The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-06-21
TLLDEN'S LETTER.

NEW YORK. June II.
The following communication from
Samuel j. Tilden has been given the AS
ISOLATED Press:
NEW YORK, June 10, 1884.
To Daniel Manning, Chairman Of the Democrat
&c state Committee of NeiO York:
In my letter of June IS, 1880, 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. l 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 TO 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 and
reelection Indispensable to an effectual
viHdication of the right of the people to
elect their rulers, violated in my person,
l have accorded as long a reserve of my
decision as possible, but can not over
come my repugnance to enter into new
engagement which involves four years OF
ceaseless toll.
"The dignity of the Presidential Office
is above mere ambition, but 1t creates
in me no illusion. It's value is as great
power for good to the country. l said
four years ago in accepting the nomina-
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 b in the federal ad-
ministration without an anxious
sense OF the difficulties of the UNDER
taking. II summoned by the suffrages of
my countrymen to attempt this work 1
shall endeavor, with Gods help to be the
etficieat instrument OF their WILL Such
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, fear, beyond my
strength" .6-llets
My purpose to withdraw from further
public service, and the grounds of it,,
were at that time well known to you and
others, and when at Cincinnati, though
respecting my wish yourself, you COM
municated 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 q everything to
strengthen the considerations which in
duced. 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 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 disposition to do any
thing desired of me If 1t were consistent
with my judgment of duty. believe
there is no fundamentally in 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
tons of private benevolence to which
philanthropists may devote their lives are
so fruitful in benefits as the rescue anC
preservation of this machinery from thu
perversions that make instrument of con
spiracy, fraud and crime against the mos
sacred rights and interests of the people
For fifty years as a private citizen, new
er contemplating an official career, hav'
devoted at least as much thought and ef
fort to the duty of influencing Alright tn
action of the Governmental institution
of my country as to all other subjects.
have never accepted official service eX
cept for brief period for special pur
pose, and only when the occasion SCENE
to require from me that sacrifice o
private preferences to the public welfare
/ undertook the State administration Q
New York, because It was supposed tina
in that way only could the executiv
power be arrayed on the side of tn
reforms to which, as private citizen
l had given three years of m
life l accepted the nomination 10
the Presidency in 1876 because {
the general conviction that my car
didacy would best present the issu
of reform, which the Democratic ms
jority of the people desired to haV
worked out in the Federal Governmer
as it had been in the State of New York
l believed that l had strength enoug
then to renovate the Administrative
of the Government of the United States
and at the close of my term I
hand over the great trust to u successc
faithful to the same policy. Though am
ious to seek the repose of private life
nevertheless acted upon the idea til;
every power is a trust and involves
duty. In reply to the address of the con
mittee communicating my nomination
depicted the difficulties OF the undertal
ing and hkened my feelings in engagir
in it to those of soldier entering battl
but did not withhold the entire cons
Grafton of my powers to the public servic
Twenty years of continuous maladmi
istration, under the demoralizing /
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