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Sale 64
Lot 88
Adams, John (1735-1826) 2nd President of the United States (1797-1801). Letter Signed, 2 pp (recto/verso), 10 x 8 in., Quincy, April 30, 1819. To an unidentified correspondent, with some of the finest John Adams content extant.
"Dear Sir, Of republicks the varieties are infinite, or at least as numerous as the tunes and changes that can be rung upon a complete sett of Bells. Of all the variety's, a Democracy is the most natural - the most ancient - and the most fundamental and essential of all others….In some writing or other of mine I happened currente caloma to drop the phrase 'the word Republic as it is used may signify - any-thing - every-thing - or nothing.' For this escape I have been pelted for twenty or thirty years - with as many stones as even were throw'n at St Steven - when St Paul held the clothes of the stoners - but the aphorism is literal, strict, solemn truth - to speak technically, or scientifically, if you will.
There are Monarchical Aristocratical and Democratical Republicks - the government of Great Britain - and that of Poland - are as strictly republicks - as that of Rhode-Island or Connecticut under their old charters. If mankind have a right to the voice of experience - they ought to furnish that experience with Pen, ink and paper to write it - and an amanuensis to copy it.
I should have been extremely obliged to you if you had favoured me with Mr. Jeffersons sentiments upon the subject - as I see you have an inquiring mind. I sincerely wish you much pleasure Profit, and success in your investigations. I have had some pleasure in them - but no Profit - and very little, if any success.
In one of your Letters you say that my defence has become none - this is strange - Mr. Dilly Published an Edition of it [Adams' 1787 pamphlet A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America], was published in Boston -- another in New-York - another in Philadelphia --before the Adoption of the present Constitution of the National Government - and before one line of the Federalist was printed - since that Mr. Cobbet, alias Porcupine printed a large Edition of the whole work in Philadelphia - and Mr. Stockdale of Picca-dilly has published another large Edition in London - it has been Translated into the French and German Languages - and what has become of all these Copies. I am Sir, with much Esteem your humble servant, John Adams." Adams' signature shows his age; in six months, he would be 84 years old.
Estimated Value $40,000 - 60,000.
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Lot 178
Roosevelt, Theodore (1858-1919) 26th President of the United States (1901-09). Typed Letter Signed as associate editor of "Outlook" magazine, on "The Outlook" stationery, 6 pp, 9½" x 7¾", New York, 18 Sept. 1913. Fine; light toning. Roosevelt made numerous holograph corrections in this letter to Charles Sumner Bird, a candidate for Massachusetts Governor (he lost), as Roosevelt prepared to leave for South America.
The content of this letter is superb. In part: "…Over a year has passed since we founded the Progressive Party….Massachusetts has always taken the lead for the right in every great crisis of our history….I make my appeal for your election not only to all the men who supported the Progressive ticket last year, but to all…who…felt there was hope of salvation within the two old parties to which they had so long paid allegiance….I appeal to…every Republican who is loyal to the principles of Abraham Lincoln, who is loyal to the great memories of Sumner and Andrew. Last year the bosses of the Republican Party stole from the rank and file of the Republican Party their right to nominate their own ticket and to enunciate their own platform. They turned the Republican Party with its back squarely to the principles of Abraham Lincoln and delivered it bound and shackled into the hands of those who are the enemies of every principle that Lincoln professed and practiced. These men have the Republican Party absolutely in their grip today. One of the prime agents in the theft lasy [sic] year was Mr. Lorimer of Illinois, and it was the Lorimer men who succeeded in breaking the deadlock in the Illinois Legislature by securing an alliance between the Republicans and Democrats against the Progressives….you cannot be true to the principles of the Republicans of the days of Lincoln…unless you turn and smite down the bosses of the party, and break up the evil alliance between commercialism and politics for which those bosses stand; and you can do this only by supporting the Progressive Party. As for the good and honest men and women who make up the rank and file of the Democratic Party, I ask them in their turn to consider what has been done by the Democratic machines in all the States of the Union….In New York State, Tammany has decreed the impeachment of the Governor [William Sulzer]…because that Governor has stood by the cause of the people…he has endeavored to put into jail certain of the prominent Tammany politicians for…malfeasance in office…. Finally, to all independent citizens, and to all party men who put country above party….The bosses have long counted upon the fact that revolt against boss domination in one party could only find expression in seating in power the boss-controlled opposition party. In the last analysis, the bosses on the two old parties work together….You can crush the boss system….You can express your abhorrence of the politicians who win power and position through promises which with cynical indifference they repudiate as soon as elected. You can work for far-reaching measures of social and industrial reform, for genuine popular rule, and for the exercise of this rule in a spirit of justice to all our people, business men, farmers and wageworkers alike…only by supporting the Progressive Party….
This letter sold for over $15,000 at a Superior auction about a dozen years ago.
Estimated Value $12,000 - 15,000.
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