71 / 230
104
●
CLEVELAND, GROVER. Partly-printed vellum Document Signed, as President,
military commission appointing Robert N. Scott Lieutenant Colonel of the Third
Regiment of Artillery. Countersigned by Secretary of War William C. Endicott. 19
1
/
4
x15
3
/
4
inches; faint scattered toning, horizontal fold through first initials of signature (without
loss), docketing at the upper left recto, seal intact.
Washington, 6 April 1885
[300/400]
105
●
CLEVELAND, GROVER. Autograph Letter Signed, as President, to H.C. Lay,
acknowledging that Mr. [Amos W.] Sangster is a deserving person, but declining to adver-
tise or praise his artwork. 3 pages, 8vo, “Executive Mantion” stationery, written on a single
folded sheet; moderate toning overall, faint scattered soiling. (TFC)
Washington, 16 December 1886
[300/400]
“
In the midst of much that perplexes, and duties that fully engross my time, I receive your note
asking me to do I hardly know what . . . . I know Mr. Sangster and believe him to be a good
artist and much deserving man. Somebody asked my permission to dedicate to me I think some
of the etchings. I consented . . . . I did not think I bound myself to advertise or praise them.The
first I am not willing to do, and the latter I cannot do because I have not seen them . . . . I hope
they are good enough to stand on their merits.”
WITH
—
Letter from Cleveland’s personal secretary to Lay explaining that the president has no
time to examine etchings. 2 pages, 8vo.Washington, 20 December 1886.
“THE NEWYORK SUN” IS “ATREACHEROUSVILE SHEET”
106
●
CLEVELAND, GROVER. Autograph Letter Signed, to Representative William
Lawrence Scott, sharing his satisfaction upon reading an Erie newspaper article critical of
the
New York Sun
and its editor, speculating on why Democrats support the newspaper,
expressing regret that they did not meet during his recent visit and sending regards. 2
1
/
2
pages, 8vo, personal stationery, written on a single folded sheet; short separation at vertical
fold near upper edge, faint toning at folds.With the original envelope. (TFC)
[NewYork], 3 December 1889
[400/600]
“
I read with a great deal of satisfaction the
article in an Erie newspaper cooking The
Sun and that precious old scamp its Editor.
It read a good deal like the ‘stop-gap’
speech; and I have wondered if the author
of that speech was not somewhere near
when the article was written.
“. . .
Of course I am prejudiced. I have a
personal grievance against the paper and its
Editor. So have you. But there are enough
sins against decency and the Democratic
party laid at their doors, to justify the hatred
and contempt of every respectable man and
every patriotic Democrat. . . .”
In late July of 1884, during Cleveland’s
campaign for his first term as president,
newspapers across the country reported that
Cleveland had been paying child support
for Oscar Folsom Cleveland, the child of
Maria Crofts Halpin, who, the story
asserted, was married to someone other
than Cleveland at the time the child was
conceived. Charles A. Dana editorialized
in the
Sun
that the unscrupulous
Cleveland was unfit for the presidency and
should withdraw from the race.