St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-06-12
His Advanced Years and Failing
Strength Forbid His
Acceptance.
The Needed Work of Reformation OF
The Federal Government Fully
Appreciated.
grateful to Those Who Would Have Assign
ed to Him the Beneficent Task of
Reform, But
'I But Submit to the Will of God in Deem
ing My Public Career Forever
CioSed.o

NEW IOhh, cuLlS LII uC SOhi-
munication from Samuel ]. Tilden has been
given to the Associated Press:
New York, June 10, 1SS4-To Daniel
Manning, chairman of the Democratic State
committee of New York:
In my letter of June 10, 1880, addressed
to the delegates from the state of New York
to the Democratic national convention,
said: 'Having now borne faithfully my full
sha1e of the labor and care in the public ser
vice, and wearing the marks of its burdens,
l desire nothing so much as an honorable
discharge. wish to lay down the honors
and tolls of even quasi-party leadership,
and to take the repose Of private life. In re-
nouncing a denomination 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 1 believe that
it is a remuneration of re election to the
presidency. To those who think my renom-
ination and reelection indispensable to an
effectual vindication of the right of the peo-
pie to elect their rulers, violated in my
person, I have accorded as long a reserve of
my decision as possible; but l cannot over
come my repugnance to enter into a new en-
gagement which involves four years of cease
less toll. The dignity of the presidential
office s above merely personal ambition,
but it creates in me no illusion. Its value
is, as great power for good to the country.
! said four years ago, in accepting the nom
ination Knowing as I do, therefore, from
fresh experience how great the difference is
between gliding through an official routine
and working out a reform of systems and
policies, it is impossible for me to contem-
plate what needs to be done in the federal
administration, without anxious thought
of the difficulty of the undertaking. If sum-
moned by the suffrages of my countrymen
to attempt this work, l shall en1eavor with
Gods help to be the efficient instrument of
their WILL Such a renovation, after many
years of misrule; such reform of systems
and policies to which I would cheerfully have
sacrificed all that remained to one of health
and life, is now, l fear, beyond my
strength.''
My purpose to withdraw from further pub
lie 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 communicated to me
an appeal from many valued friends to re-
linquish that purpose. 1 reiterated my de-
termination unconditionally, and in the
four years which have since 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 in
fpntinD has hapn frankly ioata6
Several of my most confidential friends, un-
der the sanction of their own names, have
publicly stated my determination to be ire
vocable. That have occasion now to con
slider the question is an event for which
have no responsibility.
The appeal made to me by the Democratic
masses, with apparent unanimity to serve
them once more is entitled to the most defer
ential consideration and would inspire dis
position to do anything desired of me if it
were consistent with my Judgment of duty.
/ believe there is no instrum tality in hu-
man society so potential in its influence upon
mankind for good or evil, as the govern
mental machinery for administering justice,
and for making and executing laws. Not all
elemosynary institutions Of private benevo-
lence, to which philanthropists may devote
their lives, are so fruitful in benefits
as tie 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 in
terests of the people. For fifty years as a
private citizen, never contemplating an Of
ficial career, have devoted at least as much
thought and effort to the duty of influencing
Alright the action of the governm entail insti-
-utions of my country as to all other objects
I have never accepted official service except
for brief period, for special purpose, and
only when the occasion seemed to require
from me that sacratice of private preference
to the public welfare. I undertook the state
administration of New York. because it was
supposed that in that way only could the ex-
ecutive power be arrayed on
the side of the reforms to which
as private citizen, I had given three years of
my life. L accepted the nomination for the
presidency in 1876 because of the general
conviction that my candidacy would best
present the issue of reform which the Demo-
cratic majority of the people desired to have
worked out in the federal government as it
had in the state of New York. 1 believed
that | had strength enough then to renovate
the administration of the government of the
United States, and at the close of my term
hand over the great trust to a successor
faithful to the same policy. Though anx-
ious to seek the repose of private life,
nevertheless acted upon the idea
that every power is trust, and
involves duty. In reply to the address of
of the committee communicating my nomi-
nation l depicted the difficulties of the un-
dertaking, Gkened my feelings in engag-
ing in it to those of soldier entering battle,
but l did not withhold the entire consecra-
ton of my powers to the public service.
Twenty years of mal-administration under
: the encouraging influences of intestine war
and bad finance have invested the whole
governmental system of the United States
with the cancerous growth of false constu,c-
ton and corrupt practice Powerful classes
have acquired pecuniary interests in official
abuses and the moral standards of the peo-
pie have been impaired. To redress these is
a work of great difficulty and labor and can
not be accomplished without the most
energetic and efficient personal action on
the part of the chief executive of the repub-
lie. The canvass and administration which
it is desired that I should undertake would
embrace period of nearly five years, nor
can I admit any illusion as to their burdens.
Three years of experience in the endeavor to
reform the municipal government of the
city of New York, and two years of expert
ence in renovating the administration of the