Daily Republican., 1884-06-12
Tildon Declines,

gwen inc Associated Pre6S
l NEW YORK, June 10, 1877
Daniel Manning, Chairman of th
Democratic State Committee of Ne,
York: In my letter Of June 18th, 18St
addressed to the delegates from th
State Of New York TO the Democra Il
National Convention,I 4 said: "Havin
now borne faithfully my full share G
labor and care in the public service, an
wearing the marks Of its burdens, de
sire nothing 80 much as an honorabl
discharge. I wish to lay down the hon
ors and tolls Of even quasi party leader
ship. and to seek the repose Of privat
life."
In renouncing denomination for th,
Presidency do 30 with no doubt in my
mind as to the State Of New York or o.
the United States, but because believe
1t Is a renunciAtion of reelection to the
Presidency.
To those who think my denomination
and re reelection indispensable to an ef
fectual vindication 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
l cannot overcome my repugnance to
enter into new engagement which in
wolves four years Of ceaseless toll.
Tho dignity of the Presidential ofice
10 above merely personal ambition,
but II creates in me no illusion. Its value
isas great power for good to the coun-
try. said eight years ago in accepting
the nomination :" Knowing, as do,
therefore, from fresh experience, how
great the difference is between gliding
through an official routine and work.
ing out reform Of systems and policies
1t is impossible for me to contemplate
what needs to be done in the Federal
administration without an anxious
sense Of the difficulties of the undertak-
ing. II summoned by the suttrages of
my countrymen to attempt this work,
shall endeavor with Gods help to be
the efficient instrument OF their will"
Such q work of renovation after
many years of misrule, such reform
of systems and policies to which
would cheerfully have sacrificed all
that remained to me Of health and life,
Is now 1 fear beyond my strength.
My purpose to withdraw from further
public service, and the grounds OF it,
were at that time we'll known to you
and to others and when at Cincinnati,
though respecting my wishes yourself,
you communicated to me an appeal
from many valued friends to relinquish
that purpose, reiterated my determi-
nation Internationally.
In the four years which have since
elapsed nothing has occurred to weaken,
but everything to strengthen the con-
sideration which induced my with
drawal from public life. To all who
have addressed me on the subject my
intention has been frankly communi-
Gated Several of my most confidential
friends, under the sanction of their
own names, have publicly stated my
determination TO bs irreversible. That
l have occasion now to consider the
question is an event for which have
DO responsibility. The appeal made to
me by the Democratic masses, with ap-
parent unanimity, to serve them once
more, is entitled to the most deferen,ial
consideration, and would inspire dis
position to do anything desired of me
II it were consistent with my judgment
Of duty.
l believe that there Is no instrument
tality in human society so potential in
its influence upon mankind for good or
evil as the governmental machinery for
administering justice, and for making
and executing laws. Not all the eleem.
osynary institutions of private benevo-
lence to which philanthropists may
devote their lives are SO fruitful In
benefits as the rescue and preservation
of this machinery from the perversions
that make 1t tho instrument of cOnspi-
racy, fraud and crine against the most
sacred rights and interests of the peo-
pie.
For fifty years as private citizen,
never contemplating an official career,
I have devoted at least as much
shought and effort to the duty Of in
Alright the action of the Gov
ernmental institutions Of my country
as to all other objects. I have never
accepted official service except for a
brief period for special purpose, and
only when the occasion seemed to re-
qnire from me that sacrifice Of private
preferences to the public welfare.
| undertook the State administration
of New York because it was supposed
that in that way only could the execu.
tive power be arrayed on the side of
the reforms, to which, as q private
citizen, l had given three years Of my
life.
| accepted the nomination for the
Presidency in 1876 because Of the gen.
eral conviction that my candidacy
would best present the issue Of reform,
which the Democratic majority of the
people desired to have worked ont in
the Federal Government as 1t had been
in that Of the State Of New York.
believed that had strength enough
then to renovate the administration OF
tho Government OF the United States,
and at the close Of my term to hand
over the great trust to successor faith.
full to the same policy.
Though anxious to seek the repose Of
private life, nevertheless acted upon
the idea that every power is trust and
involves duty. In roply to the address
OF tho committee communicating my
nomination depicted the difficulties Of
the undertaking and likoned my feel.
ings in engaging In 1t to those Of
soldier entering battle, but did not
withhold the entire conservation of my
powers to the public service.
twenty years of continuous msl-ad-
ministration under the demoralizing
influences Of intestine war and Of bad
finance have infested the whole govern
mental system of the United States
with the cnncerous growth of false con.
structions and corrupt practices. Pow
erful classes have acquired pecuniary
interests In official abuses, and the mo.
raj standards Of the people have been
impaired. To redress these evils is a
work of grent difficulty and labor, and
cannot be accomplished without the
most energetic and efficient personal
action on the part Of the Chief Execu.
tive of the Republic.
The canvass and administration which
it is desired that / should undertake
would embrace period of nearly five
years. Nor can admit any illusion as
to their burdens. Three years of expe-
rience In the endeavor to reform the
municipal government of the city Of
Nau Work and two vearA of eXDerienC0