The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-06-19
TiIdcn DccIincS.

In my letter OF June 18TH, 1880, adj
dressed to the delegates from the State |
Of New York to the Democratic Ma
tional Convention, L said: Having !
now borne faithfully my full share of |
labor and care in the public service, /
and wearing the marks of it's burdens, |
| desire nothing so much as an honor |
able discharge. I wish to lay down the
hOnors and tolls of even quasi party |
and to seek the repOse of |
private life. In aFenoanciHg the re-
nomination for the presidency, do SO
with no doubt in my mind as TO the
vote of the State of New York or of
the United States, but because / be-
lieve that it is Il renunciation of
reelection to the Presidency
To those who think my renominal o
and reelection indispensable to an ell
fectual vindication of the rights of the
people to elect their rulers, violated in
my person, / have accorded as long a
reserve of my decision as possible, but
/ cannot overcome my repugnance to
enter into a new engagement which
involves four years OF ceaseless toll.
The dignity Of the presidential Office
is above merely personal ambition,
but it creates in me no illusion. Its
value is great power for good to the
country. I said four years ago in ac-
cepting nomination knowing as
do, therefore, from fresh experience
how great the difference is between
gliding through an official routine and
working out reform of systems and
policies, it is impossible for me to con-
template what needs to be done in the
Federal administration without an
anxious sense of the difficulties of the
undertaking. If summoned by the
suffrages of my countrymen to attempt
this v ork, shall endeavOr, with Gods
help, To be the efficient instrument of
their wilt such work of renOva-
ton after many years of misrule, such
II reform of systems and policies to
which would cheerfully have sacri-
feed all that remains to me of health
and life. is now, L fear, beyond my
strength" tszEHsa p.
My purpose to withdraw from fur
ther public service and the grounds of
it were at That time we'll known to you
and to others, aud when, at Cincin-
natl, though respecting my appeal
from many valued friends to relinquish
that purpose, reiterated my determi-
nation Internationally. In the four
wears that have since elapsed nothing
| has occurred to weaken, but every
thing TO strengthen the considerations
which induced my withdrawal from
public life. Toall 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 irreversible. That / have occasion
now to consider the question is an
event for which have no responsiEil-
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 dispo
sition to do anything desired of me il
consistent with my Judgment of duty
/ believe that there is no instrumen
tality so potential in its influence upoI
mankind for good or evil as the gov
ernmental machinery for administer
ing Justice. and for making and exc
cutting the laws Not all the eleemOs
ynary institutions of private benevo
, Ience to which philanthropists ma,
devote their lives are so fruitful il
benefits as the rescue and preservation
of this machinery from the perver
sions that make it the instrument o
conspiracy, fraud and crime agains
the most sacred rights and interests o
the people. For fifty years, as a pri
vate citizen, never contemplating al
: official career, / have devoted at leas
as much thought and effort to the dut,
of influencing the action of the gov
! ernmental institutions of my cOuntr.
as to all other objects. | have neve
accepted Official service except for
brief period, for special purpose, ant
: only when the occasion seemed to re
auire from me that sacrifice of priVat
preferences to the public welfare.
undertook the state administration q
New York because it was supposed
that in that way only could the exec
utive power be arrayed on the side o
: the reformstO to which, as private cit
izen, / had given three years of m,
!. life. T accepted the nomination fO
the presidency in 1876, because of th'
general conviction that my candidacy
would best represent the issue of reform
which the Democratic majority of th'
people desired to have worked out IL
the Federal governments as it had beer
in that of the state of New York.
, believed that | had strength enough
then to renOvate the administration o
the government of the United States
and ut the close of my term hand Ovel
the great trust to a successor faithful
to the same policy.
Though anxious to seek the repOsC
of private life, | nevertheless actet
upon the idea that every power is :
trust, and involves a duty. In reply
to the address of the committee com
municating my nomination, depicted
the difficulties of the undertaking, anC
| in m OF ri mo- in
to those of a soldier entering battle
but did not withhold the entire con
secration of my powers to the public
service Twenty years of continuous
NAL. administration, under the demon
aIizing influences of intestine war. anC
HOf bad finance have infected the whole
governmental system of the United
States with the cancerOus grOWths O
false construction and corrupt practic
es. Powerful classes have acquired
pecuniary interests i'm official abuses
and the moral standards of the people
have been impaired TO redress those
evils is work of great difficulty anC
labor, and cannot be accomplished ed
without the most energetic and eff
cient personal action on the part o
the Chief Executive of the republic
The canvass and administration which
it is desired that I should undertake
would embrace period of nearly five
years. Nor can I admit any illusion
to their burdens. Three years expert
ence in the endeavor to reform the
municipal government of the city o
New York, and two years of expert
ence in renovating the administration
of the state of New York, have made
me familiar with the requirements o
such n work At the present time the
considerations which induced my ac
tion in 1880 have become imperative
/ ought not to assume a task which
have notthe physical strength to carry
through. To reform the ADMINISTERS
ton of the Federal government, tt
realize my own ideal, and to fulfill the
just expectations of the people. would
indeed, warrant, as they could alone
compensate, the sacrifices which the
undertaking would involve. But, In
my condition of advancing years anG
declining strength, / feel no assurance
of my ability to accomplish these OBJ
jects.
| ] am, therefore, constrained to say
definitely, that | cannot now assume
the labOrs of any administration, Ol
a canvass. Undertaking in no wise
that best gift of heaven, occasion and
| the power sometimes bestowed upon
a mere individual to communicate an