The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-06-19
DECISIVE AT LAST.
Tilden Positively Declines to
Stand as a Presidential
Ca ndidate,
And Gives as Reasons for Withdrawal
His Advanced Age and Physical
Inllrmities.

The following communication from Sam
uel j. Tilden has been given to the Assoc
ciated Press:
NEW York, June ~.
To Daniel Manning. Chairman of the Demo-
cratic state Committee of New York:
In my letter of June Is 1880 addressed to the
delegates from the State of New York to the
Democratic National Convention. said: "Hav-
ing now borne faithfully nv full share of the
labor and care in the public service, and wear
ing the marks OF its burdens, desire nothing
40 much as an honorable discharge. wish to
lay down the honors and tolls OF even quasi par
ty leadership and to seek the repose of private
life. In renouncing the denomination for the
Presidency, do so with no doubt in my mind
az to the vote of the State OF New York, or OF
the United States, but because believe that it
il nomination OF reelection to the Presidency.
To those who think my denomination and re-
election indispensable to an effectnal vindication
Of the right Of the people to elect their rulers,
violated In my person. have accorded as long
reserve OF my decision as possible; but can
new engagement which involves four years OF
ceascless toll The dignity of the Presidential
Office is above merely iersonal ambition. but
1t creates in me no illusion. Its value is as
4 great power fer good to the country.
] said four wears ago, In accepting the nomna-
tion. Knowing AZ do, therefore. from fresh ex-
gliding through an official routine and working
out q reform OF systems and policies. 1t IL inn
possible for inc to contemplate what needs 70 be
done in the Federal administration without an
anxious sense OF the difficulties Of the UNDER
taking. II summoned by the sufrages OF my
cOuntrymen to attempt this work shall en-
strument OF their Will Such q work Of reno-
walton. after many years of msrule. such re-
form OF systems and policies, to which would
cheerfully have sacrificed all that remained to
me OF health and life. Is now, fear, beyond my
strength"
NV purpose to withdraw from further public
service, and the grounds of 1t, at that time
well known to you and to others, and when. at
Cincinnati. though respecting my wishes YOUR
self. YOU communicated to me an appeal from
many valued friends to reinuuish that purpose,
] reiterated my determination Internationally.
In the four years which have since elapsed.
nothing has occurred to weaken, but everything
to strengthen. the considerations which induced
my withdrawal from public life. To all who
have addressed me 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 irreyersible. That
have occasion now to consider the question
Is an event for which have no responsibility.
The appeal made to me by the Democratic
masses, with apparent unanimty. to serve them
once more Is entitled to the most deferental
consideration. and would inspire q disposition
to do anything desired of me. il it were consists
ent 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 machinery for
administering Justice and for making and exc
cutting laws. Not all the elementary fnstitu-
tions of private bcneyOlence to which philan-
thropists NAV devote their lives are SO fruit
full in benefits rs the rescue and preservation
OF this machinery from the pcrversions that
make 1t the instrument of conspiracy. fraud,
and crime against the most sacred rights and
interests OF the People. For fifty years, as q
private citizen never contemplating an official
career, have devoted ut least as much thought
and effort to the duty OF influencing Alright tho
action of the governmental institutions Of my
country a. to all other objects. have never &C
for special purpose. and only when the oc-
casion seemed to require from me that sacrifice
| OF private preferences to the public welfare. |
undertook the state administration of New
| York because 1t was supposed that in that way
only could the executive power be arrayed on tho
| side of the reforms to which. as private cit
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
| people desired to have worked out, in the Fed
eral Government. as 1t had been in the State of
New York. l believed that had strength
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 anxious to seek the repose OF private
life, ! nevertheless acted upon the Idea that
every power is a trust and involves q duty. In
reply to the committee communicating my
| undertaking aud likcned my feelings In en-
ing battle: but did not withhold
| the entire conservation of my power to the pub
| lie service. Twenty years of continuous malad.
ministration, under the demoralizing Influences
| OF intestine war and of bad finance, have in
fected the whole governmental system OF the
| United States with the cancerous growths OF
| false constructions and corrupt practices.
Powerful classes have acquired pecuniary in
tcrcsts in official abuses. and the moral stand
| ards 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
1 action on the part Of the Chief Executive
| Of the Republic. The canvass and adminis-
tration which it Is desired that l should
/ undertake would embrace period OF nearly hive
years. Nor can admit any illusion as TO their
/ burdens Three wears experience in the en-
dcavor to reform the municipal government oi
| the city OF New York. and two years experience
| in renovating the administration OF the State Of
| New York. have made me familiar with the re-
qnirements OF such work. At the present
/ time the considerations which induced my ac-
i tion In lsSo have become imperative. / ought
| not to assume a task which | have not the
| physical strength to carry through. To reform
i the administration of the Federal Govern
| ment; to realize my own ideal, and to full
I'LL the great expectations Of the people
| would indeed warrant as they could alone COM
i pensate, the sacrifices VIII ch the undertaking
/ would involve; bur. in my condition of advanc-
| ing years and declining strength, feel no as
| snrance Of my ability TO accomplish these obs
| jects. ! am, therefore, constrained to say def
| nitely that cannot now assume the labors oi
| an administration, or OF canvass.
Undertaking. in no wise that best gift oi
| heayen-thc occasion and the power sometimes
| bestowed upon mere individual to communi.
| cate an impulse for good grateful beyond
| all words to my felloweountrymen who
| would assign such beneficent function
| to mc--I am consoled by the reflection that mel.
ther the Democratic party nor the republic, fol
| whose future that party il the best guarantee,
| is now or ever tan be dependent upon any one
| man for their successful progress in the path o1
| noble destiny
Having given to their welfare whatever o
| health and strength possessed, or could bor
| row from the future, and having reached ths
term of my capacity for such labors as their
| welfare now demands, l hut submit to the will o.
God in deeming my public career forever closed
4 SAMUEL. j. Tn.pEN.
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