The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-06-19

dO Duftset WuH1ttnQ, CHu1fnluf1 OF Inc DenlO-
cratic State Committee of Ne,v York:
In my letter of June IS, 1880, addressed
to the delegates from the State of New
to the Democratic National Convention,
said: slN iAdi5tf f' ett
Having now borne faithfully my full share of
labor and care in the public service and wear
Ing the marks OF its burdens, desire nothing SO
much an honorable discharge. / wish to lay
down tire hOnOrs and tolls of even quasi party
leadership and TO seek the repose of private life.
In ren0uncing denomination for the Presi-
uency do so with doubt in my mind as to
the vote OF tile State OF New York or OF the
United States, but because l believe that 1t is
Pronunciation of reelection to the Presidency.
To those who think my reuominttiOfi and
election. Indispensable to an effectual viHdica-
tion OF the, right of the people to elect their
rulers violated IN my person. have accorded
| cannot overcome my repugnaHce to enter into
a new engagement which involves four years of
ceaseless toll. .RstA%
The dignity of the Presidential office is above
a merely personal ambition, but IL creates in
fos good o 10 me cotrv said four Years. a GOWN
accepting the nomination: "Knowing, as do,
therefore, from fresh experiences, how great the
routine and working out reform OF systems
and policies, it is impossible for me to eonten-
plate what needs to be done in the Federal adj
inlnistratioil " ithoui an anxious sense of the
difficulties OF the undertaking. If summoned
by the suffrages of my countrymen to attempt
this work shall ,endeayor, with God help, to
be the efficient instrument of their will" Such
work Of renovation after many years of mis-
rule; such q reform of systems and policies, to
which / would cheerfully have sacrificed all
that remained tome of health and life, is now
fear, beyond nay strength. ...,l
My purpose is to withdraw from further
public service and the grounds of it were
at that time well known to you and TO
others and when at Cincinnati, though
respecting my wishes yourself, you COM
municated to me an appeal from many
valued friends to relinqulsh that purpose,
reiterated my determination uncondition-
ally. In the four years which have since
elapsed nothing has occurred to weaken,
but everything to strengthen, the conSid-
eratiOns which induced my withdrawal
from public life. To all who have adj
dressed me aon 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 irreversible.
That | have occasion now to consider the
question is an event for which / have no
responsibility. The appeal made to me by
the Democratic masses with apparent
unanimity to serve them once more is en-
titled to the most deferential consideration
and would inspire disposition to do any
thing desired of me if it were consistent
with my Judgment of duty.
/ believe that there is no Instrumental
ty in human society so potential in its in
fiuence upon mankind for good or evil as
the governmental machinery for admins
tering justice and for making and execut-
ing laws. Not allthe Ieleemosynary insti.
buttons of private benevOlence to which
philanthrOpists may devote their lives are
so fruitful in benefits as the rescue and
and preservation OF this machinery from
the perversiOns that make it the instru-
ment of conspiracy, fraud and crime against
the most sacred rights and interests of the
people. tsiiait. 1851 Ast.t tl
For fly years ais a private citizen, never
contemplating an official career. | have
devoted at least as much thought and eff
fort to the duty Of influencing aright-the
action OF the governmental institutions OF
my cOnntry--aS to all other objects.
have never accepted official service except
for brief period for a special purpose and
only when the occasion seemed to require
from me that sacrifice OF private prefer
erences t0the public welfare undertook
the State administration of New York be.
cause it was supposed that in that way
only could the executive power be arrayed
on the side of the reforms to which as q
private citizen 4 had given three years OF
my life. IL accepted the nomination fol-
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 pe0ple desired
to have worked out in the Federal Govern.
ment as it had been in that of the State OF
New York. l believed that had strength
enough then to renovate the administers
tion 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. - ffa
Though anxious to seek the repOse of
private life, | nevertheless acted upon the
idea that every power is trust and in
wolves duty. In reply to the address of
the committee communicating my nomi-
nation / depicted the difficulties of the un-
dertaking and likened my feelings in en-
gaging in it to those of soldier entering
battle, but l did not withhold the entire
conservation of my powers to the public
service.
Twenty years of continuous maladmin-
istrati0n under the demoralizing influences
of intestine war and of bad finance have
infected the whole governmental system
of the United States with the cancerous
gTOwths of false constructions and corrupt
practices. Powerful classes have acquired
pecuniary interests in official abuses and
the moral standards of the people have
been impaired. To redress these evils is a
work of great difficulty and labor and can
not be accomplished without the most en-
ergetic and efficient personal action ON the
part of the Chief Executive of the Re-
public.
The canvass and administration which
it is desired that | should undertake would
embrace period of nearly five years. Nor
can | admit any illusion as to their burdens.
Three years of experience in the endeavor
to reform themunicipal government of the
city of New York and two years of ex-
perience in renovating the administration
of the State of New York have made me
familiar with the requirements of such a
work. aadfiss8st -
At the present time the considerations
which induced my action in 1880 have
become imperative. ought not to assume
task which / have not the physical
strength to carry through. To reform the
administration of the Federal Govern
ment. to realize my own ideal and to fulfill
the just expectations Of the people, would
indeed warrant, as they could alone COM
pensate. the sacrifices. which the under
taking would involve. But in my condi-
ton OF advancing years, and, declining
strength feel no assurance of my ability
to accomplish those objects. i ami, there
fore, constrained to say, definitively, that
| cannot now assume the labOrs of an adj
ministrati0n or of a canvass. n 81 as..s
Undervalueing in no wise that best gift
of heaven, the occasion and the power
sometimes bestowed upon mere indi-
vidual to communicate an impulse for
good grateful beyond all words TO my fell
low cOuntrymen, who would assign such a
benefcent function to me, j am consoled
by the reflection that neither the Demo-
cratic party nor. the, Republic, for whose
future that party is the best guarantee, is,
now or ever can be dependent upon any
ono man for ffoira c1 ocofIlI Y,ronroyc in