Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-06-12
TILDEN DECLINES TO RUN.
THE SAGE AT LAST PUBLISHES
HIS LETTER.

IILDEN DECLINEO III Run.
THE SAGE AT LAST PUBLISHES
HIS LETTER.
Age and InfirmItfes Incapacitate Him
for the Work Incident to the Cam
Paign and the Presideney-Bayardt the
Leader Toward Whom the Party is
Turning.
NEW YORK, June 1.-THE following
letter from Samuel J. Tilden has been
| given 10 the Associated Press:
NEW YORK, June 10, 1884.
To Hon. Daniel AdnHin0 Chairman Of the
DsDsocratie State CODsznittee Of Neao York:
In ny letter Of June IS, 1880, addressed to
| the delegates from the State Of New York to
/ Democratic National Convention, SAID:
Having now borne faithfully my full share
/ In the labor and care in the public service, and
wearing the marks of its burdens, l desire
/ nothing so much as an honorable discharge.
1 wish TO lay down the hOnors and tolls
| OF even quasi party leadership and to seek
| the repOse OF private life. In renOuncing
| there nomination for the Presidency / 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
or reelection to the Presidency. To those
who think my denomination and reelection
indispensable to an enectual vindcation Of
the right Of the people to elect their rulers,
long reserve Of my decision as possible. but
cannot overcome my repugnance to entering
into neW engagement which involves four
years Of ceaseiess toll.
THE PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE.
"The dignity Of the Presidential office is
above merely personal ambition but il creates
in me no illusion. Its value is as great power
Tor good to the country, as / said four wears
ago IN accepting the nomination. knowing
as DO, therefore, from fresh experience how
great the difference is between gliding through
an Official routine and working out a reform
OF systems and policies, it is impossible for me
10 contemplate what needs to be done in the
Federal administration without an anxious
sense Of the difficulties of the undertaking
II summoned by the suffrages Of my country
men 10 attempt this work / shall endeaVOr
with Gods help TO be the efficient instrument
OF their will. Such a work of renOvating
after many years of misrule, such reform of
systems and policies, TO which would cheer
fully have sacrificed all that remained to me
strength
My purpose to withdraw from further pub
lie service, 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
valued friends to relnquish that purpose. l
reiterated my determination unconditionally
THE PAST FOUR YEARS.
In the four years which have since elapsed
nothing has occurred to weaken, but every
prompted my withdrawal from public life
To all who have addressed me on the subject
my intention has been fairly communicated
Some Of my more especial friends, under the
sanction Of their own names, have publicly
stated my determination to be irrever-
sible. That have occasion now to
consider the question is an event for which 1
have no responsibility. The appeal made to
me by the Democratic masses, with apparent
unanlmity, to serve them once more, is
entitled to most defereutial consideration
W0nln dIsnnzIffnn to n ar,xr-
thing desired Of me il ii were consistent with
my judgment OF my duty. | believe there is
no instrumentality in human society so
potential IN Its influence upon mankind, for
good or evil, as the governmental ma
chinery for administering justice and
FOR making and executing laws.
Not all the eleemosynary institutions or
private benevolence to which philanthropists
may devote their lives are so fruitful in bene-
fts as the rescue and preservation Of this ma
chinery from perversions that make il the in
strHment of conspiracy, fraud and crime
against the most sacred rights and interests
Of the people.
FIFTY YEARS IN THE HARNESS.
For fifty years a private citizen, never
contemplating an official career, have de-
voted at least as much thought and effort to
the duty of influencing a right action
OF the governmental institutions of my
country as to all other objects.
/ have never accepted official service except
for brief period for a special purpose. and
Only when the occasion seemed to REQUIRE
from me that sacrifice of private preferences
to the public welfare. ] undertook the State
administration of New York because if was
supposed that in that way only could the ex-
ecutiye power be arrayed on the side of re-
forms, to which, as private citizen, had
given three years OF my life. / accepted the
nomination for the Presidency in 1876 be-
causeOf general conviction that my candidacy
would best present the issue of reform which
the Democratic majority of the people desired
to have worked out in the Federal Govern
ment as it had been in that Of the State Of
New York.
