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Lot 46
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Benjamin Harrison as Pres. Re: Timely Discussion on Trade and Tariffs
Benjamin Harrison as Pres. Re: Timely Discussion on Trade and Tariffs
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Description:

Benjamin Harrison
Cape May Point, NJ, August 13, 1891
Benjamin Harrison as Pres. Re: Timely Discussion on Trade and Tariffs
LS
A signed letter by President Benjamin Harrison in which he remarks on his annoyance for Central American nations disrupting shipping. 2pp, measuring 5" x 8", Cape May Point, dated August 13, 1891. Signed "Benj Harrison" and addressed to Stephen B. Elkins on Executive Mansion stationery. Frustrated that El Salvador had detained a Pacific Mail Steam-Ship Company vessel in Port Libertad, President Benjamin Harrison threatened a firefight if the Central American nation did release political refugees. The crisis was defused when the ship's captain left port without clearance papers, which ensured the safety of passengers. However, details of indemnification and rights of detention were left to the diplomats. Harrison's threat, however, would become more substantive under Republican successors Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft, whose "Dollar Diplomacy" policies were undergirded with the implicit threat of military force. The letter has been tipped to another sheet. Toned throughout with flattened mail folds. Boldly signed.

Reading in full:
"I have yours of the 11th. It is very irritating to have these little Central American States nagging away at our ships when we are making so much effort to develop a larger commerce with them. I do not intend they shall play any pranks with us. When the facts are fully reported, we will take such steps as may seem necessary, with promptness. I shall be glad to have some further light upon the subject we talked about when you were here."

The Harrison Administration pursued an aggressive approach to foreign affairs while promoting American business interests. Secretary of State James Blaine sought to promote diplomacy and cooperation between the United States and Latin American nations, and helped to organize the first Pan-American Congress (1889-1890). The Congress concluded by declaring new hemispheric goals, including reciprocal trade, a customs union, continental railway, and international conflict arbitration. In 1891, Blaine's ill health and family tragedies placed foreign affairs in the President's hands. When Harrison offered to eliminate tariffs on imported coffee, molasses, sugar, and tea if Brazil agreed to lower duties on American manufactured goods, Brazil became America's first partner in an individual reciprocity treaty that went into effect four months before this letter. Spain followed, and signed on behalf of Cuba on July 31, followed by the Dominican Republic on August 1.

War between Guatemala and El Salvador complicated American trade negotiations, more so when the Salvadorian government attempted to seize a high-ranking Guatemalan General on board the City of Panama, a American vessel of the Pacific Mail Steam-Ship Company. The company had become an international behemoth, and had secured standing government contracts to handle official mail along the Pacific Rim. It also symbolized the growing American presence in Latin America and Asia, and increasing ties between the federal government and large corporations.

The incident in question took place on August 10. Romualdo Pacheco, U.S. Minister to Central America, wrote, "On the morning of the 10th inst., at Libertad, (Salvador,) after Capt. White was served with notice of confiscation, he weighed anchor and arrived here [San Jose, Guatemala] safely the same evening. All the passengers have landed and the cargo is being discharged at San Jose." The New York Times evidently believed that Pacheco's letter itself signaled an end to the crisis, though its reporter felt that the U.S. Navy should have acted immediately, an attitude that consistent with President Harrison's bellicose first response to the crisis, offered here.

However, Harrison's temper cooled a day later, when he wrote to Blaine: "I think we would promote our own influence…and promote their best good by giving them to understand that the commerce we are attempting to promote…must not be interrupted by these vexatious assaults." Hedging his bets, he put the Navy on standby to protect American interests if the situation deteriorated. After this letter, El Salvador, Guatemala, the British West Indies, Nicaragua, and Honduras all signed similar commercial treaties with the U.S.

Stephen B. Elkins (1841-1911) was soon to be named Secretary of War by Harrison, and served from December 17, 1891 to March 1893. Born in Ohio and raised in Missouri, Elkins served in the Unionist Missouri state militia even though his father and brother both joined the Confederates. He moved to New Mexico to practice law, served in the territorial legislature from 1864-1865, and was later attorney general of the territory and territorial delegate to Congress. In 1890, Elkins moved to West Virginia to pursue interests in mining, industry, and finance. The Davis Coal and Coke Company, which he developed with his father-in-law, Senator Henry Davis, was one of the largest coal companies in the world – Elkins, West Virginia began as a company town. After serving as War Secretary, Elkins won election to the U.S. Senate from West Virginia, serving from 1895 until his death in 1911.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 5" x 8"
  • Medium: LS

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