The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1884-06-21

-~@4# y LAlA
u mad been in that of the State Of.
Sew York. I believed that | had
strength enough then to renovate
the administration Of the Govern.
ment Of the United States, and at
the close of my term to hand over
the great trust to a successor
iaIthfulto the same policy. Though
anxious to seek the repose of pri.
yate lie, | nevertheless acted up
on the idea that every power is a
trust and involves a duty. In re-
ply to the address Of the commit.
tee communicating my nomination
| depicted the difficulties of the
undertaking, and likened my feel.
ings in engaging in 1t TO those of a
soldier entering battle, but | did
not withhold the entire consecra-
tion of my powers to the public
service. Twenty years of contin-
nous maladmlnistration under the
demoral7ing influences of intes-
tine war and of bad finance have
infected the whole Government
system of the United States with
cancerous growths of false con-
structions and corrupt practices.
Powerful classes have acquired
pecuniary interests in ofiicia. abu.
ses and the moral standards of
the people have been impaired.
To redress these evils is a work
of great difficulty and labor, and
cannot be accomplished without
the most energetic and efficient
and personal action on the part of
the chief executive OF the repub-
lie. The canvass aud administra.
ton which it is desired that
should undertake would embrace
a period of nearly five years.
Three years Of experience in the
endeavor to reform the municipal
government Of the city of New
York and two years of experience
in renoyating the administration
of the State of New York have
made me familiar with the require
ments of such a work. a .as|f4.
AT the present time the consid.
Grafton which induced my action
in 1880 have become imperative.
| ought not to assume the task
which / have not the physical
strength to carry through. To re
form the administration Of the fed.
eral government; TO realize my
own idea and to fulfill the just ex,
pectations Of the people would in
deed warrant,f as they could alone
compensate, the sacrifices which
the undertaking woald involve (;
but in my condition Of advancing
years and declining strength, ]
feel no assurance of my ability to
accomplish these objects. am,
therefore, constrained to say def
uitely that cannot now assume
! the labors of al administration or
| of. canvass, undertaking. in no
wise that the best gift of fheaven,oc-
casion and power is sometimes be-
slowed upon a mere individual, to
communicate an impulse for good.
Grateful beyond all words to my
fellovcountrymen who would as
sign such benefcient function 10
me, Lam consoled BY the reflection
that neither the Democratic party
nor the Republican, for whose fu-
ture that party is the best guaran-
tee, is now or ever can be depend
ent upon any one man for their
successful progress in the path
Of noble destiny. Having given
to their welfare whatever Of health
and strength | possessed or could
borrow from the future, and hav-
ing reached the turn of my capaei-
ty for such labors, as their welfare
4 now demands, | but submit to the
! will of God in ticemihg my public
career forever closed.
! SAMUEL j. TILDEN.