Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-06-21
NIr. Tilden Declines.


Daniel Manning as chairman and S: b. Hall-
day as secretary, Mr.. Peckham read the follow
Ing letter from Samuel j. Tilden:
"NEw YORK, June is. 1SS0.-To the deleg ates
from the State of New York to the democratic
national convention: Your first assemb ing is
an occasion On which it is proper for me to
the presidency. which you and your associates
are commissioned to make in behalf OF the demo-
cratic party of the United States. Having
passed my earlier years in an atmosphere filled
with traditions of the war which secured our
national independence, and OF the struggles
which made our continental system a govern
idolize the institutions Of my country, and was
educated to believe it the duty OF a citizen OF
the republic to take his fair allotment
fulfilled that duty to the best Of my
ability for forty years as a private citi-
zen. Although during al! my life, giving at
fairs as to all other objects, have never &C
cepted official service except for brief period
for special purpose, and only when the occa-
sion seemed to require OF me that sacrifice Of
life has been substantially that OF private cit
izen. 1t was, presume the success OF efforts1n In
which. as private citizen, l had shared to
overthrow corrupt combination, then holding
dominion In our metropolis, and to purify the
Judiciary, which had become its tool, that In
duced the democracy OF the state in 1874 to NOM
OF the protests Of minority that the part had
borne ~ those reforms had created antagonisms
fatal to me as a candidate felt constrained
to accept the nomination as the most certain
means OF putting the power OF the guber-
material Office on the side OF reform,
and OF removing the impression wherever it pre-.
vailedthat the faithful discharge of ones duty
as citizen Is fatal to his usefulness as public
servant. The breaking up OF the canal ring
the better management Of our public works
the large reduction of taxes and other reforms
accomplished during my administration, doubt
less occasiOned my nomination for the presi-
dency by the democracy OF the Union in the
nope that similar processes would be applied to
the federal government. From the RESPONSE
bilities of such an undertaking. appalling as it
seemed to me, did not feel at liberty to Shrink
In the canvass which enSued the democratic
party represented reform In the administration
OF the federal government and a restoration o!
our complex political system to the pure ideas
of its founders. Upon these issues the people
OF the United States, by majority OF
a majority Of the electors to cast their
votes for the democratic candidate
for President and yice-President. Il
that was nominated and elected to the presl
dency absolutely free from any engagemen5 In
respect to the exercise OF its powers or the dis
period OF my relation to the presidency l did
everything In my power to elevate and nothing
10 lower moral standards In the competition or
parties. By what nefariOuS means the basis
for false count was laid in several of the
states need not recite. These are now matters
OF history about which, whatever diversity OF
great parties OF the country at the time of their
coDsummation, has since practically diSap-
peared. l refused to ransom from the return
ing boards OF southern states the documentary
evidence. Dy the suppression of which and by the
substitution OF fraudulent and forged papers
false count.
"The constitutional duty of the two houses of
Congress to count the electoral votes as cast
and to give effect to the will of the people as
expressed by their SufrageS. was never fulfilled.
which have no responsibility, was formed, and
TO 1t the TWO houses or Congress abdlcated their
duty TO make the count by a law enacting that
the count OF the commission should stand as
hnal unless overruled by the concurrent action OF
Tie Two houses It's false count was not Overrulet
owing 10 the completely OF republican Senate
with the republican majority OF the commits
SION, controlled by its republican majority OF S
TO !. The electoral commission counted out the
men elected oy the people and counted in the
men not elected by the people. That subversion
OF The election created new issue for the de-
clSlon OF the people OF the United States, trans
ceEding In importance all questions of admins
tration. 1t involved the vital principle of self
government Though elections by the people.
1.-The immense growth OF the means Of cor
rupt Influence over the ballot-bOX which is a
the disposal OF the party having possession OF
the executive administration had already be-
come present evil and great danger, tending
TO make elections irresponsible to public opin-
ION, hampering the power OF the people to
change their rulers, and enabling the men hold
and peIpetuate their power.
. IL was my opinion in 1876 that the opposi-
tlOn attempting to change the administration
needed to include at least two-thirdS OF the yo-
tiers at the opening OF the canvass In order to
retain majority at the election. II after such
obstacles had been overcome, and a majority
OF the people had voted to change the adninis-
tratlOn OF their government, the men In Office
could Still procure false count founded uDon
frauds, perjury and forgerieS, furnishing a pre-
teXt or documentary evidence on which to base
% CIInp fran onffo
not only successful but IT, after allotments of
lis benefits were made to its contrivers, abet-
tors and apologists by the Chief beneficiary OF
the transactions, 1t were condoned by the peo-
pie, practical destruction of elections by the
people would have been accomplished
"Ihe failure TO install the candidates chosen
Dy the people, contingency consequent upon
no act OR omission OF mlne and beyond my CON
trol, has thus left me Tor the last three years.
ana until now, when the democratic party by
its delegates in national convention Assembled
shall choose new leader, the Involuntary but
necessary representative OF this mOmentous
ISSUE as such denied the immunities OF private
iie without the powers conferred by public sta
Clon, SUBJECT to unceasing falSehoods and calum-
MES from the partisans OF an administration
ialollng In vain to justify its existence
u nave nevertheless steadfastly endeavored
United states the supreme issue before the
people for their decision next November.
whether this shall be government by the sover-
elgn people through elections, or government
py discarded servants holding over b, force and
fraud; and have withheld no sacrifice and
neglected no opportunity to uphold. Organize
and consolidate against the enemies of repre-
sentative institutions the great party which
alone, under God, can effectually resist their
overthrow. '
Having now borne faithfully my full share
OF labor and care In the public service, and
Wearying In the marks Of its burdens desire
notnlDg SO much as an honorable discharge. [
wish to lay down the honors and tolls of even
Istus. party leadership, and to seek the repose
OF private life.
In renouDcing denomination for the presi-
dency DO SO With no doubt In my mind as to
the vote OF the state OF New York or of the
united states, but because | believe that it is a
remuneration OF re- election to the presidency.
10 tnose who think my nomination and re elec-
tiOn indispensable to an efectual vindicatiOn of
The right OF the people to elect their rulers. yto-
lated III my person, l have accorded as long
reserve OF my decision as possible but cannot
overcome my repugnance to enter into a new
engagement Which involves four years of cease
less toll.
1.-The dignity OF the presidential Office Is above
merely personal ambition, but it creates in
me no Illusion; Its value is as great power for
goo0 TO the country. l said four years ago. In
accepting the nomination: knowing as I do.
therefore, from fresh experience, how great the
difference is between gliding through an oflcial
routlne ana working out reform OF systems
ana policies, 1t Is impossible for me1to cOntem-
plate what needs to be done In the federal ad-
di1hcultfes Of the undertaking. II summoned
by the sufrages OF my countrymen to attempt
this work shall endeavOr, with Gods help to
ne the emcient Instrument of their WILL
"Such work of renovation after many years
OF miSrule, Such reform OF systems and poll