The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1884-06-14
TILDEN'S

lions by a large number of Demo
cratic State conventions IN favor OF
Nj. Samuel J. Tilden as their candi-
date for the Presidency has brought
out from that gentleman a letter de-
clining the honor. In this letter Mr..
Tilden frankly states the reason
which governs his decision. II
ought not" he says, Ito assume q
task which I have not the physical
strength to carry through. To re-
form the administration OF the Unit.
ed States; to realize my own ideal
and to fulfill the expectations Of the
people would indeed variant, as
they alone would compensate, the
sacrifices which the undertaking
would involve, but in my condition
of advancing years and declining
strength, I feel no assurance of my
ability to accomplish those objects"
In this statement MI. Til6en candid.
ly admits that his strength is not
equal to the task which his election
to the high office would impose upon
him. 1t required q Hercules to clean
the Augean stables. Mr.. Tilden is
not a Hercules in physical strength,
but the Augean stables are to be
cleaned and he shrinks from the her
culean undertaking.
His letter of declination is an ar
raignment of the Republican party
as forcible as it is true. "Twenty
years of mal-administration," says
Mr.. Tllden, under which the
demoralizin9 influences of intestine
war and of bad inanciering have in
fected the whole governmental sys.
tenn of the United States with the
%cancerous growth of false construc-
tons and corrupt practices; power
full classes have acquired primary in
in official abuses and the
moral standards Of: the people have
been impaired" Mr.. Illden fully
comprehended the magnitude of these
and the great labor and diff
which he would experience to
correct them. Measuring the under
with his physical strength the
man who once successfully grappled
with one of the most corrupt rings
that ever existed in the State of New
York feels compelled to decline the
encounter. Aside from the mere an
nouncement of his declination the
party can find no cause
for congratulatjon in MI. Tilden's let
ter.
But the fact cannot be disguised
that his refusal to accept the nomi-
nation at the hands of the next Chi
caggo convention is q severe disap-
pointment to a large majority of DEM
Dcrats in the country. They have
upon Mi. Tilden as the Moses
to lead them out of the wilderness.
His acknowledged ability, his CON-
ceded integrity of character and
purity of motive; his sagacity as q
statesman and firmness of purpose,
mis- possession of all the elements OF
leadership, and tine now well-known
Fact that he was elected to the Presi-
1ency in 1875 and was most unjustly
of the Office have pointed
him out as the man who could carry
The Democratic standard to victory
md who could safely be entrusted
the the great work OF reform
which will never be inaugurated UNI
ii the Democratic party controls the
But while his declination is a disap-
continent to the party it by no
means renders the issue of the ensu.
ng campaign at all doubtful. The
party is rich in men EOS
essing the confidence Of the people.
Thurman, Flower, Cleve-
and, Hoadly, Hendricks, McDon-
Id, Vest and Payne are statesmen
nd leaders either one OF whom could
cad the Democratic host to a tri.
|mphant victory. Well and truly
lid MI Tilden observe that the DEM
cratic party never can bs depend>
Mt on any one man for its successful
'rogress in the path of q noble des>
When Moses was gathered to
is fathers a Joshua was found to
lad the children of Israel to the
romlsed land.
POETIC JUSTICE.