"_Telegram._
"GREYSTONE, _July 5th, 1884_.
"TO HON. WILLIAM H. BARNUM, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.
"I have received your telegram informing me of the disposition to
nominate me for the Presidency and asking, 'Will you accept an
unanimous nomination from the convention?'--and also a telegram from
Mr. Manning saying, 'It seems absolutely necessary that you (I)
should answer Barnum's telegram as soon as possible.'
"Your inquiry was explicitly answered in the negative by my letter
of June 10th to Mr. Manning.
"S. J. TILDEN."
Attached to these telegrams was the following pencil memorandum in a
strange handwriting, and presumably a suggested modification of the
despatch actually sent:
"If the convention should nominate me, I should consider it
as intended merely to acquit the Democratic party of any
shortcomings in respect to the fraudulent possession of the
government in 1876, and with the knowledge that I would not
accept the nomination."