The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1884-06-18
pinos Down the Curtain upon his
own Public Career.


tn. I~ong-expected, much talked Of,
49, from Samuel j. Tildeh declining to
nn,w the presentation of his name for
,to Democratic nomination, was made
,,Llic last week. 1t was addressed to
chairman Manning of the N. Y. Dem.
.ammittee. The letter is too lengthy for
our columns seeing hat it has already
been given in the Press Dispatches but
we take the chief feature of it.
After r~eciting his letter expressing
reluctance to accept IN 1876 and IN 1880,
Mr.. Tilden says
Il accepted the nomination for the
presidency 10 1876 because of the general
conviction that my candidacy would best
nresenf the issue of reform which the
Democratic majority otthe people desired
tn have worked out in the federal govern
meDt. as it bad been in that of the state
OfNew York. | believed that | had
strength enough then to ~renovate the
administration of the government OF the
United States, aud at the clo.e Of nv
term 10 hand over my great trust to a
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 aud
involves a duty. In reply to the address
of the committee communicating my
nomination. | depicted the difficulties of
the undertaking, and lkened my feelings
In engaging in it to those of a soldier en-
tering battle, but | did not withhold the
entire conservation of my powers to the
public service.
Twenty years of continuous malad-
ministratiou, under the demoralizing in
~fiuences of intestine war and Of bad II.
nance, rave infected the whole govern
ment system of the United States with
the generous growth of false construc-
tons and corrupt practices. Powerful
classes have acquired pecuniary Interests
In official abuses, and the moral standards
of the people have been impaired. To
redress these evils IS a work of great diff
fculty aud lab r, and cannot be accom-
piIshed without the most energetic and
efficient personal action on the part of
the chief executive u the republic
The canvass and admInistra alton which
Is desired that | should undertake. would
embrace a period of nearly five years.
Nor can | admit any Illusion as to their
burdens Three years Of experience in
the endeavor to reform the municipal
government OF the city of New York, and
two years OF experience In renovating the
administration of the State of New York,
have made me familiar with the require
ments of such a work.
AT the present time the considera-
tons which induced my action in 1850
have become imperative. [ ough; not
to assume a task which [ have not the
physical strength to carry through. To
reform the administration of the federal
government. to realize my OWL ideal, and
to fulfill the just expectations of the pco-
pie would, indeed, warrant, as they could
alone compensate, the sacrifices which
the undertaking would involve. But, in
my condition of advancing years and de-
Ginning strength. l feel no assurance of
my ability to accomplish those objects.
| am, therefore, constrained to say, def
nItely, that L cannot now assume the la
bOrs of an administration or of a canvass.
UNDERWRITING In no wise that best
gift of heaven-the occasion and the
power sometimes bestowed upon a mere
Individual to communicate an impulse
for good-gratful beyond all words to
my tellow-countrymen who would assign
such a beneticent function to me, | am
cOnsoled by the reflection that neither the
Democratic party nor the republic for
whose future that party is the best guar
antee, Is now, or ever can be, dependent
upon any one man fol their successful
progress in the path of a noble destiny.
Having given to their welfare what
ever of health and strength | possessed,
or could borrow from the future, and
having reached the term of my capacity
Tor such labors as their welfare now de-
mandS, | but submit to the will of God
in deeming my public career forever
closed. SAMUEL j. TILDEN."
HE IS o SURPRISED.
Indianapolis, Ind, June ll-Hon.
Thomas \. Hendricks said the news was
not a surprise to him, for when he visit
ed Tilden in August last, that gentle
man very firmly announced his inten-
ton to remain permanently out of poll
ties. In his succeeding visit, in April
last, the same determination had been
expressed. Hendricks thought there
was little doubt that the old ticket
would nave been unanimously nominal
ted at the Chicago convention if it had
not been for the dcclination to-day.
The demand for it among the Democrat
cy was almost universal. Personally.
he felt no great disappointment. He
did not want the office of vice president
eight years ago. and did not want il
now If the old ticket had remained in
the field, he should have considered his
election To that place a great honor con-
teTred bV the OpODlp- and n rebuEe m