The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-06-19
TILDEN SPEAKS,
And Announces His Irreverxible De-
termination" Not to Be
Candidate.
His Advanced Age and infirni-
ties the Reason for His
Withdrawal.

The following communication from Sam
uel ]. Tilden has been given to the Asso-
ciated Press:
To Daniel Manning, Chairman OF the Demo
cratic State Committee Of New ferk:
In NV letter of June Is, 1880, addressed 10 the
delegates from the State Of New York 70 the
Democratic National Convention, said: HAY
Ing NOW "Td borne ssps In the psbo service and
ing the marks OF It's burdens, 1 desire nothing
so much az an honorable discharge. wish TO
Law down the honors and tolls OF even quasi par
ty leadership and to seek the repose OF private
life. In renounctnR the renominalion Tor the
Presidency. do so with no doubt IN my mind
the United States but because believe that IL
IS nomination OF reelection to the Presidency
do snSss wsU to- an secnai
of the right OF the people TO elect tner rulers
violated In my person. have accorded as long
a reserve of my decision as possible; but can
not overcome my repugnanoe to enter into a
new engagement which INVOLVES four years OF
ceaseless toll The dignity OF the Presidentlal
Office il above a merely personal amD1uon, but
It creates in illusion. Its value Is as
a great power for good to the country.
ton Knowing as i do therefore, from fresh ex-
perience, how great the difference In between
gliding through an official routine and working
out reform of systems and policies II II i'm
possible for me TO contemplate what needs 10 be
done i'm the Federal administration without an
anxious sense OF the difficulties OF the under
"a king IL summoned by the suffrages OF my
countrymen TO attempt this work shall en-
deavor, with Gods help 70 be the efficient In
strument of their will Such work OF reno
walton. after many years OF misrule, such a re-
form of systems and policies, to which L would
cheerfully have sacrificed all that remained TO
me Of health and life, Is now, fear, beyond my
strength"
NY 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, at
Cincinnati, though respecting my wishes your-l
self. YOU communicated to me an appeal from
IN my valued friends to relinquish that purpose.
i reiterated my determination Internationally
In the four years which have since elapsed.
nothing has occurred 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 intentlona
has been frankly communicated. Several of my
most confidential friends, under the sanction of
their own names, have publicly stated my
determination to be irreversible. That /
is an event for which have no responsibility.
The appeal made to me by the Democratic
masses, with apparent unan1m1ty. TO serve them
once more is entitled TO the most deferentiak
consideration, and would inspire a dispositions
to do anything desired OF me, n 1t were consist
ent with my judgment of duty. believe that.
there is no instrumentality in human society so
potential IN it's influences upon mankind for
good or evil as the governmental machinery for
administering Justice and for making and exc
cutting laws. Not all the elementary institu-
tons of private benevolence TO which phifan--
thropists may devote their lives are so fruit
full IN benefits as the rescue and. preservation.
of this machinery from the perversions that
make IL the instrument Of conspiracy, fraud
and crime against the most sacred rights and
interests Of the people. For fifty years, as a
private citizen, never contemplating an official
career, have Devoted atlsast as much thought
and effort To the duty OF influencing Alright the
action OF the governmental institutions of my
country as to all other objects have never ac-
cepted official service except for brief PERIOD
for n special purpose, and only when the oo-
casion seemed TO require from me that sacrifce
OF private preferences TO the public welfare
undertook the State administration of New
IL SunDOSed
only could the executive power be arrayed on the
side OF the REFORMS TO which, as q private cit
lzen, had given three years OF my life. i
accepted the nomination for the Presidency
in 1876 because OF the general conviction that
reform which the Democratic majosity of the
people desired to have worked out, in the Fed
eral Government, as It had been in the State OF
New York. believed that i had strength
enough then 20 renovatc the administration of
the Government of the United States, and at.
trust to 81 successor faitSfuI TO the same Doicy
Though anxious to seek the rcpose of private
life, I nevertheless acted upon the idea that.
reply TO the committee communicating my
nomination, depicted the difficulties OF the
undertaking and likened my feelings in en-
gagilg in 1t TO those of q soldier enter
ing battle: but 1 did not withhold
the entire conservation Of my power TO the pub
JIG service Twenty yes of continuous malad--
mfuistration. under the demoralizing influences
of intestine war and Of bad finance, have in
footed tho whole governmental system of the
false constructions and corrupt practices.
Powerful classes have acquired pecuniary in
tercsts in official abuses, and the moral stand
ards of the people have been impaired. To-
redress these evils Us q work OF great difficulty
and labor, and cannot be accomplished withoutl
the most energetic and efficient personal
action on the part Of tho Chief Executive
of the Republic. The canvass and adminis-
tration which it Is desired that / should
undertake woeld embrace period OF nearly five.
years. Nor can admit any illusion as to their
burdens. Three years experience in the en-
deavor to reform the municipal government of
the city of New York, aud two years experience
in renovating the administration OF tho State of
New York, have made me familiar with the re-
quirements of such work At the present
time the considerations which induced my ac-
ton In 1880 have become imperative. / ought
not to assume task which / have not tho
physical strength to carry through To reform.
the administration of the Federal Govern
ment; to realize nv own ideal, and to full
MI tho great expectations of the people,.
would indeed warrant. as they could alone com
pensate, the sacrifices which the undertaking
would involve; but, In my condition of advanc--
ing years and declining strength, feel no as
surance or my ability to accomplish these OBJ
jecJs. / am, therefore, constrained to say def
nitely that cannot now assume the labors of
an administration. or OF n canvass.
heaven-the occasion and the power sometimes
bestowed upon mere individual to commune
cate an impulse for good -erateful beyond
all words to my felow-oountrymen who.
would assign such benehcent function.
to mel am consoled by the reflection that nei-
ther the Democratic party nor the republic for
is now or ever can be dependent upon any one
man Tor their successful progress in the path of
a noble destiny.
Having given to their welfare whatever OF
row from the future, and having reached the
term of my capacity for such labors their
welfare now demands. / but submit to the will OF
God In deelning my public career forever closed
SAMUEL j. IU.fDEN