The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1884-06-17
DECLINED!
Samuel Jones Tilden the No
blest Roman Of Them ALI,
Announces His Determination to
Retire From Politics.
HE REVIEWS THE SITUATION,
And Reophesies Grand Things tor
the DemOcratic Party.

To Daniel Manning, Chairman of the Demo.
r. ocratic State Committee of New York:
10 my letter OF June Is. 1880, ad.
dressed To the delegates from the Safe
OF New York to the Democratic Nation.
al Convention I said, "Having now
borne faithfully my full share of labor
and care In the public service, and wear.
ing the marks OF it's burdens, desire
nc thing SO much as an honorable dis
charge. wish 10 lay down the honors
and tolls OF even quasi party leadership,
ard 10 seek the repo e Of private. lite.
In renouncing denomination for the
Presidency do go with no doubt in my
fmind as to the vote Of the State OF New
York. or of sbe United States, bu: be.
cause / believe that It is 9 renunciation
Of reelection to the Ptesi iency. To
those who think nv reorganization and
reelection indispensable To- an efiectual
vindication Of the right OF the people to
elect their rulers, violated In my person,
I have accorded as long reserve of my
decision % possible. But cannot over.
come my repugnance to entering into q
new engagement which involves four
years OF ceaseless toll. The dignity OF
the Presidential Office is above . merely
Personal Ambition.
But il creates in me no illusion. Its
value is as . great power for good TO
the country. / said four years ago, In
accepting nomination: "Knowins as ]
do, therefore, from fresh experience,
how great the difference is In gliding
tn, oueh On official routine aud working
out reform OF systems and policies, il
is impossible for me 70 contemplate what
needs to be done 10 the Federal admin.
istration without On anxious sense OF the
difficulties OF the undertaking. II sum
moned by the suffrsees OF my coun-
trymen to attempt this work, shall en-
endesvor With Gods help to be the ef.
ficient instrument OF their will" Such
work OF renovation after many
Years Of Misrules
such reform OF systems and policies to
which would cheerfully have sacrificed
ali that remained to me Of health and
life 10 now / fear bes ond my strength" I"
Nv purpose TO Withdraw from further
public service and the grounds OF it
we're at that time we'll known 70 you and
to others, and when at Cincinnati, though
respecting nv wishes Yourself, you CON.
.nunicated to me an appeal from many
valued friends to relinquish that purpose.
Isreitersted nv determination uncondi.
tionally. In the four years which have
since elapsed nothing has occurred 70
weakeu, but everything to strenethen.
the consid, ration which indaced my
~ithdrswal from public life. To oil who
have addressed me on the subject my 10.
tention has been frankly communicated.
Several OF my most confidential friends.
under the sanction of their own names,
have publicly stated my determination
to be irrevefsibie. That have occa-
sion now TO consider the question is an
event for which ! have no responsibility.
The appeal made to me By the Demo-
cratic masses with such apparent unsni-
NIFTY to serve them once more enti.
tied TO the most sieferentisl consideration
and would inspire disposition to do
ANYTHING desired OF me, Il II were con.
eistent with my judgment of duty.
believe that there is no instrumentality
In human society SO potential in ne in
6uence on mankind, for good or evil as
the gov ,rnmenial machinery for admins.
tering justice and making and executing
| ,aVa Not All the
Eleemosynary Institutions
OF private teneyolence to which philan
throphisss may devote their lives, are 81
fruitful 10 benefits as the rescue and pre-.
lervation Of this machinery from the pre-.
versions that mike it the Instrument ol
conspiracy, fraud and crime against the
most sacred rights snd interests OF the
people For ifty years a. private
citizen, never contemplating an officia
career I hsve devoted At least 10 much
though and effort to the
Duty Of Influencing
alright the action OF the governmental iusti.
tuiions OF my country ss to oil other OBJ
|iects. I have never accepted offica
service except for hrief period for I
special purpose and only when the occa
sion seemed to require from me that ssc
rifice OF private preferences to the public
welfare. ] undertook the State adminis
ltratian OF New York because it was cup
posed that in that way only conld Oh,
Executive power be arraye1 on the side
OF The reforms 10 which 40 Q private
citizen had given three years Of ny
life accepted the nomination for the
Pres,dency 10 1875 because Of the genera
conviction that my candidacy would
present the
/ Issue of Reform
which the Democratic majority OF ths
people desired to have worked out in ths
Federal Government. as it had been il
that OF the State OF New York. ] be-
lieved that l had strength enough ther
to renovate the administration Of ths
government OF the United States, and d
the close OF my term 10 hand over ihs
great trust to successor faithful to &c,
same policy. Though anxious TO seel
the repnse OF private life. neverthelesI
acted upon the ides that every power Il
trust. and involves . duty. In reply
to address TO the committee communicat
Iirg my nomination ! depicted the din
culties OF the undertaking and likened M
feelings 10 engaging 10 it to those OF
, soldier entering battle. But | did no
withhold the entire conservation OF %.
powers to the public service. Twsnt'
years OF continuous maladministratiol
} under the demorslixing influences of In
testine war and OF bad finance, have ID
fected the whole governmental system o
: the United States with the cancarou
growihs OF false constructions aud cor
; rupt practices. Powerful classes hav
acquired pecuniary interests In ofiicis
abuses and the
Moral Standards
: OF the people has been impaired. T
j redfess these evils is a work of gres
! difficulty and labor, and cannot be &C
q ccmplished without the most energeti
q and Efficient personal action on the part {
e the Chief e xecutive ofthe Republic. Th
A oo nyooe and advn;n,osr srot,nn uh,nh n