The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1884-06-19
TILDEN'S DECLINATION.

New YORK, June II, 1884. Daniel
Manning, Chairman of the Democratic
State Committee of New York: In my
letter Of June Is. 1880, addressed to the
delegates from the state of New York to
the Democratic National convention, |
said: Having now borne faithfully my
full share of labor and care in the public
service, and wearing the marks of its
burdens, desire nothing SO much as an
honorable discharge. L wish to lay down
the hOnors and tolls of even quasi party
leadership and to seek the repose of
private life. In renouncing the renoni-
nation for the presidency, do SO with
no doubt in my mind as to the vote of
the state of New York or of the United
States, but because | believe that it is a
remuneration of reelection to the presi-
dency. 10 those who think my renomi-
nation and re election indispensable to
an effectual 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 |
cannot overcome my repugnance to enter
into new engagement which involves
four years of ceaseless toll. The dignity
of the presidential Office is above mere
ly personal ambition, but it creates in
me no illusion. Its value is as a great
power for good to the country. I said a
few years ago, In my accepting the NOM
nation: Knowing as | do, therefore, from
fresh experience, how great the difference
is between gliding through an official
routine and working out reform of sys-
TENS and politics, it is impossible for me
to contemplate what needs to be done in
| the Federal administration without an
| anxious sense of the difficulties of the
| undertaking. If summoned by the suf-
| frages 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 the
many years of misrule, such reform of
| systems and policies, to which | would
| cheerfully have sacrificed all that remain
| ed to me of health and life, is now, I
| fear, beyond by strength. My purpose
| to withdraw from further public service,
| and the ground 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 as an appeal from many valued
friends to relinquish that purpose, L re-
lterated my determination uncondition-
ally. In the four years which have since
| elapsed, nothing has occurred to weaken,
but everything to strengthen, the consid-
! Grafton which induced my withdrawal
| from public life,
To all who .have addressed me on the
subject my intention has been frankly
| communicated. Several of nv most con
tidential friends, under the sanction of
their own names, have publicly stated
my determination to be reversible
That have occasion now to consider the
question, is an event for which have no
responsibility. The appeal made to me
by the democratic masses with apparent
unanlmity, to serve them once more, is
entitled to the most deferential consid
Grafton, and would inspire disposition
to do anything desired of me, if it were
consistent with my Judgment of duty. l
believe there is no instrumentality in
human society so potential in its infu
ence upon mankind for good or evil as
the governmental machinery for admin
!stering justice and for making and ex-
ecuting laws. Not all the eleemosynarv
institutions of private benevolence, 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 it the
instrument of conspiracy, fraud and crime
against the most sacred rights and inter
ests of the people.
For fifty years as private citizen,
never contemplating an official career. /
have devoted at least as much thought
and effort to the duty of influencing
Alright the action of the governmental
institutions of my country as to all other
objects. l have never accepted official
service, except for a brief period and for
special purpose, and only when the
occasion seemed to require from me that
sacrifice of private preferences to the