The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-06-12
The Venerable Statesman Reviews the Serv-
ices He Has Rendered the Democracy
During the Past Fifty Years,
And Closes by Declaring that His Polit-
ical Career Is Now Ended.
The Field Clear for Mcdonald, Cleveland,
Bayard, or Anybody Else Who Chooses to
Enter for the Great National Prize.
MIR. TILDEN'S LETTER.
He Reviews His Public Career, and Declares
1t Closed Forever.

He Reviews HIS Public Career, and declares
1t Closed Forever.
New YORK, June 1.-THE following commu
nication from Samuel ]. Tilden has been given
the Associated Press:
''NEw YORK, June 10, 1884
ITO Daniel Manning, Chairman of the Democratic
State Committee of New York;
'sIn my letter of June 49, $780, addressed to
the delegates from the State of New York to the
Democratic national convention, said:
" Having 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 wish to lay down
the honors and tolls of quasi party leadership
and to seek the repose of private life In renouncng
a denomination for the presidency, 1 do with no
doubt in my mind to the vote of the State of New
York or of the United States, but because 1 believe
hatt is accommodation of reelection to the presidency
To those who think my denomination and reelection
indispensable to efectual vindcation of the right
of the people to elect their ruers-yiolated in my
person-I have accorded as long reserve of my de-
cision possible, but not overcome my repug
nance to enter into engagement which involves
four years of ceaseess toll The dignity of the presi
dental Office is above merely personal
ambition, but it creates in me illusion.
Its value is great power for
good to the country said four years ago. in accept
ing the nomination. Knowing as do therefore, from
fresh experience how great the difference is between
gliding through official routine and working the
reform of systems and policies it is impossible for
to contemplate what needs to be done in the federal
administration without anxious of the diff
fculties of the undertaking. If summoned by the
sufraees of my countrymen to attempt this work 1
shall endeavor with Gods help to be the efficient in
strument of their will. Such work of renovation,
after many years of misrue; such reform of systems
and policies, which would cheerfully have sacri-
feed all that remains of health and life is now,
I 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 your
self, you communicated to me an appeal from
many valued friends to relinquish that purpose,
1 reiterated my determination Internationally.
In the four years which have since elapsed, moth
ing 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 communicated Several of my
most confidential friends, under the sanction of
their own names, have publicly stated my deter
minaton to be irreversbe. The appeal made
to me by the Democratic masses, with apparent
unanimity, to serve them once more, is entitled
to the most deferential consideration, and would
inspire disposition to do anything desired of
me if it were consistent with my Judgment of
duty.
THE VALUE OF GOOD GOVERNMENT.
IT believe there is no instrumentality in
human society so potential in its influence upon
mankind for good or evil as the government
machinery for administering justice and for
making and executing laws. Not all the ele-
mosynary institutions of private benevoence, to
which philanthropists may devote their lives,
are so fruitful in benefits as the rescue and
preservation of this machinery from the perver-
sions that make it the instrument of
conspiracy fraud and crime against the
most sacred rights and interests of the people
For fifty years, as private citizen, never con
templating an official career / have devoted at
least as much thought and effort to the duty of
influencing Alright the action of the gov
governmental institutions of my country
as to all other objects. I have never
accepted official service except for a 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. l undertook the
State administration of New York be-
cause 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 1 had given three years of my life I ac-
cepted the nomination for the presidency in
1876 because of the general conviction that my
candidacy would best present the issue of re-
form, which the Democratic majority of the
people desired to have worked out in the federal
government as it had been in that of the State of
New York. I believed that 1 had strength
enough then to renovate the administra-
ton of the government of the
United States, and at the close of
my fern to hand over the great trust to sue
cessor faithful to the same policy. Though
anxious to seek 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 communicating
my nomination, depicted the difficulties of the
undertaking. and likened my feelings in engag-
ing in it to those of a soldier entering battle,
but did not withhold the entire conservation of
my powers to the public service.
Twenty years OF continuous mal-admlnls-
tration, under the demoralizing infu-
ences of intestine war and bad finance,
have infected the whole government
system of the United States with the cancerous
growths of false constructions and corrupt prac-
tees Powerful classes have acquired pecuniary
interests in official abuses and the moral
standards of the people have been impaired. To
] redress these evils is work of great difficulty