Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1884-06-21

In that way only could the Execu
tive power he arrayed ON the sid,
: of reforms to which as private
citizen | had given three years O
my life. accepted the nOiniRatiOf
for The Presidency In. 1875 hecaust
of the general conviction that my
candidacy would best present The
issue of reform, which the Demo
cratic majority OF the people desir-
ed to have worked out in the Fed.
eral Government, AS II had been In
that OF the State of New York. i
believed that had strength then
tD renovate the administration OF
the Government Of the United
States, and at the cltse 0f my term
to hand over the great trust to u
successor faithful to the same poll
| cy. Though anxious 10 seek the
repOse OF private life, nevertheless
acted upon the idea that every
power j. IA trust and involves a
duty. In reply 10 the address of
the committee communicating my
nomination, depicted the difficult
ties OF the undertaking and likened
my feeling in engaging I'm 1t to those
of a soldier entering battle; but
do not withhold the entire cOnSe-
Grafton of my powers to the public
service. Twenty years of contin-
uous maiadministration under the
demoralizing influences OF intestine
war and of bad finance, have infec-
ted the whole governmental system
OF the United States with the can
cerOus growths Of false construction
and corrupt practices. Powerful
classes have acquired pecuniary
interests In official abuses and the
moral standard of the people has
been impaired. To redress these
evils is work OF great difficulty
and labor, and cannot be accom-
plished without the most energetic
and efficient personal action on the
part of the Chief Executive OF the
republic. The canvass and admin
istratiOn which it Is desired that /
should undertake, would embrace
period Of nearly five years. Nor
can l admit my Illusions as to their
burdens. Three years Of expert
ence in the cntieavcr to reform the
municipal government OF the city
Of New York, and two years of ex-
perience in renovating the admins
lration OF the State of New York,
have made me familiar with the re-
quirements OF such work. At the
present time the considerations
which induced my action in 1880
have become imperative. ! ought
not to assume task which / have
not physical strength TO carry
through. TO reform the admins
tration OF the Federal Government,
to realize my own ideal and 10
fulfill the just expectations Of the
people would, indeed, warrant, as
they could alone compensate, the
sacrifices which the undertaking
would involve. But in my cOndi-
tion of advancing years aud decli-
ming strength. 1 feel no assurance
of my ability TO accomplish those
objects. ain, therefore, c0n5train-
ed to say definitely that l cannot
now assume the labors OF an admin
istratiun or OF canvass. Under
valuing In no wise that best gift of
htaven-tlc occasion and the power
sometimes bestowed upon II mere |
Individual to communicate an i'm |
pulse TOR goOd-grateful beyond all |
words to- my iellow-c0untryInen
who would assign such beneticient |
function to me, | ann coIsOlAd by |
the reflection that neither the Dem |
Ocratic party nor the republic, for |
whose future that party is the best
guarantee, Is now, or ever can be,
dependent upon any one man for |
their successful progress in the
path CT a noble destiny. Having
given to their welfare whatever OF
health and strength l possessed, or
could borrow from the future, and
having reached the term of my
for such iabors as their
welfare now demands, but submis
to the will Of God in deeining my
public career forever cltISed.
SAMUEL J. TILDEN.
HON. II. A. HENDRICKS.
INDIANAPOLIS, JUNE ll.-Hon.
Thos. A. Hendricks, in an inter
view concerning Tilden's letter Of
said the news was not
\ surprise to him, for when he Wis
tied Tiitien in August last that
gentleman very firmly announced 1
his intention to remain permanent
ly out OF politics On succeeding
visit in April last the same deter
mination WAS expressed. Hendricks
Thought there was little doubt thai
the old ticket would have been
nominated at the
Chicago Convention il II had not
been for the declaration OF to-day.
lie said that the demand for IL
among the Democracy WAS almost
and greater than any
OF the kind he had ever
seen in politics. Personally he felt
no great disappointment. He did
not want the Office Of Vice Presi-
dent eight years ago, and he did
not want il now. II the old ticket
had remained in the fleid he should
have considered an election to that
place great honor conferred by the
people as rebuke to what they con-
sidered great wrong. ..s |,