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Lot 27
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Great and important signed Grover Cleveland speech
Great and important signed Grover Cleveland speech
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Description:

Cleveland Grover 1837 - 1908
Great and important signed Grover Cleveland speech - "Constant vigilance and unrelenting attack are essential to victory"



Five page manuscript document, 7.75" x 10.5", scripted on rectos only with versos blank. Signed and dated by Grover Cleveland on the last page, "Oct 11 1902 Grover Cleveland".


Light creasing, a few tiny scattered stains.

A signed rough draft manuscript, dated 1902, which may have been used for an upcoming speech, or oral presentation by Grover Cleveland, or perhaps he was still reconsidering running for a third term in 1904 which he later declined. Cleveland was known as a political reformer. He is the only president to date who served two nonconsecutive terms, and also the only Democratic president to win election during the period of Republican domination of the White House that stretched from Abraham Lincoln's (1809-65) election in 1860 to the end of William Howard Taft's (1857-1930) term in 1913.

The manuscript addresses the resounding tariff issues that plagued the administration for many years. The republicans and democrats were on opposite sides of the fence on this issue. The debates about how import tariffs would impact the economy were heated and the country divided.

Tariffs had been a key political issue throughout the nineteenth century, with industrial and Northeastern interests generally in favor, farmers usually opposed. The principles involved had been established by Alexander Hamilton, the nation's first Secretary of the Treasury. High import tariffs, paid by overseas manufacturers who wanted access to U.S. markets for such products as textiles, tin plate, china, and sugar, gave an advantage to U.S. manufacturers and provided revenue for the federal Treasury. Critics argued that American consumers paid higher prices for the necessities of life, because tariffs established a high "floor" price and enhanced industrialists' profit, rather than helping workers. Republicans raised tariffs sharply after the Civil War. Grover Cleveland believed in "free trade", resulting in lowered tariffs ( known as the "McKinley Tariff" of 1890) and when the country entered a period of depression in and unemployment in 1893, the Republicans blamed much of the economy as the result of the lowered tariffs. Republicans, who argued that tariffs enabled American men to earn a family wage and "protect" their families. The tariff thus formed a key part of Republicans' appeal to laboring men. After 1900, many former Republicans joined Democrats and Socialist in seeking new remedies for the problems of industrial labor.

This Grover Cleveland signed and dated rough draft once again addresses his position on this important topic.

Cleveland was noninterventionist in foreign policy and fought to have protective tariffs lowered. The draft and is shown in full below, and is signed and dated by Grover Cleveland along the bottom of the final page:

A representative of the Evening Post who asked him his views in regard to the outlook for the Democracy in the approaching congress‘_ional elections, Mr. Cleveland said: 'It seems to me that if the Democracy is really in earnest they cannot fail to largely increase their representation in the next Congress. But in order to do so I think there must be a constant and stalwart insistence upon the things which are recognized by all to be true Democratic doctrines. Of course by far the most important of these is tariff reform. On this issue I am satisfied the Democracy are face to face with a great opportunity. All of the signs of the times point to a re‘_cognition far beyond old party lines of the benefits which would accrue to the people by a readjustment of the tariff and it would be worse than folly for the party under the stress of any temptation or by yielding to any allinement to permit this to be subordinated to or overshadowed by any other issue.

The present restlessness in Republican circles on this subject often amounting to protests against Republican operative theories should warn the Democracy of an impending danger. I mean by this the possibility that our opponents may crowd us from our position on this subject, if we allow them to do so by (illegible) indifference will occupy our ground just as we permitted them to crowd us from the ground that belonged to us in the question of sound money. I am very much pleased with the deliverance of the New York Democracy on the Tariff issue, and it was fit and proper that the Empire State should sound the right note. It is my clear conviction that the best assurance of success for the Democracy in the next National campaign will be found in a sincere and unremitting insistence upon its old time doctrine of a fair and beneficent tariff adjustment. This insis‘_tence should be from now on. It need hardly be said that success will be dependent upon the presentation of tariff doctrine not only reorganized as truly Democratic by those who may be tenured veterans in the party but also commending itself to the hosts of younger men of our land. Thousands of these await the opportunity to espouse the Chase which must appeal to disinterested love of country and which is based upon thoughtful regard for the welfare of all our people and the safety of the institutions under which we live. To these young men no hope is offered for the realization of their patriotic aspirations except through the conscientious awareness of the Democratic party. I am at a loss to understand by what pro‘_cess of reasoning the notion has gained a footing in certain Demo‘_cratic quarters not only that no importance attaches to the Demo‘_cratic ascendancy in the next House of Representatives but even that it might be advantageous to party prospects for it to continue in its present minority plight. No political warfare ought to be regarded as continuous and if the results battled for are worth having at all they are worthy of our best efforts at all times and under all circumstances. Constant vigilance and unrelenting attack are essential to victory. Armies are captured by first driving in the outposts. I cannot believe that the bright prospects of the Democracy in the coming campaign are to be marred by any lack of hard work and strenuous fighting.

"Oct 11 1902 Grover Cleveland"

A wonderful example of historical importance, covering the important issues of not only that period, but still exist as issues today (and in fact were part of the current presidential campaign).

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