Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-06-12
Mr.. TIIDEs WRITES A CaaRaC.
TERlsTIC LETTER AND DisClAIus
PRESIDENTIAL AsPfRATIoNs,

TERIsTIr LETTER AND pisClAINs
PRESIDENTIAL AsPfRATIoNs,
NEW YORK. June 1.-THE following
communication from Samuel J. Tilden
bAs been given TO the Associated Press /:
NEw YoRx. June 10. 1854.
To DiHf1 Manning. Chairman Demo
eruffc Stat, Cofssittee. Nssr York-SIs /:
In my letter of June Is, lSs0. ad-
dressed TO delegates from the State of
New York to the Democratic National
Convention. said {: Having now
borne faithfully my full share of labors
and care IN public service. and wearing
marks of Its burdens, and as / desire
nothing ~ much as an honorable dis
charge, wish TO Law down the hoaors
and terms of even quasi party leader
ship and to seek the repose of private
llfe.' In renouucinc a denomination for
the Presidency. do so with no doubt
IN nv mind as TO the vote of the State
of New York or the United States. bat
because | believe that il is renuncia-
ton of reelection 10 the Presidency.
To those who think nv denomination
and Reelection Indispensable to 81 ef-
fectual vindication of the right of the
people To elect their rulers, violated in
my person, / have accorded as long a
reserve of my decision as possible: but
cannot overcome my repugnance to
enter into new engagement. which in
wolves four years of ceaseless toll,
The dignity of the Presidential office is
above a mere personal ambition, but il
creates In me no illusion. Its value is
as great power for good to the couu-
try. | said four years ago: In &C.
oepring nomination, knowing as do.
therefore, from fresh experience,
how great the difference is be-
tween gliding through an official
routine, and working ont a 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 diff
entities of the undertaking. If sum-
moned by the SURFACES of nv country
men to attempt this work shall en-
deavor, with Gods help. to be the eff
cient instrument of their will. Such a
work of renovation after many years of
such reform of systems and
policies, to which | would have cheer
fully sacrificed all that remained to me
Of health and life, is now, fear, be-
yond my strength. Nv purpose to with
draw from further public service was at
IN At time well known TO you and others,
and when at Cincinnati, thosgh respect
ing my wishes yourselves, you communi-
GATED to me an appeal from many val
aed friends 10 relinquish that purpose,
reiterated my determination uncon-
In the four years which
have since elapsed, nothing has occur
red to weaken, but everything to
the considerations which in
iueed my withdrawal from public life.
To all who have addressed me on the
subject my intention has been frankly
l accepted the nomi-
nation for the Presidency in 1876 be-
,ause of the general conviction that NV
,a,''idacy would best present the issue
II reform which the Democratic ma
Ority of the people desired TO have
worked out in the Federal Government,
IS II had been in that of the State of
New York. believed that I had
strength enough then to renovate the
of the Government of
he United States. Several of nv most
friends, under the sanction
,f their own names. have publicly
stated my determination to be service |
sble, and that | have occasion to con- |
'ider the question is an event for which |
have no responsibility. The appeal
made to me by the Democratic masses.
With apparent unanimity 10 serve them |
lnce more, Is entitled to the most de- |
ferential consideration. and won d in
'pire disposition to do ANYTHING de- |
'ired OF me If it were consistent with |
my judgment of duty. l believe
hat there is no instrumentality |
n human life so potential in
Is influences upon mankind for
yood or evil, as the governmental ma
,hinery for administering Justice. and
for making aud executing laws. Not
Ill the elemosynar institutions of pri- |
rate benevolence TO which philanthro-
oists may devote their lives are so fruit
'ul IN benefits as the rescue and preser- |
1ation OF this machinery from the per
Versions that make il the instrument of
fraud and crime against the |
most sacred rights and interests of the |
people. For 90 years, as private citi- |
zen, never contemplating an official
,areer, have devoted At least as much
and effort To the duty of influ- |
'heing Alright the action of the govern
hental institutions of my country as to
All other objects. have never accepted
,ifoiai service except for brief period
Tor special purpose, and only when
he occasion seemed to require from me
hat sacrifice of private preferences to
he public welfare. / undertook the
state administration of New York, be-
'ause II was supposed in this way only
souid the executive power he arrayed
IN the side of the reforms to which. as
/ private citizen, | had given three
years OF my life. Though anxious to seek
The repose OF private life, nevertheless
acted upon the idea that every power is
trust and involves duty. In reply TO
The address of the committee communi-
,atlng my nomination, / depicted the
Difficult les of the undertaking, and lik-
ened my feelings in undertaking IL to
those of soldier entering battle, but
did not withhold the entire conservation
of my powers to the public service.
twenty years of continuous NAL admin
Istration under the demoralizinp infiu
snces of intestine war and of bad finance
have infected the whole governmental
system OF the United States with the
growths of false CON
structions and corrupt practices.
Powerful clssses have acquired
pecuniary interests in official
abuses. aud the moral standards
ef the people have been impaired. To
redress these evils is q work of great
difficulty and labor, and cannot be az
without the most energetic
and personal action on the part Of the
chief executive Of the Republic. The
canvass and administration which il ia
desired that should undertake would
embrace period of nearly five years,
nor can l admit my illusion as II their
burdens. Three years experience in an
endeavor TO reform the municipal
government Of the city of New York.
and tvo years Of experience in renovat-
ing the administration of the State of
New York have made me familiar with
The requirements of such work. At
the present time the considerations
which indu sed my action in 1880 have
become imperative. ought not to as
sumo task which have not the phys