The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1884-06-18
SAM. j. TILDEN
Positively Declines The Nomination.
Re Believes Himself Unable to Carry
Cut the Reforms Necessary in the
National Government.

has been given 10 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 18th,
1880. addressed to the delegates
from the State of New York to the
Democratic National Convention, /
said: "Having now borne faithfully
my full share of labor and care in
the public service, and wearing tho
marks of its burdens, / desire moth
ing so much as an honorable dis
charge. / wish to lay down the
honors and tolls Of even quasi party
leadership ard to seek the repose of
private life. In renouncing renOm-
ination 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 / be-
lieve that it is the remuneration of a
reelection to the presidency. To
those who think my denomination
and reelection indispensable to tho
etfectual vindicatiOn of the right Of
the people to elect their rulers, viO-
lated in my person, l have accorded
aS long reserve of my decision as
possible; but / cannot overcome my
repugnance to enter into a new on
gagement 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. It's value is as great
power for good TO the country. l
said four years ago, in accepting the
nomination: Knowing, as | do,
therefore, from fresh experience,
how great the difference is between
gliding through an official routine
and working out a reform of sys-
tens and policies, it is impossible
for me to contemplate what needs
TO be done in the federal admins
tration without an anxious sense of
the difficulties of the undertaking.
If summoned by the suffrages of my
to attempt this work, /
shall endeavor, with Gods help, to
be the efficient instrument of their
will. Such q work of renovation,
after many years of misruIc; such a
reform of systems and policies, to
which | would cheerfully have sac
ritieed all that remained to me of
health and life, is now / fear be-
yond my strength.
My purpose TO withdraw from
further public service, and the |
grounds of it, were at that time well
known to you and to others, and |
when ut Cincinnati, though respect
ing my wishes yourself, you COM
munieated to me an appeal from
many valued friends to relinquish /
that purpose, l reiterated my deter
Internationally. In the J
four years which have since elapsed |
has occurred to weaken, but
everything to strengthen, the con-
alterations which induced my with
lrawal from public life. To all who
have addressed me on the subject,
my intention has been frankly COM
Several of my most
friends, under the sancs
ion of their own names, have pub
icly stated my determination to be
reversible That / have occasion
low to consider the question is an
went for which l have no respensi~
1ility. The appeal made to me by
he Democratic masses with appar-
INT unanimity to serve them once
more is entitled to the most defer
initial consideration, and would in
ipire a disposition to do. anything
iesired of me if it were consistent
With my judgment of duty. l be-
ieve that there is no instrumental
v in human society SO potential in
Is influence upon mankind for good
n evil as the governmental machinS
'ry for administering justice and
or making and executing laws.
Not all the eleemosynary institu-
ions or private benev0lence to
which philanthropists may devote
heir lives are SO fruitful in benefits
IS tho rescue and preservation of
his machinery from the perversions
hat make it Instrumental of con-
piracy, fraud and crime against
he most sacred rights and interests
# the people. For fifty years, as a
private citizen, never contemplating
N official career, | have devoted at
east as much thought and effort to
he duty of infucing Alright the &C
ion of the governmental institu-
ions Of my country as to all other
.bjects. l have never accepted Of
icial service except for brief peri
ID, for a special purpose, and only
when the occasion seemed to require
rom me that sacrifice of private
Preferences TO the public welfare.
undertook the State administra-
ion of New York, because it was
that in that way only
ould executive power be arrayed
N the side of a reform to which, as
private citizen, / had given three
ears of my life. l accepted the
nomination for the presidency in
$40, because of a general convic-
ion that my candidacy would best
present the issue Of reform which
he Democratic majority of the peo-
lie desired to have worked out in
he federal government as it had
,een in that of the State OF New
York. / believed that / had
trensth enough then to renovate
he administration of the govern
nent of the United States, and at
he close of my term to hand over
he great trust to q successor faiths
ul to the same policy. Though anx-
Gus to seek the repose of private
ife, / nevertheless acted upon the
dea that every power is trust and
involves duty. In reply to the cons
nittee communicating my nomina~
ion / depicted the difficulties of the
Undertaking, and likened my feel
-. 80 AI0zo |