Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-06-19
TILDEN SPEAKS.
lie Announces HIS Inflexible Pur-
pose Not to be a Candidate.

NEW YORK, June 1.-The follow
ing communication from Sam1 J.
CIlden, has been given the associated
press:
New YorK, June 10, 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
rev borne faithfully my full share of th2 labor
ana care IN the public service, and wearing the
MARKS OF its burdens desire nothing so much as
&n honorable discharge l wish to lay down the
h"ootS ana tolls of even quasi party leadership
nu u seek the repose of private lie. In renounc-
laE tue nomination for the preside ncy do so
WlIh no doubt IN my mind as to the vote of the
state or New ork or of the United States but he
cause believe that it is Il Remuneration of n 70
election 10 the presidency. To those who tbioI-
my denomination and re. election indespenSobla
10 an enectuai vIndlcaton of the right of the Deo-
pie to elect their rlerS, violated in my ners5r 7
have accorded as long reserve OF my decision
as possible, hut cannot overcome my repug-
nance TO eater into a ne0 engagement
which involves four years of ceaSeleSS toll
The dignity Of The presidential Office is
asove Il merely personal ambition but il
creates u ME no Illusion. Its value is as a great
power + good to the country. said four wears
ayo III accepting the nomination knowing as 1
10, therefore, from fresh experience, how great
thu difference is between gliding through an Off
cal routine and working out o reform of systems
ami policies, 1t is impossible for me to cOntem-
plate what needs TO be done in the federal admin
lStratlon without an anxious sense of the difficult
les of the undertaking. If summoned by thsl
SuffrageS of my countrymen to attemnt this
work IshalI enGeavor with Gods helm 10 be the
efficient instrument of their will Such
a work of renovation after many
years of miSrule, such reform of systems and
policies to which l Mould cheerfullv have sacri-
feed all that remained to me of health and life
is now fear: beyond my strength" My purpose
TO WITHDRAW from further public service, and the
grounds OF it, were at that time well known to
you and Others, and when at Cincinnati though
respecting my wishes yourself, you communi-
tod
10 relinquiSh that purpose, reiterated my deter
mination Internationally. in the four years
which have elapsed, nothing has occurred
to weaken but 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
Several of my most confidential
friends under the sanction of their names have
publicly stated my determination to be irrevOCa-
bic. Thatl have occasion now to consider the
question is an event for which have no reSpOn-
sibility. The appeal made to me by the democrat
&c masses with apparent unanimity to serve them
once more is entitled to the most deferental con-
sideration and would inspire a disposition to do
anything desired of me if it were consistent with
my Judgment of duty. Ibelieve that there Is in,
Strumentalty in human society so potential in its
influence upon mankind for good or evil as the
governmental machinery for administering JUS
tice and for making and executing laws. Not all
the eleemoSynary institutions of private benevo-
lence to which pBilanthrOpiStS may devote their
lives are so fruitful in benefits as the rescue and
preservation of this machinery from the per
o.
Splracy, fraud and crime against the most sacred
rights and interests of the people. For nifty
years as a private citizen, never contemplat-
ing an official career l have devoted at least
as much thought and effort to the duty of ipfiu-
encing Alright the action of the governmental in
situations OF my country. as to all other objects.
have never accepted official service except fora
brief period for a special purpose, and only
when the occasion seemed to require from me
that sacrifice of private preferences to the public
welfare undertook the state administration of
New York, because it was supposed that in that
way only could the executive power be arrayed on
the side of the reforms to which, as a private
citizen, had given three years Of my life ac-
cepted the nomination for the presidency in 1876
because of the general conviction that my candi-
dacy would best present the issue of reform which
the democratic majority OF the people desired to
have worked out in the federal government as it
had been in thst Of the state of New York be-
IieVed that had strength enough then to reno
vate the administration of the government of the
United States, and at the close of my term to
hand over the great trust to successor faithful
to the same policy. Though anxious to elk the
repoSe of private life, nevertheless acted upon
the idea that every power is trust and involves
a duty"
In reply to the address of the committee, com
muncating my nomination. depicted the diff
cultes OF the undertaking and likened my feel
lngs IN engagings In 1t to those OF soldier enter
ing battle, but did not withhold the entire con-
secration of my powers to the public service.
Twenty years of continuous maladminiStration
under the demoralizng influences of intestine
war and bad finance, have infested the whole gov
ernmental system of the United States, with the
and corrupt practice Powerful
classes have acquired pecuniary
interests in official abuses, and the moral stand
ards of the people have been impaired To re
dress these evils is work of great difficulty and
labor, and cannot be accomplished without the
most energetic aud efficient personal action on
the part of the chief executive of the republic.
The canvass and administration which it is desired
that should undertake, would embrace period
of nearly five years; can | admit any illusion
as to their burdens Three years OF experience
in the eEdeavor to ref, rm the municipal
government of the city of New York,
and two years of experience in renovating
the administration of the state of New York have
made me familiar with the requirements of such
which induced my action in 1880 have become
imperative. / ought not to assume task which
have not the physical strength to carry through.
To reform the administration of the federal gov
eminent to realize my ideal and to fulfill the
Just expectations of the people, would indeed
warrant, they could alone compensate, the
sacrifices which the undertaking would involve;
But in my condition OF advancing years and
declining strength, feel no assurance or my
ability to accomplish those objects. am, there
for constrained to say definitely that cannot
now assume the lahors of an administration, or
Of a canvass. Undertaking. in no wise that
best gift of heaven, the occasion and the power
some times bestowed npon mere individual to
communicate an impulse for good, grateful beyond
al words to my fellow countrymen who would
assign such benefcent function to me, am
cOnsOled by the reflection that neither
the democratic party. nor the republic
for whose future that party is the best
guarantee is now or even can be dependent upon
any one man for their successful progress In the
path of a noble destiny. Having given TO their
welfare whatever of health and strength pest
SeSSed or could borrow from the future and hav
ing reached the term of my capacity for such la
bOrs as their welfare now demands, but submit
to the will Of God in deeming my public caree
forever closed.
Signed, SAMUEL ]. TILDzN.