374. GROVER CLEVELAND (1837 - 1908) 22nd and 24th President of the United States, supported civil service and fiscal reform. Superb content pair of A.L.S.'s as President on Executive Mansion letterheads, the first 3pp., the second 2pp., both 8vo., and written in Washington on Jan. 4, 1897 to Franklin MacVeagh. MacVeagh was a prominent banker and would later serve as Taft's Secretary of the Treasury. Cleveland's first letter reads, in part: "...Official duties prevent my acceptance of the invitation I have received on behalf of the National Democrats of the Middle States, to attend their [Andrew] Jackson Day banquet...When passion and prejudice threaten to abuse [?] the meaning of true Democracy and prevent its patriotic purposes, a re-union of those who are democratic for the sake of principle and the good of their country, cannot fail to be inspiring and useful. On an occasion when the character and achievements of Andrew Jackson are commemorated, the old landmarks of Democratic faith should be distinctly pointed out...Democracy is not disorder...its regard for popular rights does not mean the care of only a portion of our people, that its loyalty to the Constitution and laws does not mean a [?] challenge of the duty of civil obedience; that its aggressiveness does not mean class hatred and sectional vituperation; and that its success should never mean such [?] partisan triumph, at the sacrifice of principle and patriotism...". Cleveland immediately followed this letter with another he enclosed with the first. Clearly fearful of typos that often plagued his published writings, he asks: "...In writing the letter enclosed with this I have struggled very hard with its penmanship. If for any reason it should be given to the press won't you please take a little pains to see that its imperfections are not multiplied by the type[setter]s? I have suffered heavily from this thing in the past...I ought by this time 'to be used to it'. And yet I don't enjoy it...". With holograph transmittal envelope. Both letters bear one fold each but are otherwise fine. Incidentally, many have forgotten that Andrew Jackson Day is the anniversary of the battle of New Orleans. $700 - 900