The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-06-19
TILDEN'S LETTER.

Physical Inability for the Task, Submit
ting to the Will of God in Deeming His
Public Career Forever Closed.
NEW YORK. June IL.
The following communication from
Samuel j. TiIden has been given the As
ISOLATED Press
NEW YORK, June 10, 1854.
To Daniel Manning Chairman of the Democrat
Le State Committee Of NeJU York:
In my letter of June Is, 1850, addressed
to the delegates from the State of New
York to the Democratic National Conven-
ton, said: "Having now borne faith
fully my full share of labor and care in
the public service, and wearing the marks
OF its burden, desire nothing so much
as an honorable discharge. | wish to lay
down the honors and tolls of even quasi
party leadership and to seek the repoSe
OF private life.
SIN renouncing the denomination for
the Presidency, do so with no doubt in
my mind as 10 the vote of the State of
New York or of the United States, but
because l believe that it is a remuneration
of reelection to the Presidency. To
| those who think my denomination aud
reelection Indispensable to an effectual
yindication of the right of the people to
elect their rulers, violated in my person,
l have accorded as long reserve of my
decision as possible, but can not over
come my repugnance to enter into q new
engagement which involves four years of
ceaSeleSS toll.
1.-THE dignity of the Presidential office
Is above mere ambition, but it creates
in me no illusion. Its value is as great
power for good to the country. l said
four years ago in accepting the nominal
ton. knowing as do, therefore, from
fresh experience how great the difference
is between gliding through an official
routine and working out the form of sys-
TENS and policies, it is impossible for
me to contemplate what needs to
be done in the federal ad-
ministration without an anxious
sense of the difficulties of the under
taking. If summoned by the SuffrageS of
my countrymen to attempt this work
shall endeavor, with Gods help to be the
efficient instrument of their WILL Such
a work of renovation after many years of
miSrule; such reform of systems and
policies to which | would cheerfully have
sacrificed all that remains to me of health
and life, is now, l fear, beyond my
strength"
My purpose to withdraw from further
public service, and the grounds of it,
were at that time well known to you and
others, aud when at Cincinnati, though
respecting my wish yourself, you COM
inundated to me an appeal from many
valued friends to relinquiSh that purpose
l reiterated my determination uncOndi-
tiOnally. In the four years which have
since elapsed nothing has occurred
to weaken, but everything to
strengthen the considerations which in
duced my withdrawal from public life.
To all who have addressed Inc on the
subject my intention has been frankly
communicated. Several of my most
confidential friends under the sanction
of their own names have publicly stated
my determination to be irreverSible.
That have occasion now to consider the
question is an event for which | have no
responsibilities.
The appeal made to me by the Demo-
cratic masses with apparent unanimity to
serve them once more is entitled to the
most deferential consideration, and
would inspire p disposition to do any
thing desired of me if it were consistent
with my judgment of duty. l believe
there is no inSJrumentality i'll human So
ciety so potential in it's influences upon
mankind for good or evil, as the govern
mental machinery for the administration
of Justice, and for making and executing
laws. Not all the eleemoSynary inStitu-
lions of private benevolence to which
philanthropists may devote their lives are
so fruitful in benefits as the rescue and
preservation of this machinery from the
perYerSiOns that make instrument of con-
Spiracy, fraud and crime against the most
sacred rights and interests of the people.
For fifty years as u private citizen, new
er contemplating an Official career, / have
devoted at least as much thought and ef-
fort to the duty of influencing Alright the
action of the Governmental institutions
of my country as to all other subjects. |
have never accepted official service eX-
cept for brief period for 4 special pur-
pose, and only when the occasion seemed
to require from me that sacrifice of
private preferences to the public welfare.
l undertook the State administration of
New York, because It was supposed that
in that way only could the executive
power be arrayed ON the side of the
reforms to which, as private citizen,
l had given three years of my
life. 1 accepted the nomination Tor
the Presidency in 1876 because of
the general conviction that my can
didacy would best present the issue
of reform, which the Democratic ma
jority of the people desired to have
worked out in the Federal Government
as it had been in the State of New York.
l believed that l had strength enough
then to renovate the Administration
of the Government of the United States,
and at the close of my term to
hand over the great trust to a successor
faithful to the same policy. Though anx-
ious to seek the repose of private life l
nevertheless acted upon the idea that
every power is q trust and involves
duty. In reply to the address of the COM
mittee communicating my nomination L
depicted the difficulties of the undertake
ing and likened my feelings in engaging
in it to those of soldier entering battle,
but did not withhold the entire conse-
Grafton of my powers to the public service.
Twenty years of continuous maladmin-
istration, under the demoralizing in
6uences of intestine war and of bad
finance, have infected the whole govern
mental system of the United States with
cancerous growths of false construction
and corrupt practices. Powerful classes
have acquired pecuniary interests in
official abuses and the moral standards of
the people have been impaired. To re-
dress these evils is a work of great diff
Guilty and labor, and can only be &C
complished with the most energetic
and efficient personal action on the
part of the chief executive of the Repub-
lie. The canvass and administration
which it is desired that l should under
take would embrace period of nearly
five years. Nor can l admit any illusion
as to their burdens; three years of ex-
perience in the endeavOI 80 reform the
Municipal Government of the city of New