Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-06-20
TILDEN SPEAKS.
lie Announces His inflexibIe Pur-
pose Not to be Candidate.


pose Not to be Candidate.
NEW YORK, June 1.-THE follow
ing communication from Sam1 J.
Tllden, has been given the associated
rress:
New YORK June 10, 1884.
Daniel Manning Chairman of the Democratic
State Committee of New York:
In my letter of June 1s 1880. addressed TO the
delegates from the state OF New York to the
democratic national convention, said: Having
row borne faithfully my full share OF ths labor
and care in the public service, and wearing the
marks of its burdens l desire nothing so much as
honorable discharge. | wish to lay down the
honors and tolls of even quasi party leadership
and te seek the repose of private life In renounc
ins the nomination for the preside ncy do so
with no doubt IN my nina Ih as 70 the vote OF the
cause believe that it is a renunciation of
election to the presidency. To those who thiak
my denomination and re election indispensable
10 an eectual vindication of the right of the peo
pie t. eject their rulers, violated in my person
have accorded as long reserve OF my decision
nance to eiter into a ne" engagement
which involves four years of ceaseless toll.
The dignity Of the presidential office is
creates n me no Illusion. Its value is as great
power / + good to the country. said four years
ago in accepting the nomination knowing as /
do. therefore. from fresh experience, how great
the difference is between gliding through an Off
cal routine and working out a reform of systems
and policies, IL IS impossible for me to cOntem-
pla:e what needs to be done in the federal admin
Stration without anxious sense of the difficult
les of the undertaking. If summoned by the
work hall en9eavor with Gods help to be 't, the
efficient instrument OF their will. Such
work of renovation after many
yearS of miSrule, such reform of systems and
policies 10 which l ould cheerfully have sacri-
feed all that remained to me of health and life,
is now, fear, beyond my strength My purpose
TO with raw from further public service, and the
g ouns OF it, were at that time well known to
you and others, and when at Cincinnati though
respecting my wishes yourself, you communi-
to relinquish that purpose, reiterated my deter
mination Internationally. In the four years
to weaken but everything to strengthen the
considerations which induced my withdrawal
from public life. To all who have addressed me
on the subject my intention has been frankly
communicated. Several of my most confidential
friends under the sanction of their names have
publicly stated my determination to be irrevoca
BILE. ThatI have occasion now to consider the
question is an event for which have no respon
sibility. The appeal made to me BY the democrat
tc masses with apparent unanimIty to serve them
once more is entitled to the most deferentia con
sideration and would inspire disposition to do
anything desired of me if it were consistent with
my jud gment of duty. believe that there is in
Strumentalty in human society SO potential in its
influence upon mankind for good or evil as the
governmental machinery for administering JUS
tice and for making and executing laws Not all
the eleemoSynary institutions of private benevo-
lives are so fruitful IN benefits as the rescue and
preservation of this machinery from the per-
versions that make it the instrument Of con-
Spiracy, fraud and crime against the most sacred
rights and interests of the people. For fifty
years a private citizen, never contemplat-
ing an official career 1 have devoted at least
as much thought and effort to the duty OF riu-
encing Alright the action OF the governmental in
stitutions Of my country. as to all other objects
have never accepted official service except for
brief period for q special purpose, and only
when the occasion seemed to require from me
that sacrifice of private preferences to the public
welfare. l undertook the state administration of
New York, because it was supposed that in that
way only could the executive power be arrayed on
the side of the reforms to which, as a private
citizen, had given three years OF my life. | ac-
cepted the nomination for the presidency in 1876
because of the general conviction that my casd
dacy would best present the issue of reform which
the democratic majority of the people desired to
have worked out in the federal government as 1t
had been in thst Of the state of New York l be-
leved that had strength enough then to reno
vate the administration of the government Of the
United States, and at the close Of my term to
hand over the great trust to successor faithful
to the same policy. Though anxious to seek the
repose of private life, nevertheless acted upon
the idea that every power Is a trust and Involves
duty"
In reply to the address Of the committee com
muncating my nomination. l depicted the diff
culties of the undertaking and ikened my feel
ings in engagingS in it to those of soldier enter
ing battle, but die not withhold the entire con-
secration of my pswers to the public service
Twenty years OF continuous maladInnStratinn
under the demorallzlng influences or intestine
war and bad finance, have infested the whole gov
ernmental system Of the United States, with the
cancsFous growth OF false construction
eInisss and CORRUPT prarsd peeeaTV
interests in official abuses, and the moral stand
ards of the people have been impaired To re-
dress these evils is work Of great difficulty and
labor, and cannot be accomplished without the
most energetic aud efficient personal action on
the part of the chief executive of the republic.
The canvass and administration which it is desired
hot IShn IlD1ar tai 10 1hrap a
of nearly five years; nor can l admit any illusion
as TO their burdens Three years OF experience
IN the etdeayor TO TO I ref rm the Nm mun,GPal Ynrat
and two years of experience in renovatmg
the administration Of the state of New York have
made me familiar with the requirements of such
q work. At the present time the considerations
which induced nv acti N in 1880 have become
imperative. ! ought not to az <'Ine task which
have not the physical strength to carry through.
To reform. the administration OF the federal gov
ernment- te realize my own ideal and to 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 condition of advancing years and
declining strength. | feel assurance of my
ability to accomplish those objects. l am, there
for constrained to say definitely that cannot
now assume the labors of ar administration, or
of a canvass Undertaking. in no wise that
best gift of heaven, the occasion and the power
some times bestowed npon mere individual to
communicate an impulse for good grateful beyond
a words to my fellow country men who would
conSoled by the reflection that neither
the democratic party, nor the republic
for whose future that party is the best
guarantee is now or eFen can be dependent upon
any man for their successful progress in the
path of a noble destiny. Having given to their
welfare whatever of health and strength pest
SesSed or could borrow from the future and hay
ing reached the term Of my capacity for such la
borS as their welfare now demands, but submit
to the will of God in ieeming my public caree-
forever closed.
Signed SAMUEL j. TuDES.