be arraycd on the
side of the reforms to which, as a
private citizen, | had given three years
o. my life. | accepted the NOMINEE
ton for the presidency in 1876 because
Of the general conviction that my
candidacy would best present the is
sue of reform which the democratic
majority of the people desired to have
worked out in the federal govern
mcnt as it had been in that of the
state of New York. | believed that
[ had strength enough then TO rcnov-
ate the administration Of tho govern
mcul of the United States, and at the
close Of my term to hand over the
great trust to a successor devoted To
the same policy. Though anxious To
seek the repO|e Of private life, | new
rrlhclcss acted upon the idea that cv-
cry hour is Il trust and involved II
duty. In reply to the address of the
committee communicating my nom,-
nation, depicted the dillicdlties OF
the undertaking, and likcntd my
feelings in engaging in it to those OF
a soldier entering battle, but do not
withhold the entire conservation 0i
my powers to the public service.
Twenty years Of continuous malad-
ministratiOn under the devastating
influences of intestine war and of bad
finance, have infected the whole gov
ernmental system of the United
States with the canccrouS growthS OF
false construction and corrupt prac-
tees. Powerful classes have ac.
CURED pccuniary interest in otfiiiaI
abuses and the moral standard Of til,
people has been impaired. To re-
dress these evil is II work of great
difficulty and labor, and canno
be accomplished without the mos
energetic and efficient personal ac
ton on the part of the chief cXccu
tive Of the republic. The canvass
and administration which it is dc
sired that | shonld undertake, woulr
embrace period Of nearly five years
nor can | admit the illu
siUns as to their burdens
Three years of experience in the ell
deavor to reform the municipal gov
crnmcnt of the city of New York
and the several years of experience il
rcnovating the administration Of th'
state of New York have made me ia
miliar with the requirements of sucl
a work. AT the present time th
) consideration, which induced my &C
ton in 1880 have become impcraliv,
| ought not assume 4 task which
have not the physical strength to cal
= ry through. To reform the admin,
tsatiOn of the federal government, [
realize my own ideal, and to fulfil
the just expectation of the pcopl
i indeed warrant, as they could al0n
compensate for, the sacrifices Will;
the undertaking would involve, bu
in my condition of advancing year
and declining strength, feel no assul
anco of my ability to accomplis
those objects, and / am therefor
constrained to say definitely that
can not now assume the labOrs of a
administrations or Il canvass. u
dcrvaluing in no wise that best gi
of heavcn-the occasion and IL
power sometimes bestowed upon
mere individual or TO cOmmunieat
an impulse for good am gratcfl
beyond all words to my fellow coul
lrymen who would assign such
benclicent function to me. al
D cOnsolcd by the reflection that neithl
the Democratic party nor the ltepul
I lie, for whose future that party is Il
l best guarantee, is now or ever can |
dependent upon any one man for the
o successful progress in the path of
:, noble destiny. Having given to the
: welfare whatever of health all
X strength | possessed or could borro
i from the future, and having reachC
: the limit Of my capacity for such !;
u bors as their welfare now demand
: | but submit to the will of God
: dceming my public career forevC
closed.
Signed SAMUEL j. TIDEN.