Year: 1876

In respCnee 20 the commlstees Hosi-
fication of Gov. TILDES of his nomina-
tion to the Presidency, ne spoke as
follows: 3'


GENERAL McCLRRsAsD AID GEN
TLgMEN OF THE CoMMIrTEE:-l shall at
nv earliest convenience, prepare and
transmi. to you formal acceptance OF
the nomination which you now tender
TO me in behalf OF the Democratic
National Convention, and l do not de-
sire on this occasion 10 anticipate any
topic which might be appropriate to that
communication. Il may, however, be
permitted me TO say that my nomination
was not q mere personal preference
between citizens and statesmen OF this
Republic who might very we'll have been
chosen for so distinguished an hsnor
and for so sugust duty. 1t was rather
a declaration of that august body IN
whose behalf you speak IN favor OF ao-
ninistrativs reform, with which events
had associated me in the public mind.
The strength, the unIversality and the
efficiency Of the demand for administers
tive reform in ali governments, and es-
peciallv in the administrator OF the
Federal Government with which the
Democratic masses everywhere were IN
stinct, have led to series OF surprises IN
the popular assemblsges, and perhaps IN
the convention itself. 1t would be
unnatural, gentlemen, if popu-
lar movement so genuine and 90
powerful, should stop with 3,ooo,-
Zoo Democrats; that it should not extend
by contagion to that large mass of inde-
pendent voters who stand between parties
IN our country, and even to moderate
portion of the party under whose admin;
istration the evils to be corrected have
grown up. And, perhaps, IN what We
have witnessed there may be an augury
in respect to what we may witness II the
election about TO take place throughout
our courtrv, at least let u hope so and
believe so. | am not without experience
of the difficulty and the labor OF eftecting
administrative reform when re-
quires q revolution in politics and IL
measures long established IN govern
ment. I'll were TO judge In the year
and half in which l have been in the
state government, l should say that the
routine duties Of the trust have hal I'M
posed on NE are y smsll burden COM
pared with that created by the attempt
10 change the policy Of the government
of which l have been the Executive
head. Especially is this so where the re-
form i 10 be worked out with
more or less Of the cooperation
of pablic officers who either have
been trained with the evils to De
redressed or who have been incapscltated
by habit or tolerstion OF the wrongs to
be corrected, to which they have been
conseutiug witnesses. therefore, If your
choice should be ratified by the people
at the election, should enter upon the
great duties which would fall upon me,
not as holiday recreation, but very
much IN that spirit OF consecratloh In
which the soldier enters battle. But let
US believe, IS do believe, that we now
see the dawn of better day for our
country, and that difficult As Is the work
10 which the Democratic party, with many
OF the allies and former members of other
parties. mas addressed itself, the Repub-
iic is vet to be renovated, to live 10 all
the future and TO be transmitted to future
generations Is Jefferson contributed to
form it in his day, and in which It has
been ever since, until recent period,
blessing to the whole people. Gentle
men. l thank you for the very kind
terms in which you have made your COM
munication, and extend to you collec.
lively and individually most cordial
greeting.