The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1884-06-18
Letter From Mr.. TIlden.

Letter From Mr.. Tilden.
New YORK, June 1O.-The following
communication from Samuel J. Tilden
has been given to the Associated Press
NEW York, June 10, 1884.
Daniel Manning, Chairman Democratic
State Committee, New York:
In my letter of June Is, 1880, address
ed to the delegates from the State of
New York to the democratic national
convention, said:
Having now borne faithfully my full
share and labor and care in the public
service, and wearing the marks of its
burdens, desire nothing SO as an honor
able discharge. l wish to lay down the
honors and tolls of even quasi party
leadership and to seek the repose of pri-
vate life" In renOuncing a renomina-
ton 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 l believe that it is
remuneration of reelection to the presi-
dency.
To those who think my denomination
and reelection indispensable to an efiec-
tual vindication Of the rights of the peo-
pie to elect their rulers, violated in my
person, have accorded as long reserve
Of my decision as possible. but / cannot
overcome my repugnance to enter into
new engagement which involves hAr
years of ceaseless toll.
The dignity Of the presidential Office is
above merely personal ambition, but it
creates in me no illusion; its value is as
great power for good to the country. I
said four years ago:
'In accepting the nomination, know
ing as do, therefore, from fresh expert
ence, how great the difference ia between
gliding through an official routine and
working out reform of systems and
policies, it is impossible for. me to con-
template what needs to be done in the
federal administration without an anxi-
Gus sense of the difficulties of the under
taking. Ifsummoned by the suffrages
ofmy countrymen to attempt this work,
shall endeavor with Gods help to be
the efficient instrument of their will"
Such work of renovation, after many
years of misrule; such a reform of sys-
TENS and judicial policies to which I
would cheerfully have sacrificed all that
remained to me of health and life, is
now, fear beyond my strength. My
purpose to withdraw from further public |
service, and the grounds of it were at
that time well know to you and others; |
and when at Cincinnati, though respect
ing my wishes yourselves, you commune |
Gated to me an appeal from many valued |
friends to relinquish that purpose. I
reiterated my determination uncondi-
tionally. In the four years which have
elapsed nothing has occurred to weaken,
but everything to strengthen the con-
siderations which induced my withdraw
al from public life.
TO all who have addressed ME on the |
subject my intention has been frankly
communicated. Several of my most con-
fidential friends, under the sanction of
their own names, have publicly stated
my determination to be irrevocable; that |
l have occasion now to consloer the |
question is an event for which have no |
responsibility.
The appeal made to me by the demo
cratic masses with apparent unanimity to
serve them once more, is entitled to the
most deferential consideration, and would
inspire disposition to do anything de-
sired of me, if it were consistent with my
judgment of duty. believe that there
is no instrumentality in human society
so potential in its influences upon man.
kind for good or evil as the government
tai machinery for administering justice
and for making and executing laws. That
all the eleemosynary institutions of pri-
vate benevolence to which philanthropy
lists may devote theirliyes, are as fruitful
in benefits as the 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 and never
contemplating an official career, have
devoted at least as much thought and ef-
fort to the duty Of influencing Alright the
action of the governmental institutions
of my country as to all other objects I
have never accepted official service ex-
cept for brief period, for a special pur-
pose; and only when the occasion seemed
to require from me that sacrifice of pri-
vate preferences to the public welfare.
undertook the state administration
Of New York. because it was supposed
that in that way only could the execu-
tive power he arrayed on the side of the
reforms to which, as a private citizen, I
had given three years of my life. I was
impelled to accept the nomination for the
Presidency in 1876 because of the gener-
al conviction that my candidacy would
best present the issue of reform, which
the democratic majority of the people
desired to have worked out in thu feler-
al government as it had been in tine state
of New York
believed that had strength enough
then TO renOvate the administration of
the government of the United States,
and at the end of my term to Land over
the great trust to successor faithful to
The same policy. Though anxious to
'eek the repose OF a private life, l never
'heless acted upon the idea that every
power is trust and involves duty.
In reply to the address of the commit
zee communicating my nomination,
depicted the difficulties Of the UNDER