The Writings of Carl Schurz/To President Cleveland, September 17th, 1885
TO PRESIDENT CLEVELAND
New York, Sept. 17, 1885.
The enclosed letter I received from ex-President Hayes with the request, if I had a friend in the Administration, to communicate it to him. I beg leave to submit it to you.
I also take the liberty of bringing to your notice some articles of the Evening Post on the Bacon case. I am with deepest regret obliged to say that they fairly express the feeling which at this moment prevails among our common friends here. I wrote to you at the time of Mr. Hedden's and Mr. Beattie's appointment [respectively as collector and as surveyor of the port of New York], that while they, or rather their backers, were in control of the customhouse, all sorts of things in violation of your principles and pledges would be done, or attempted to be done there, without your knowledge. It seems I was not far out of the way. Similar mistakes made here and there have not yet called forth open demonstrations of feeling like those of the Evening Post; however, the respect which is entertained for your character and the confidence in the rectitude of your intentions have inspired hope and restrained criticism. But it becomes clearer every day that no reform Administration can succeed, and the best intentions on the part of the President will not prevent failure and disgrace, if those exercising power under him do not honestly sympathize with him in his principles and aims. The open opposition of your policy among the members of the party is not half as dangerous to your success and not one-thousandth part as dangerous to your honor as the bad faith or indifference of men entrusted with the execution of your views and the redemption of your promises.