Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-06-17
SAMUEL ]. TTLDEN EMPHATIC.
ALLY DECLINES.
10 DO a Candidate for the Presi-
denoy.
A Letter from His own Pen.

New York, June 10, 1884.
IT, Daniel Manning, Chairman Of the Democrat
ic State Committee of New York:
In my letter of June Is, 1880, adj
dressed to the delegates from the state
of New York to the democratic ma
tiOnal convention, I said: "llaving
now borne faithfully my full share
Of labor and care in the public service
ami wearing the mark Of its burdens,
! desire nothing so much as an hon
CRADLE discharge. l wish to lay down
the hOnors and toll even Of quasi
party leadership and 10 seek the re-
pose of private life. In rcnouncing
the denomination 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
| believe it is a remuneration of re
election to the presidency. To those
who think my denomination and IT,
clectiOn indispensable to an utter vim
dication of the right of the people to
elect their rulcrs-violatcd in my per-
son-I have accorded as long a re-
serve of my decision as possible.
But can not overcome my rcpug-
nance TO enter into a new engagement
which cnvOlvcs four years of cease
less tot The dignity of the presi-
dental Office is above merely per.
sonal ambition, but it creates i'll me
no illusion. Its value is as a great
power for good to the country.
said, four years ago, in accepting the
nomination, knowing as do, there
fore, from fresh experience, how
great the difference is between Gid
ing through an Official routine and
working out the form of system and
policies, it is impossible for me tc
contemplate what needs to be done
in the federal administration without
an anxious sense of the difficulties Of
the undertaking. If summoned b!
the sufl'rages of my countrymen t.
attempt this work, l shall endeavOr
with Gods help, to be the efficient III
strument of their will. Such work
of renovation, after many years o.
misrulc, after such q reform of sys
tens and policies, to which | would
checrfully have sacri iced all that re
mains to me of health and life, is now
fear, beyond my strength"
Ny purpose to withdraw from futh
CT public service and the grounds o
it was at that time well known to yOl
AMI others, and when, at CiEcinna
ii, thoa ,h respecting me- wishes your
self, you communicated to my an ap
peal from many valued friends t,
rclinquish that purpose, | reiterated
my determination Internationally
In the four years which have Sine
elapsed nothing has occurred t,
wcekcn, but everything to strength
Gu the considerations which induced
my withdrawal from pnblic life. II,
all who have addressed me on TN
subject my intention has been frank
w communicated. Several of ny
most confidential friend, under til,
sanction of their own names, hav,
publicly stated my determination tt
be irroversiblc. That | have occa
sion to consider the question now j
an event FOR which | have no rcspon
sibility. The appeal made to me b.
the democratic masses, with apparen
unanimity, to serve them once more
is entitled TO the most dcfercntia
considcration,and would inspire dis
position to do anything desired eff M
il it were consistent with my judy
mcnt of duty. | believe there is II,
fundamentally so potential in its in
flucncc upon mankind for good o
evil, as the governmental machiner!
fDr administering justice AMI fol
making an executing law. Not al
the institutions of private bencvolenc
10 which philanthropists may dcvot
their lives are so fruitful in benefit
as the rescue and preservation of thi
machinery from the pcrversions tina
make il the instrument of colispirac,
fiurd and crime against the mos
sacred rights of the people. For fft,
years as a private citizen, never con
trmplating an official career, | hav,
devoted at least as much thought ant