The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1884-06-19
Tllden's Letter,

all is rladSome Joy. No family should DO
wlthoutlt
Tilden's Letter
New YoEK, June 1.-The following com
municn,ion from Samuel J Tilden has
been given TO the Associated Press;
Nav YoIK, June 10, 1851
To Daniel Mann 'ng, Chairman OF the Demo
cratic state Committee, OF New lori'
la my letter OF June is, 1850, addressed
Of New YORK to The democratic
national convention, eaid: Having nov
borne fai hiuliy my full share OF labor and
care in the public service, and wearing the
marks of It's burdens 1 desire nothing 30
much es an honorable discharge. l wlhh
10 lay down the Eonors and tolls OF even
quasi party leadership aud % seek me
ieposo Of private life. In renoupcng the
70 nomination for the presidency,
do go with no doubt In nv mind as 70 the
vote of the state al New YORK, or oi tho
United States, but because beii'ye tha. It
IL a ranunaiation Of reelection 10 the ufea'
idenoy. TO those who think my nomtne-
ton aud reelection indispensable 30 an
eff.ctual vindicatiOn OF the right OF tbe
people to elect their rulers,
v olated in my person, nave
accorded as long "A reserve OF my oecisionas
possible, but | cannot overcome my Tepug-
nance 10 enter into u he " engagement which
involves four years NJ Ceas,lssl toll. The
dignity of the presidential Office is above
merely personal ambition, but 1t creates In
me 10 illusion ~ TO It's value-it Is great
power for good % tbe country.
said four years ego. IN accepting
therefore, from fresh experience how
great the difference between gliding
through an Official routine AMI working
out the term OF sy stems and policies, 1t IL
im possible for me to contemplate what
leeds TO be done in the Federal admins.
,ration without an anxious sense OF the diff.
culties OF the undertaking. II summoned
by the suiffages OF my conntrymen to. at
tempt this work, | shall endesvor with
Gods help to bs the efficient instrument OF
their will. Such work Of reuovat'on after
many years vi misruie, such reform OF
syetems and policies, to which l would
cheerfully have sacrificed all that remains
to me of heslth aud life, is now,
fear, beyond my strength My.
purpose was TO withdraw from further pub.
lie service, and the grounds of it were at
that time we'll known to you and otheIs,
and when In Cincinnati, though respecting
my wishes yourself, You communicated
to mo an appeal from many
valuable friends to -slipquish that pur-
pose, reiterated my determination unoon.
ditionallT; in the four years which have
since elapsed nothing has occurred to
weaken, but everything 10 strengthen the
considerations which induced my with.
drawal from public life. To ali who have
addressed me on the subject my intention
has been frankly communicated: Several
of my most confidential friends, under
the sanction of their own names,
have publicly announced my de.
termination to be irraNrslble
That have occasion now to c1o sider the
f., ,rt, 1 hov n
responsibility. The appeal made to me by
the democratic masses with apparent
unarimity, 10 serve them once more, is en-
titled to the most 6efereDtial consideration
| to do anything desired OF me Elf it we're con-
sislent with my Judgment of that duly
| 1 believe there 10 no instrumsnte!lty in hu-
man society so potential in lts lnhuencas
upon mlnklnd for good or evil as the gov
er1ntentsl machinery for administering
| iaetice aUd for making ard executing laws,
No. al the eiumOsyuary Institutions OF
private coincidence to which phliantnro-
| pists may devote their lives ars so fruitful
lie benefits as Ice rescue and
preservation of this machinery from the
peryerslons that make u the Instrument OF
conspiracy, fraud and crime against the
most sacred rights snd interests Of the pso-
pie. For fifty years 40 private citizen;
never contem plating an official career l
have devoted ut least az much thought and
effort TO tho duty Of infusrcing
Alright the action oi the governmental
| institutions of my county az 10 ell otnsr
subjects. l have never accepted official
service except tor a bit period
Tor special purpose, and only
when the occasion seemed 10 rtul'ra from
me that sacrifice OF private preferences TO
he public welfare, | undertook ,bo state
adm nistra,ion OF New York because 1t was
supposed in that way only could
the executive power be arrsyed on the side
| o. the reforms to which ss q private citizen
| had given three years of my lie. | SC.
cepted the nomination for the presidency
| in 1876 because of the general conviction
that my candidacy would best present
cratic majority of the psople desired
to have marked, put in the
Federal government, rs it has been in the
s; ate OF New York, l believe that l had
| strength enough TO renovate the admins
tration of the government OF the United
States, and at the close OF my term to liant
over the great trust to successor fsi hus
to the same policy. Though anxious to
seek the repose Of private
the idea that every power is trust and III
wolves duty. II reply to the address o.
the committee communicating the New
York nomination, depicted the difficulties
of the undertaking and ltkened my feelings
In engaging to those OF soldier entering q
battle. But do not withhold the entire
conservation OF my powers to the public
service. Twenty years Of continuous
maladministrstion under the demorslizing
influence of intestine war and OF bad
| finance, have infected the whole govern.
mental system of the United States with
csrcerous gro wths oftalse constructions and
corrupt practices. Powerful classes have
acquired pecuniary interests In official
abuse, aud the moral standard Of the people
have been impaired To redress these evils
| is a work of.ereat difficulty ,and can
not be accom- elished without the most ener.
getic and efficient personal action on the
part Of the chief executive OF the republic,
the canvass and administration OF which. if
| il is desired that should undertake, would
| EN- brace O period of nearly five years; nor
can admit my illusion as to their bur.
dens. Three years Of experience in
| the eudeavor to reform the municipal gov
ernment OF the city of New York and two
wears Of experience In renovatipg the I'D
ministration of New York state has made
me familiar with the requirements OF such
| a work. At the present time the copsidera.
| tioi 9 which induced my action in 1880 have
become imperative 1 ought not TO as
sumo task which have not the physical
| ability TO carry through. TO reform the
administration Of the Federal government,
TO realize my own idea aud flfill the just
expectations OF the people, would inpeed
warrant ss they could sloDe compen.
safe, che sacrifices which the rnderts kirg
would involve, but In my condition Of al.
! yancipg years and declining strength feel