My  official  duties  here  will  prevent  my  acceptance  of  the
invitation  so  kindly  tendered,  and  I  beg  to  assure  the  Club
that  the  objects  and  purposes  of  the  reunion,  which  are
expressed  in  the  note  of  the  committee,  meet  with  my  cordial
and  sincere  approval.
I  should  be  most  pleased  to  be  one  of  those  who,  on  that
occasion,  will  congratulate  the  friends  of  good  government  on
the  success  of  the  Democratic  party,  for  1  believe  that  the
application  of  the  true  and  pure  principles  of  that  political
faith  must  result  in  the  welfare  of  the  country.
It  is  also  proposed,  I  learn,  to  consult  together  as  to  the
manner. in  which  the  accomplishment  of  "  the  greatest  good  to
our  people  "  can  best  be  aided  and  assisted.  No  higher  or
more  sacred  mission  was  ever  intrusted  to  a  party  organization,
and  I  am  convinced  that  it  will  be  honestly  and  faithfully  per-
formed by  a  close  sympathy  with  the  peoi^le  in  their  wants  and
needs,  by  a  patriotic  endeavor  to  quicken  their  love  and  devo-
tion for  American  institutions,  and  by  an  earnest  effort  to
enlarge  their  apprehensions  and  realizations  of  the  benefits
which  the  wise  and  unselfish  administration  of  a  free  govern-
ment will  secure  to  them.
2.
(Letter  to  C.  Kinney  Smith,  New  York,  December  26,  1890.)

It  is  with  much  disappointment  and  regret  that  I  feel  obliged

to  forego,  on  accotint  of  another  engagement,  the  pleasure  of

meeting  the  JJusiness   Men's  Association  at   its  celebration  of


ESTIMATES  OF  PUBLIC  MEM.  485

the  battle  of  New  Orleans,  on  the  evening  of  the  8th  of  Janu-
ary next.
