Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-08-05

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be done in the Federal administration
without an anxious senseof the difficulties
Of the undertaking. If / am summonAd
by the choice of my eountrymen to at
tempt this work, / shall endeayor with
Gods help to be the efficient instrument
of their will" Such q work of renoya-
ton after many
YEARS OF MsRULE,
such g reform of systems and policies to
which / would cheerfully have sacrificed
all that remained to me Of health and life is
now / fear beyond my strength. My pur-
pose to withdraw from further public ser
vice 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 communicated to me
an appeal from many friends to relinquish
that purpose, l reiterated my determine
ton Internationally. In the four years
which have since elapsed nothing has Oc-
Cured to weaken, but everything to
strengthen, the consideration which in
duced my withdrawal from public life. To
all who have addressed me on the subject
my intention has been frankly communi-
Gated. Several Of my most confidential
friends, under the sanction of their own
names, have publicly stated my determin-
alton to be irreyOcable. That / have
occasion now to consider the question
is an event for which l have
no responsibility. The appeal made to me
by the Democratic masses with such APP
parent unanimity to serve them once more
is entitled TO a most deferential cOnsidera-
ton aYI yuDpII .n1n.ra an l,.nn,ft,n, 90 Il,
anything desired of me, if it were consist
ent with my judgment of duty. l believe
that there is no instrumentality in human
society so potential in its influence ON man
kind, for good or evil, as the governmental
machinery for administering justice and
making and executing laws. Not all the
ELEEMOSYNARY INSTITUTIONS
may devote their lives, are 50 fruitful in
benefits as the rescue and preservation of
this machinery from the perversions that
make it the instrument of conspiracy fraud
and crime against the most sacred rights
and interests of the people. For fifty years
as a private citizen, never contemplating
an official career, never contemplating an
official career, | have devoted at least as
much thought and effort to the
DUTY OF INFLUENCING
rhe action of the governmental institutions
of my country rs to all other objects: l
have never accepted official service except
for a brief period for a special purpose and
only when occasion seemed to require from
ME that sacrifice of private preferences to
The public welfare. | undertook the State
administration of New York because il was
supposed that in that way only could the
executive power be arrayed on the side of
side Of reforms TO which rs a private citi-
zen | had given three years of my life. /
accepted the nomination for the Presiden-
cy in 1876 because of n general conviction
that my candidacy would present the
ISSUE OF REFORM
which the Democratic majority of the peO-
pie desired to nave worked out in the Fed
eral Government, rs it had been in that of
the State of New York. l believed that |
had strength enOuge then to removable 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, Though anX-
Jus SNNh nv ANpOoC u pllNaNt nv 4 :
nevertheless acted upon the idea that every
power is a trust, and involves Il duty. In
reply to the address to the committe bear
ing my nomination | depicted the difficult
ties of the undertaking, and likened my
feelings in engaging in it to those of
Il soldier entering battle. But | did
not Withhold the entire conservation Of
my powers to the public service. Twenty
years of continuous maladminiStratiOn I'M
der the dcmoralizing influences OF intes-
tine war and of bad finance, have infected
the whole governmental system Ofthc Uni
ted States with canCerOus grOwthS of false
constructions and corrupt practices. Pow
erful classes have acquired pecuniary in
tereStS in official abuses and the
MORAL STANDARD
of the people has been impaired. To re-
dress these evils is work Ofgreat difficulty
and labor, and cannot be accomplished
without the most energetic and efficient
action on the part of the Chief Executive
of the Republic. The anvaSs and admin
iStratiOn which it is desired that | should
undertake would embrace q period of near
" five years. Nor can | admit any illusion
rs to their burdens. Three years Of cX-
~perience in the endeavOr to reform the Mu-
nicipal Government of the City of New
York, and two years Of experience in rem
0vating the administration of the State of
New York, have made me familiar with
the requirements of such work at the pres
ent time. Considerations which induced
my action in 1880 have become imperative.
| ought not to assume 4 task which | have
not the
PHYSICAL STRENGTH
to carry through. TO reform the admins
tration of the Federal government, to real
izc my own ideal and to fulfill the just
expectiOnS of the people would indeed war
rant the sacrifices which the undertaking
wouldinvOlve. But in my condition Of adj
vancing years and declining strength |
feel no assurance of my ability to
accomplish those objects. | am therefore
constrained to say definitely that | cannot
now assume the laborS of an administra-
ton orOfa canvass, undertaking in no wise
that best gift of Heaven, the occasion and
the power sometimes bestowed upon 4
mere individual, to impart a n impulse for
good. Grateful beyond all words of my
fellow countrymen, who would assign such
n beniticent function to me, | am cOnSOled
by the reflection that neither the Demo
cratic party, nor the Republican is now, or
ever can be, dependent on any one man
TOR their successful progress in the path of
noble destiny.
Having given to their welfare whatever
of health and strength | possessed, or
could borrow from the future, and having
reached the term of my capacity for such
labors rs their welfare now demands, |
but submit to the will of God in deeming
nv public career forever closed.
LSignedl SAMUEL ). IlLDEN
FINANCE AND TRADE.