The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1884-06-20

OF the systeuls aud politics to which J
| would eheeffully have sacrificed !
all that remaised TO me Of health ]
and lie is now beyond my strength.
My purpose TO withdraw from |
further public service, aud the |
grounds OF 1t were at that time well !
known 10 you aud others, and |
when at Cinciulall, YOU comriuai. |
Gated to .lDc an appeal froa many !
valued friends to relinQuish that /,
purpose, reiterated my deter.
mination Internationally. In the
years which have since elapsed, |
nothing has occurred TO weaken,
but everything TO strengthen the |
considerations which induced ms |
withdrawal from pnblic life. To !
all who have addressed me on the |
subject, my intention has been
frankly communicated. Several OF
my most confidential friends, under
sanction of their own names, have
publicly stated my determination
to be irrrversible. That | have oc-
casion now to consider the question
is an event for which | have no
responsibility. Tue appeal made
to me by the democratic masses
with apparent unanimity to serve
them once more is entitled to the
most deIerential consideration, and
would inspire u disposition TO do
anything desired of me, ii il were
consistent with my judgement of
duty. | believe there is no instru.
mentality in human society 40 po.
tenial iu It's influence on mankind,
for good on evil, as the governmental
machinery for administering jus.
tice aud tor making and executing
laws. Not all the elecmosynary
institutions, or private beneyolence
TO which philanthropists may de.
vote their lives, are 40 fruitful in
benefits us the rescue and preserva.
tion OF this machinery from per.
version that make it instrumental
in conspiracy, fraud, and crime
against the most sacred rights and
interests of the people. For ifty
years rs n private citizen, never
contemplating an official career,
/ have devoted ut least as much
thought aud effort to the duty ol
influencing "a right action ofthc gov.
ernmental institutions of my couu-
try as TO all other objects. have
never accepted official service cx.
cept for brief period for special
purpose, and only when the occa.
sion seemed TO require from me
that sacrifice OF private prefer.
ences to public welfare. under.
took tho State administration OF
New York because it was supposed
that in that way only could execu-
tive power be arrayed on the side
OF reforms to which as u prive cit.
izen 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 demo-
cratic majority OF the leople dc.
sired 10 have worked out In the
Federal government, as 1t bad been
in the State OF New York.
| believed that | had strength
enough thea to renovate the ad.
ministration of the government of
the United States, aud ut the close
of my term to haud over great
trust to the successor faithful to
the same policy. Though anxious
to seek the repose Of private life,
nevertheless acted upon the itlea
that every power is IA trust that
involves duty. In reply to an All
dress OF the committee comunica
ting my nomination, | depicted the
difficulties of tho undertaking, and
likenei my feelings in engaging IN
it to those OF q soldier entering q
battle, bnt | did not withhold the
entire consideration OF my power,
to the public service.
! Twenty years of cohtinuou;
malN<ladmiUistration under the de
moralizing influence OF intestine
war, aud of bad finance, have in
fected tile whole government sys
TEN of the United States with can
cerous srowths OF false construc
ti0ns and corrupt practices. Power
ful classes have acquired peculiar
interest in Official abuses, and thu
moral standard of people has beer
impaired. To redress tile evils i,
a work of great difficulty and labor
aud canuot be accomplished with
out tho most energetic aud eff
cient and personal action on ths
part df the chiet executive of tht
republic. The canvass aud the nd
minlstration which II IS desired
that | should undertake embrac,
q period Of nearly five years, mol
can l admit any illttsious as t,
their burdens. Three years of OK
perience in tho cpdeavor to reform
the municipal government of th,
city of New York, and two years o
experience Ia renovating the ad
ministration of The State OF New
York have made me familiar will
the requirements OF such work
J, At the present time the considera
, tions which induced my actions II
: 1880 have become imperative.
. ought not to assume 70 q tas
which have not tie physica
strength to carry through. To ri
(, form the administration Of the Fet
erni government. ~ realize my ow