The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1884-06-21

official career, have devoted at ieasi
as much thought and effort to thu
duty Of influencing Alright the action
of the governmental institutions Of
my country as to all other objects.
have never accepted official service cx-
cept for brief period for a special
purpose, and only when the occasion
seemed to require from me that sacri.
fee Of private preferences to the pub
lie welfare. undertook the State adj
ministration of New York, because il
was supposed that in that way only
could the executive power be arrayed
on tho side Of the reforms to which, as
private citizen, | had given three
| years of my life. | accepted the nom
ination for the Presidency in 1876,
because Of the general conviction that
my candidacy would best present the
issue of reform which the Democrats,
a majority Of the people, desired to
have worked out In the Federal Gov
ernment as it had been in the State Of
New York. | believed that / 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,
Being anxious to seek the repose Of
private life, ] nevertheless acted upon
the idea that every power Is a trust
and involves a duty.
In reply to the address Of the COM
tnittee communicating my nomination,
/ depicted the difficulties of the nm
dertaking, and likened my feelings in
engaging in it to those Of soldier
entering a battle, but / do not with
hold the entire conservation Of my
powers to the public service. Twen-
ty years of continuous maladministra-
tion under demoralizing influences, Of
intestine war, and Of bad finance, have
infected the whole governmental system
of the United States with the cancer
GUS growths of false constructions and
currupt practices. Powerful classes
have acquired pecuniary interests in
official abuses, and the moral stand
ards Of the people have been impaired,
To redress these evils is work Of
great difficulty and labor and cannot
be accomplished without most ener-
getic and efficient personal action on
the part Of the Chief Executive Of
the republic. The canvasses and adj
which it is desired |
should undertake would embrace
period of nearly five years, nor can
admit my Illusion as to their burdens.
Three years Of experience in an en-
deayor to reform the municipal gov
ernment of the city Of New York, and |
two years of experience in renovating
the administration of the State Of |
New York have made me familiar with |
the requirements Of such work.
At the present time the considera-
tions which induced my action in
] $3.50 have become imperative. ought
not to assume task which | have not
the physical strength to carry through,
To reform the administration of the
Federal Government to realize my
own deal, and to fulfill the just ex-
pectations of the people, would indeed
as they could alone compen-
sate, the sacrifices which the under
taklng would involve, But in my con-
lition of advancing years and doclin-
ng strength | feel no assurance Of my
,bility to accomplish those objects,
I'm, therefore, constrained to say, def
litely, that | cannot now assume the
abors of an administration of a can
1ass, Undertaking in no wise that
pest gift of heaven, the occasion and
be power sometimes bestowed upon
mere individual to communicate an
impulse for good ; grateful beyond all
words TO my fellow countrymen who
would assign such benefeent fune-
ion to me, am consoled by the re-
lection that neither the Democratic
party nor the republic for whose fu-
ure that party is the best guarantee,
8 now or ever can be daRendent upon
my one man for their successful pro-
yress in the path Of a noble destiny.
Having given to their welfare what
'Yer Of health and strength | pos
essed, or could borrow from the flu
ure, and having reached the term Of
by. capacity for snch labors as their
Welfare NOW demands, | but submit to
be will Of God in deeming my public
areer forever closed,
SAM'L ]. TILnEN.