Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-06-20
Mr.. Tllden's DeciinatiOn.

IL IdhiCA &AohhthSy VI
the Democratic State Committee,
New York In my letter of June is,
1880, addressed to the delegates
from the State of New York to the
Democratic National Convention, l
said d" Having now borne faithfully
my full share of labors and care in
public service, and wearing the marks
of its burdens, | desile nothing SO
much as an honorable discharge. l
wish to lay down the honors of The
party leadership, and to seek the re-
pose Of lrivate life. In renouncing
denomination for the Presidency l
do so with no doubt i'll my mind Us
to the vote of the State of New York,
or of the United States, but because
l believe II is remuneration of re-
electi TO the Presidency. To
those who think my denomination
and reelection indispensableto effec
tual vindication of the right OF peo-
pie to elect their rulers, violated in
my person, l have accorded as long
a reserve in my decision as possible,
but l cannot overcome my repug-
nance to enter into new engage
ment which involves four years of
ceaseless toll. The dignity of the
Presidential Office is above a merely
personal ambition, but it creates in
me no illusion. Its value is great
power for good to the country. /
said four years ago:
"In accep'ion this nomination,
knowing as l 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
imperative on me to contemplate
these needed reforms with On anxious
sense of the difficulties of the under
taking. If summoned by the suffra-
ges of my countrymen to attempt
this work, l shall endeavor, with
Gods help, to be the efficient instru-
ment of their will"
"Such a work of renovation, after
many years of misrule, such reform
of systems and policies to which l
would chee1iu!ly have sacrificed all
that remained to me o! health and
life, is now, l fear, beyond my
ST. ength."
My purpose to withdraw from
further public service, and thu
grounds on which it is based, was at
that time we'll known to you and
others, and when at Cincinnati,
through respecting my wishes your
selves, you communicated to me an
appeal from many valued friends to
relinquish tina. purpose, I reiterated
my determination Internationally.
HIS PURPOSE.
In the four years which have since
elapsed nothing has occurred to weak
en-, but everything to strengthen the
considerations which induced my
withdrawal from public life. To all
who have addressed ne on the sub
ject my intention has been frankly
communicated. 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 a disposition to do
anything desired of me, if it were
consistent with my judgment of
duty. I belive there is no instru-
mentality so potential in its influence
upon mankind, for good or evil, as
the government machinery for admin
istering justice and executing laws.
Not all the eleemosynary institutions
of private benevolence to which
philanthropists may devote their
lives are 20 fruitful in benefits as
tho 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 interests of the
people. For fifty years as a private
citizen, never contemplating an Off
cial career, have devoted at least
IS much thought and effort to the
duty of influencing Alright the action
of the governmental institutions of
my country as to all other objects.
GOOD RECORD.
have never accepted official
services, except for a brief period,
for special purpose, and only when
the occasion seemed to require from
me that sacrifice of private prefer
ences to the public welfare. I un-
dertook the State administration of
New York because it was supposed
in that way only could the executive
power be arrayed on the side OF the
reforms to which, as a private citi.
zen, / had given three years of my
life. accepted the nomination for
the Presidency in 1876, because of
the general conviction that my can
didacy 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 done in
the State of New York. I believe
that I had strength enough then to
renovate the administration of the
Government of the United States,
and at the close of my term to hand
over the great trust TO q successor,
faithful to the same policy. Though
anxious to seek the repose of o private
life, I nevertheless acted upon the
idea that every power is a trust that
involves duty. In reply to the ad-
dress of the committee communica.
ting my nomination, I depicted the
difficulties of the undertaking, and
likened my feelings in undertaking
it to those of q soldier entering battle,
but I did not withhold the entire
consideration of my powers to the
public service.