Delaware gazette and state journal., 1884-06-19
TILDEN DECLINES TO RUN
HE DEEMS HIS PUBLIU UAREER
FUREYER CLOSED.

HE DEEMS HIS PUBLIU CAREER
FUREYER CLOSED.
Full Text OF II Letter OF DeclfnRfiOD
written by Mr.. TiIden TO the New
YORK Democratic state Committee
what Hendricks says.
New York, June 1.-The following
letter from samuel j. Tilden has been
transmitted to-day
NEw York, June 10, 1884. 10 Daniel
Naming, Chairman of the Democratic State
Committee of Nsw York: In my letter OF
June 18th, 1880, addressed to the dele
gates from the state Of New York to the
Democratic national convention, | said !:
Having now borne faithfully my full share
of labor and care III the public service and
wearing the marks of its burdens, | desire
nothing so much as an honorable discharge.
| wish to lay down the honors and tolls of
even quasi party leadership and seek the re-
pose Of private life.
In renounclng denomination for the Pfesi-
dency do 30 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 IL
a renunciatlon of reelection to the Presi-
denoy. To those who think my denomination
and reelection indispensable to an effectual
yindcatlon OF the right of the people to elect
their rulers, violated i'll my person, have
accorded al long reserve OF my decision AZ
possible. but / cannot overcome my repug-
nance to enter into a new engagement which
involves four years of ceaseless toll
The dignity of the Presidential Office is
above Il merely personal ambition, but it
creates in me no illusion, Its value ID as a
great power for good to the country. l said
four years ago, i'll accepting nomination
'Knowing, as ! do, therefore, from fresh
experience, how great tho difference il be-
tween gliding through an official routine and
working out a reform Of systems and policies,
it il impossible for me to contemplate what
needs to be done in the Federal administra-
ton without an anxious sense OF the dilli.
cnlties Of the undertaking. If summoned by
the suifrages OF my countrymen to attempt
this work | shall endeavor, with Gods help,
to be the efficient instrument OF their will, v
Such work OF renovation after many years
OF misrule such reform OF systems and
policies two which l would cheerfully have
sacrificed all that remained to me of health
and life, Ii now, fear, beyond my strength.
HIS PURPOSE NOT WEAKENED.
My purpose to withdraw from further
pubic 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 determination
unoonditionslly. Iu the four years which
have since elapsed nothing has occurred
to weaken, hut everything to strengthen,
the considerations which induced my
withdrawal from public life. To all who
have addressed me on the subject my
intention has been frankly oommuni
Gated. Several Of my most confidential
friends, under the sanction of their own
names, have publicly stated my determi-
nation to be irreversible. That have
occasion now to consider the question is
an event for which have no responsi-
bility. The appeal made to me by the
Democratic masses with apparent
dnsnimity to serve them onoe more is
entitled to the most deferential con-
sideration and would inspire disposition
to do anything desired of me II 1t were
consistent with my Judgment of duty.
believe there is no oinstrumentality in
human society 30 potential ip Its In
huence upon mankind for good or evil as
the governmental machinery for admin
isteriDg justice and for making aud exc
outing laws. Not all the eleemosynary
institutions OF private benevolence to
which philanthropists may devote their
lives are so fruit ul In benefits as the
rescue and preservation Of this machinery
from the perveraions that make it the in
strument of conspiracy, fraud and crime
against the most sacred rights and
\ interests OF the people. H-
HALF A CENTURY OF WORK.
For so years as private citizen, never
tor Alati N nfH oil hou
devoted at least as much thought and
effort to the duty of influencing srighl
the action OF the governmental institu
tions OF my country, as to all othei
objects. / have never accepted offioia
service except for a brief period for &
special purpose aud only when the occa
sion seemed to require from me that sac
riioe OF private preferences to the public
welfare. | undertook the state admins
tration Of New York because it Was sup
posed that in that way only could the
executive power be srrayed on the side
OF reforms TO which as a private citizen
had given thee years of my life.
accepted the nomination for the Presi
denoy in 1876 because Of the general con
viotion that my candidacy would BEST
present the issue OF reform which the
to have worked out in the Federal gov
ernment as it had been In that of til,
state of New York. believed that
had strength enough then to removal,
the administration OF the government o
the United States and at the close of my
term to hand over the great trust to 1
successor faithful to he same policy.
WHAT IS DEMANDED.
Though anxious to seek the repose o
private life, | nevertheless acted up0i
the idea that every power is a trust snt
involves duty. In reply to the addres
OF the committee communicating my nom
inRti0n depicted the difficulties OF tn
undertaking aud likened my feelings il
engaging in it to those of soldier enter
ing battls, but | did not withhold tn
entire consecration of my powers TO tn
public service.
Twenty years OF continuous maladmin
istrstion under the demorslizing inhu
ences of intestine war and bad inano
have infected the whole governmental sys
tenn OF the United States with the cancer
ouB growth OF false oonst; dotions an
corrupt practices. Powerful GLASSES hav
acquired pecunisry interests in oifioia
abuses and the moral standards OF tn
people have bsen impaired. To redres
these evils is work OF great difficult
and labor and cannot be aooomplshe
without the most energetic and etficien
4 personal action on the part of the Chic
Executive of the republic.
L The canvass and administration who
n II is desired that | should undertab
a would embrace period Of nearly fv
II years. Nor can admit any illusion 6
II to their burdens. Three years of g,
HI perience in the endeavor to reform til
n municipal government of the city OF Me-
III York aud two years Of experience /
renovating the administration of th
state of New York have msds me fsmilis
II with the requirments OF such work.
II PHYSICALLY UNEQUAL TO THE TASK.
AT the present time the consideration
which induced my action in 1880 hay
become imperative. ought not to assun
task which | have not the physioi
strength to carry through. To refor