The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1884-06-19
Tilden'S Letter.

Tilden'S Letter.
He declines 10 be u Candidate
for President.
New York, June 1.-THE fol
loving communication from Sam
ucl J. Tilden has been given to the
Associated Press:
NEW YORK June 10, 1854.
To Daniel Mann Chairman OF the Dem
ocratic State Coni,niite - of New York:
In my lettcr Of June Is, 1850, ad-
dressed to the delegates from the
Safe of New York to the Dem
ocratic National convention. l said:
"Having borne faithfully my
share of labor and care in the pub
lie service, and wearing the marks
o its burdens, desire nothing 80
much as an honorable discharge.
I wish to lay down the honors and
tolls Of even quasi party leadership
and to seek the rcpose Of private
life. In renouncing denomination
for the presidency, l do 80 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 Is a remuneration of re-elec-
ton to the presidency. To those
who think my denomination
indispensable to an efectuaI vlndlca-
tion of the right of the people to
elect their rulers, violated in my
person, have accorded as long a
reserve of decision as possible, but
1 can not over come my rcpug-
nance to enter into q new engage
ment, which involves four years OF
ceaseless toll. The dignity of the
pres dental Office is above a merely
personal ambition, but it creates
in me no illusion. Its value is as
great power for good to the country.
l said eight years ago, in accepting
the nomination, knowing as l dc,
therefore, from fresh experience,
how geeat the difference is between
gliding through an official routine,
and working out the form of sys-
TENS and policies. it is impossible
for me TO contemplate what needs
to be done in the Federal admins
tration without an anxious sense OF
the difficulties of the undertaking.
If summoned by the suffrages OF
my countrymen to attempt this
work, 1 shall endeavor, with Gods
help. to be:ths efficient instrument
of their will Such work of rem
ovation, after many years of misruIe,
such a ieform of systems and pol
icics, to which l would cheertully
have sacrificed all that remains to
me of health and life, ia now, l fear,
beyond my strength
My purpose to withdraw from
further public service, and the
grounds of it, were well known to
YOU and others, and when at Gin
cinnatti, though respecting my
wishcs yourself, you commun-
ic,ted to me an appea. from many
valued friends to relinquish that
purpose, I reiterated my determin-
alton Internationally. In the four
wears that have since elapsed,
nothing has occurred to weaken,
but everything to strengthen the
consideration which induced my
withdrawal from public life. TO
oil 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 stated my
determination to be irreversible.
That I have occasion now to cSn-
slider the question, is an event for
which have no Responsibility.
The appeal made to me by the
Democratic masses, with apparent
unnanimity, to serve them once
more, is entitled to the most def
ferential consideration and would
inspire disposition to do anything
desired of me, if 1t were consistent
with my judgement of duty. l be-
lieve there is no fundamentally IN
human society 80 potential In its
influence on mankind for good or
evil as governmental machinery for
administering justice and for max
ing and executing laws. Not all
the elemosynary institutions of pri-
vate bcneyolence to which rhilan
throp'sts may devote their lives are
60 faithful in benefits as the rescue
and preservation Of this machinery
from the perversions that make 1t
the instrument of conspiracy, fraud
and crime against the most sacred
rights and interests of the people.
For 6fty years, as a private cit
,zeu, never contemplating an Official
c.reer,::I have devoted at least as
much thought and effort to the du-
ty of influencing Alright the actions
of the governmental institutions of
my country as to all other objects.
lhave never accepted official Ser
vice. except for brief period, for
a special purpose, and only when the
occasional seemed to require from