A STRENGTH WHICH is GONE.
| believed that / had strength enough then
to renOvate the administration of the govern
ment of the United States, and at the close Of
nv term to hand over the great trust to a sue
cessor faithful to the same policy. Though
anxious to seek the repOse of private life, |
nevertheless acted upon the idea that every
power is trust and involves a duty. In re-
ply to the address of the committee COM
municating my nomination / depicted
likened my feelings in engaging in it to those
Of soldier entering battle, but | did not
withhold the entire conservation of my powers
TO the public service. Twenty years of con-
tinuOus maladministratOn. under the de-
moraliZing influence of internecne war and of
bad finance, have infected the whole govern
mental system ofsthe United States with can
cerous grOwths, false constructions and cor
rupt practices. Powerful classes have
acquired ,pecuniary interests in official
abuses, and the moral standards of the peo-
pie have been impsired. To redress
these evils is a work OF great difficulties and
labor, and cannot be accomplished without
the most energetic and efficient and personal
action on the part Of the Chief Executive of
the republic.
THE TASK FOR WHICH HE is UNEQUAL.
The canvass and administration which it is
desired that l should undertake would en-
brace period of nearly five years. Nor can
admit any illusion as to their burdens. Three
years of experience in endeavoring to reform
the municipal government of the city of New
York and two years of experience IN reno
waiting the administration of the State or New
York have made me familiar with the require
ments of such work. At the present
time the considerations which induced my
actions in 1880 have become imperative. ]
ought not to assume a task which / have not
the physical strength to carry through. To
reform the administration of the Federal
Government, to realize my own ideal and to
fulfill the just expectations Of the people
would indeed warrant, as they could alone
compensate, the sacrifices which the under
taking would involve, but IN my condition of
advancing years and declining strength | feel
no assurance of my ability to accomplish these
objects. | am therefore constrained to saw
dehnitiyely that cannot now assume the
labors OF an administration or of the canvass.
HIS GRATEFULNESs AND RETIREMENT.
Undertaking. in no wise that best gift Of
heaven, occasion and power sometimes be-
slowed on mere individual to communicate
an impulse for good, grateful beyond all
words to my fellow eountrymen who would
assign such beneficent function to me, | am
consOled by reflection that neither the Demo-
cratic party nor the republic, for whose future
that party is the best guarantee, is now or ever
can be dependent upon any one man for their
successful progress in the path of noble des-
tiny. Having giving to their welfare what
ever Of health and strength ] possessed or
could borrow from the future, and having
reached the term OF my capacity for such
labOrs as their welfare now demands | but
submit 10 the will Of God in deeming my pub
lie career forever closed.
SAMUEL j. TILDEN.
THE NEWS AT WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, June 1.-THE sensation
of the night was the announcement that A
letter from Mr.. Tilden would be publish
in the morning, announcing that he would
not be candidate before the Chicago
Convention on account of his i'll health.
Mr.. Dorsheimer said: II told you so; now
we must select our next best man and
put him on a good revenue reform plat
form, and we will win" Mr.. DOrsheimer
regards Mr.. Bayard as the man to be
nominated, Bayard and Morrison would
suit him. The news of MIR. Tilden's with
drawal spread rapidly after 10 O'Clock
from hotel to hotel. All the Democratic
Senators and Congressman who had
not retired at that hour heard it. They ac-
cepted it with one accord as being an an
nouncement Of MIR. Tilden's final deter
mination. None of them thought it likely
to be jerked back just before the Chicago
convention met. They all began to talk
about the other men mentioned as candi-
dates. Among the Senators Mr.. Bavard
is unQuestionably the favorite. The
Democrats Of the Senate are proud of the
man and his record and would be only too
oil I'D 70 caa him nOminafad