The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-06-12

Ine appear maze 10 me by the Demo
cratic masses with apparent unanimity to
serve them once more is entitled TO the
most dlfferential consideration and would
inspire disposition to do anything de
sired of me if it were consistent with my
judgment of duty. / believe that there is
no instrumentality in human society so
potential in its influences upon mankind
for good or evil, as the governmental ma
chInery for administering justice and for
making and executing laws. Not all the
elemosynary institutions of private
benevolence to which philanthropists may
devote their lives are so fruitful in bene-
fits, as the rescue and preservation of this
machinery from the perversions that make
it the instrument of conspiracy. fraud and
crime, against the most sacred rights and
interests of the people.
For fifty years as private citizen, never
contemplating an official career, have
devoted at least IS much thought and
effort to the duty of influencing Alright the
action of the governmental institutions of
my country as to all other objects. Ihave
never accepted official service except for a
brief period, for special purpose, and
only when the occasion seemed to require
from me that sacrifice of private prefer
ences to the public welfare I undertook
the state administration of New York be
cause 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 nomination for
the presidency IN 1876 because of the
general conviction that my candidacy
would best present the issue of reform
which the democratic majority of the peO
pie desired to have worked out in the
federal government, as it had been ia the
state of New York believed that had
strength enough then to renoVate the adj
ministTation of the government of the
United States and at the close of my term
| to hand over the great trust to successor,
| faithful TO the same policy. Though
| anxieas 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 I depicted
the difficulties of the undertaking and
likened my feelings in engaging il to
those of soldier entering battle but | did
not withhold the entire conservation of
my powers TO the public service
Twenty years of continuous maladmin-
istratisn under the demoraliZing influences
| of intestine war and of bad finance, have
infected the whole governmental system
of the United States with the cancerous
growths of false constitutions and corrupt
practices. Powerful classes have acquired
pecuniary interests in official abuses, and
the moral standards of the people have
been impaired. To redress these evils is
| work of great difficulty and labor, and
| cannot be accomplished without the
most energetic and efficient personal
action on the part of the chief executive
of the republic. The canvass and ad.
ministration which it is desired that
should undertake would embrace period
| of nearly five years, nor can / admit any
allusion as to their burdens. Three years
of experience in the endeavor to reform
the municipal government of the city o.
New York. and two years of experience
in renovating the administration of tn,
state of New York have me familiar will
the requirements of such work at tht
present time. The considerations which
induced my actions in 1880 have becomt
imperative. | ought not to assume tasl
| which have not the physical strength Il
carry through To reform the admins
tration of this federal government, II
realize my own ideal and to fulfill tn,
Just expectations of the people, woul(
indeed warrant, as they could alone com
pensate, the sacrifice which the undertak
ing would involve, but in my condition
of advancing years and declining strength
l feel no assurance of my ability t,
accomplish those objects. l am therefor
constrained to say definitely that | canno
now assume the labors of an administra
ton or of canvass.
+ Undertaking. in no wise that best gif
of heaven, the occasion and the powe
sometimes bestowed upon mere indiVid
ual to communicate an impulse for good
J grateful beyond all words to my fellow
countrymen who would assign such
beneficial function to me, | am console,
by the reflection that neither the Demo
cratic party nor the Republican, for who's
future that party is the best guarantee,
now or ever can be dependent upon an
one man for their successful progress i
the path of noble destiny. Hayin
given to their welfare whatever of healt
E and strength possessed or could borro'
from the future and having reached tn
term of my capacity for such labors, a
their welfare now demands, | but submi
to the will of God in deeming my publ
career forever closed.
SAMUEL ]. TILDEN.