Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-07-01
TILDEN'S PLANS
As Explained by Himself.
New York Herald Interview ]

LerOaY afternoon. SAID 10 d Herald res
porter, to whom he was speaking about
politics: Il never was ambitious about
the presidency. I did not care for the
nomination when il was given me in
st. Louis. Al that Time I Cff3red to
another man,
"Wbo Was the MAJ, ~
''Mr. Sey ymOur."
did you not seek the nomination
tion which has just nominated Han-
cock ?n
mo, did not seek it,"
did you entertain expectations that
1t would be rendered you %
II felt since the election of 1876 that
1 needed rest. I feel so now. lam
not in good health, although I haven
organic disease. With three months
rest will be all right"
''Do you attrihate your illness to
your labors in the Interest OF the demo-
cratic party ?'
II attribute it to overwOrB, the work
of fifteen years. During all that time
/ have been trying to find place to
stop. / have not been able to do so. /
will now take the rest / 50 much
need"
"Wefe not the labOrs of the cam
pain so arduous that they were con-
siderable strain on your health Z"
They were arduOus indeed. | did
not assume them flOm any desire to be
president Of the UGi!ed States. 1t was
from sense of duty. l never sought
public office to crafty any desire of
my own for eleva ion. L did not, as I
just said, care anything about the
nomination in the first instance. I
was out riding when the st Louis con-
venti0n was considering nay name.
The dispatch ii at brought the news OF
my nomination lay for two hours un-
opened on my library table, although |
knew it contained news OF the action
the convention had TAKEN"
but you went into the campaign
with all your heart and soul, gOv-
ernOr p
ayes; 1 was anxious for a demo.
cratic victory, as every democrat in
the country was"
SD you believe you could have
bean nominated aud elected this
time ?n
II do. But | did not feel able to
enter upon five years of hard, exhaus-
live labor. My friends wanted me to
conduct The campaign myself. [
could not do that"
'Dd that wish on your part form an
Issue between you that led you TO de-
cline to go before the convention as q
Candldate?"
SIT might have been consideration
had it not been fact that I had pre-
viously made up my mind not to be q
candidate. My decision to that effect
was immovable long before the ques-
ton was at all mOOted."
"Wer you not besought by your
friends even at The last uUine::t 10 re-
woke that decision
Yes, ] was telegraphed 10 frequente
jy, askis Y pae to oonsent to allow nv
name to 20 before the convention"
IF your success b fore the cOnven-
ton had been assured in advance
would you have changed your mind ?'
NO"
"rhe letter Of declination that you
wrote TO the New York delegation
governor, has received various inter
| pretatious on all sides. / am TO infer
| from what you say that belief much
! entertained in some circles had a
! double meaning has no foundation p
| of it has been construed to mean
anything else than what is set forth in
the words in which it is written the
press is to blame. My FRIENDS in the
convention knew perfectly well that
! it meant just what it set forth. The
| New York delegation were advised ol
it. The last thing Mr.. Daniel Man
ming, the chairman Of tbs delegation
did before he left for Cincinnati was tC
call ON me aud receive the verbal in
fdorsement of what it contained"
yet he telegraphed you on the day
kkNC IL IN h..
you revoke your decision, ana assuring
you of his faith in your success, did be
nOt?'
Yes. My answer TO his dispatch
has been published, / received many
dispatches like that "
The following is a copy Of the dis
/ patch which MIR. Tilden referred tC:
JUNE "a, 1890 Hon Daniel Manning
Grand Hotel, Cincinnati, Ohio-ReceiveC
your kilograms and m any others contain
ing like Information Ny action was wei
considered and is irrevocable. No frienC
must be allowed to cast doubt on m.
motives or my sincerity.
SAMUEL j. TnDEN."
"Iu this Connection" Mr.. Tilder
added, after pause, Il not think
am called upon to reiterate my owl
words. Do you? They should be, il
the light of the present situation, con
vincing.'
I'D you approve of the choice mad
by the convention ?"
Il approve Of it entirely and with
out reserve
"Then you think that Of all the meI
regularly placed in nomina ion befor
; tue convention General HALc0ck is tn
best?n
Most assuredly. There was, befor
the nomination, mUcn tax of Field
! Payne and score If OtheTs s'audin
, in the position of your residuary legs
tee Did Gtneral Hancock, after 81
occupy that much discussed relation :?
r Indeed, 1 Ca not be expected t
= explain many 81. Dgs in politics Ger
! tainly none of those of which | hav
= no knowledge whatsoever. So man
{ things are saii, you know"
t 40 put the question more diTectl
> then, governor, was Hancock the ma
you favored for the nomination {?
1 Yes, he was"
L | ia