Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-06-13
TtLDEN DECLINES.
Hc Finds no Cause for Changing His
Determination Expressed Four
Years AFRO.

ter was made public this evening
NEW YORK, June 10, 1884
TO Daniel Manning Chairman of the
Democratic State Committee Of New York !:
In my letter of June 1880, addressed to
delegates from the State of New York to
the Democratic national convention, | said :
''Havng now borne faithfully my full share
of labor and care in the public service and
wearing marks of its burdens desire nothing
so much as to honorable discharge, wish to
lay down the honors and tolls of even quasi
party leadership and seek the repose of
private life. In renounclng denomination
for tic Presidency | do 50 with no doubt 10
my mind as to the vote of the Stale Of New
York or of the United States, but because
believe it is remuneration of a reelection to
the Presidency. To those who think my re-
nomination and reelection indispensable to
the eflcctual vindication of the right OF the
people to elect their Tulers-violatcd in my
person. have accorded as long reserve of
my decision us possible, but | cannot over
come my repugnance to enter into a new
engagement which involves four years of
ceaselcss toll. The dignity of the Presdcn-
tial office is above merely personal ambition,
but it creates in me no Illusion. Its value is
as great power for good to the country.
| said four years ago in accepting the NOM
nation: Knowing as | do, therefore, from
fresh experience, how great the difference is
between gliding through official routine and
working out the reform of systems and
policies, it is impossible for ne to contem-
plate what needs to be done in the Federal
administration without IN anxious sense Of the
difficulties of the undertaking. If summoned
by the sullrages of my cOuntrymen to attempt
this work | shall endeavor with Gods help
TO be the efficient instrument of their will.
Such work of renovation after many years
Of misrule, such reform of systems and policies,
to which l would cheerGully have sacrificed
all that remained to me Of health and life, is
now 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 ald others
and when, al Cincinnati, though respecting
my wishes yourself, you communicated to
me an appeal from many valued friends, to
reinquish that purpose, reiterated my de-
termination Internationally. 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 me on the sub.
ject MY intention has been frankly commu.
nicatcd. Several of my most confidential
friends under the sanction Of their own names
have publicly stated my determination
to be irrevcrsiblc. That | have occasion
now to consider the question is an event
for which | have no responsibility. The
appeal made to me by Democratic masses
with apparent unanimity to serve them once
more, is entitled to the most dcfcrcntial con-
sidcraion and would inspire disposition to
do anything desired of me if it were consis-
tent with my judgment of duty. | believe
there Is no instrumcntality IN human society
80 potential in its influence upon mankind,
for its good CT evil, as governmental machn-
cry for administering Justice aud for making
and executing law. Not all the clecmosyn-
airy institutions, and private bcncvoCncc to
which phlanthropists may devote their
lives, are SO fruitful in benefits as the rescue
and preservation of ills machinery from the
pervcrsions that make it an instrument of
conspiracy, fraud and crime agaiast the
most sacred rights and interests of the
people. For fifty years as a private citizen
never contemplating official career, ! have
devoted at least rs much thought and effort
to the duty of influencing Alright
the action of the governmental institutions
of my country as to all other objects. | have
never accepted official service except for a
brief period for special purpose and on Y
when occasion seemed to require Of me that
sacrifice of private preferences 10 the public
welfare. | undertook The State a iminstra-
ton 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 a private citizen | had given
three years of my life. | accepted the NOM
ination for the Presidency in 1876 because
the general conviction that my candidacy
would best present the issue Of reform which
the Democratic majority of the people de-
sired to have worked out in the Federal
government as it had been in that of the
State Of New York. believed 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 great
trust TO successor 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 duty. In reply to the
address Of the committee communicating
my nomination depicted the difficulties of
the undertaking and likencd my feeling in
engaging in it to those of a soldier entering
battle, but did not withhold the entire
of my powers to public service.
Twenty years of continuous NAL .administra-
ton under the demoralzng influences of
intestine war and of bad finance have infect
ed the whole governmental system of the
United States with generous growths, false
and corrupt practices. Powerful
classes have acquired pecuniary interest IN
official abuses and the moral standards of the
no ,pln hovn hnpp in,poiroJ m .ol,a.s
hese evils is a work of great difficulty and
abor and cannot be accomplished without
he most energetic and efficient personal
action on the part of the chief executive of
he republic. The canvass and administra.
ion which it is desired | should undertake
would embrace period of nearly five years
lor can | admit any illusion as to
heir burdens. Three years experience
n the cndeavor to reform the municipal
government Of the city Of New York, and
wo years experience in renOvating the ad.
of the State of New York have
made me familiar with the requirements of
UGH work. Al the PRESENT. time the consider |
tlons which induced my action in 1880 have
,ecome imperative. ought not to assume |
ask which have not the physical strength |
0 carry through. To reform the admins |
ration of the Federal government to realize |
ny own local anu To lullll the Just CXpCcta- |
ions Of the people would indeed warrant,
$ they could alone compensate, the sacri- |
ccs which the undertaking would involve.
'ul in my condition Of advanced years and
cclinng strength feel no assurance of my
bility TO accomplish those oLjec's. | am
iercforc constrained 10 say definitely that
canLot now assume The Abors of the adj
Illustration or of the canvass, undertaking
nOWiSp that hest rift of hplVpn-Opp ,eiou |
nd power sometimes bestowed upon the
lerc Individual II communicate an
npulsc for good, grateful beyond
i words to my fellow countrymcn
ho would assign such Il beneficial function
, me- am consoled by the reflection that
either the Democratic party nor the rcpub-
C for whose future that party is the best
laTantee, is now or ever can he dependent
pom any one man for their successful pro-
ress in the path of noble destiny. Having
ven to their welfare whatever of health and