The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1884-06-20
TILDEN DECLINES.


democratic state committee, New York,
he says: "At the present time the
considerations which induced my action
in 1880 have become imperative.
l ought not to assume task which
have not the physical strength to carry
through. To reform the administra-
ton of the federal government, to re-
alize my own ideal, and to fulfill the
just expectations of the people, would
indeed warrant, as they could alone
compensate, the sacrifice which the
undertaking would involve; but in my
condition of advancing years and de-
clining strength feel no assurance of
my ability TO accomplish those objects.
[ am therefore constrained to say
definitely that l cannot now assume
the labors of an administration or of
canvass, undertaking in nowise that
best gift of heaven, the occasion, and
the power sometimes bestowed upon
mere individual to communicate an
impulse for good. Gratified beyond all
words to my fellow countrymen, who
would assign such benefcent function
to me, am consoled by the reflection
that neither the democratic party nor
the republican, for whose future that
party is the best guarantee, does not
now nor ever can depend upon any one
man for their successful continuous
progress in the path of a noble destiny
Having given to their welfare what
ever of health and strength l possessed
or could borrow from the futnre, and
having reached the term of my
capacity for such labors, as their wei
fare now demands, I but submit to the
will of God in deeming my public
career forever closed"
This letter of Samuel J. Tilden re-
fusing the democratic nomination for
president is regarded by representatives
and senators of both parties as the
most important event of the impending
campaign. The enemies and the
friends of the sage of Gramercy unite
in admiration of his last will and tes-
lament to the public. Republicans as
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letter is fitting and appropriate end
ing to career that is unprecedented
in the history of American statesmen.
Tilden's declination leave1 the demo-
Gratis truly at sea, as regards the selec-
ton of candidate, and it involves the
convention which will assemble at
Chicago next month with interest
wholly unexpected. His refusal to be
candidate also inspires the friends of
Blaine with renewed confidence. They
aver that Tilden's declination was
caused in part by his knowledge of
the strength of Blaine as a popular
candidate, and in support of this
assertion they present the fact that the
ex-governor permitted state after state
to declare preference for his NOM
ination, and held back his letter of re-
fusal until after the nomination of the
republican ticket. The democrats ridi-
cule this assertion, say that Tilden was
their strongest candidate, and explain
that the old mans withdrawal was
withheld, naturally, until the time
when the action of the party in the
different states made it certain that he
could have been nominated by accla-
nation.
There are few enthusiastic Tilden
men who refuse to accept his declina-
tion as final, but these persistent gen.
tlemen do not know the fabric of which
the old leader is made. In 1880,
after addressing his letter of declina-
ton to the Cincinnati convention,
there was some talk of forcing the
nomination on him. Tilden then
telegraphed to his friend, Daniel Man
ming: f'No friends must be allowed to
cast doubt on my motives or my
sincerity." Tilden refused to take the
nomination in 1880 because Thomas
A. Hendricks declined to accept the
nomination of vice president, render
ing the old ticket impossible. Hend-
ricks, for months past, has longinely
hoped for the vice presidency nom
ination, and Tilden now has his re-
venge. No democratic tears will be
dropped over the grave of the Indiana
politician.