Details
CLEVELAND, Grover. Autograph letter signed ("Grover Cleveland") as President, to "Dear William," Washington, D.C., 21 March 1886. 3¾ pages, 8vo (4 15/16 x 8 in.), Executive Mansion stationery, old tape reinforcement along central fold, some light toning, otherwise fine.
CLEVELAND DEPLORES PATRONAGE: "I HAVE HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT THESE CURSED OFFICES"
Cleveland writes an impassioned letter to an advocate for a Mr. Myers who sought to be appointed Internal Collector in the City of New York. Cleveland writes: "I am afraid he has not the standing to justify his selection for that place... I wrote to you soon after Mr Myers applied to me asking you to tell me in detail all you know of him & what if any, relations you had with him, but as I remember your reply it did not enlighten me much as to the matter upon which I desired more information." Cleveland turns his response into a diatribe against the process of political appointments and the inherent corruption of lobbying: "I have heard so much about these cursed offices & have been pestered so much by the impertinence of office seekers, and time which should be devoted to more important matters has been so much encroached upon by candidates and their advocates, that I sometimes feel like abandoning all attempts to active plans. If the people of this Country knew the extent to which the machinery of this government is attempted to be used for the purpose of satisfying personal and selfish ends in the giving out of public functions, I think they would be frightened and would make any party pledged to the honest application of Civil Service Reform principles more nearly the unanimous party of the Country than any which has ever existed."
Provenance: Samuel T. Freeman & Co., 1976.
CLEVELAND DEPLORES PATRONAGE: "I HAVE HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT THESE CURSED OFFICES"
Cleveland writes an impassioned letter to an advocate for a Mr. Myers who sought to be appointed Internal Collector in the City of New York. Cleveland writes: "I am afraid he has not the standing to justify his selection for that place... I wrote to you soon after Mr Myers applied to me asking you to tell me in detail all you know of him & what if any, relations you had with him, but as I remember your reply it did not enlighten me much as to the matter upon which I desired more information." Cleveland turns his response into a diatribe against the process of political appointments and the inherent corruption of lobbying: "I have heard so much about these cursed offices & have been pestered so much by the impertinence of office seekers, and time which should be devoted to more important matters has been so much encroached upon by candidates and their advocates, that I sometimes feel like abandoning all attempts to active plans. If the people of this Country knew the extent to which the machinery of this government is attempted to be used for the purpose of satisfying personal and selfish ends in the giving out of public functions, I think they would be frightened and would make any party pledged to the honest application of Civil Service Reform principles more nearly the unanimous party of the Country than any which has ever existed."
Provenance: Samuel T. Freeman & Co., 1976.