Lot 80
Cleveland, Grover (1837-1908) 22nd and 24th President of the United States ((1885-89, 1893-87). Typed letter signed ("Grover Cleveland"), as 24th President, 7 pages, on Executive Mansion stationery, 10½ x 8 in., Washington, July 2, 1894. To Hon. William Wilson. An extraordinarily long letter written in the middle of a Depression, on tariff reform. Written in Cleveland's second non-successive term, it reads in part: "The certainty that a conference will be ordered between the two Houses of Congress, for the purpose of adjusting differences on the subject of tariff legislation, makes it also certain that you will be again called on to do hard service in the cause of tariff reform. My public life has been so closely related to this subject, I have longed for its accomplishment, and I have so often promised its realization to my fellow countrymen as a result of their trust and confidence in the Democratic party, that I hope no excuse is necessary for my earnest appeal to you that in this crisis, you strenuously insist upon party honesty and good faith and a sturdy adherence to Democratic principles….It is quite apparent that this question of free raw materials does not admit of adjustment on any middle ground. Since their subjection to any rate of tariff taxation, great or small, is alike violative of Democratic principle and Democratic good faith. I hope you will not consider it intrusive if I say something in relation to another subject which can hardly fail to be troublesome to the conference. I refer to the adjustment tariff taxation on sugar…The Democracy of the Land plead most earnestly for the speedy completion of the tariff legislation which their representatives have undertaken; but they demand not less earnestly that no stress of necessity shall tempt those they trust, to the abandonment of Democratic principle."
The Panic of 1893 occurred in Cleveland's second term (1893-97), causing a massive Depression which lasted four years. In addition, the violent 1894 Pullman strike followed deteriorating economic conditions, with workers getting lower wages and having to buy from the company stores. Cleveland had to bring in troops to quell riots after an injunction he secured against the workers failed. In the middle of all these problems, Cleveland's own party turned against him. In this letter we see that he was committed to low tariffs; Democrat Senate forces led by Senator Arthur P. Gorman of Maryland added high duties to numerous goods. Cleveland denounced the high tariffs as "party perfidy and party dishonor." This impassioned letter to Congressman Wilson, who shared his views on low tariffs, was largely ineffective.
Estimated Value $1,200 - 1,500.
Christie's,11/15/2005, Sale 1685, lot 139.
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| Realized $1,320 |
