Beschreibung:

CLEVELAND, GROVER, President . Autograph manuscript signed (Grover Cleveland") of his funeral tribute to President William McKinley n.p., n.d. [Princeton, N.J.?], [just after 14 September 1901]. 2 pages, 4to, written in ink on rectos only of two sheets of notepaper, a draft, comprising some 630 words in Cleveland's hand, with portions of three lines and several words lined out (but readable) and interlinear additions. CLEVELAND EULOGIZES HIS SUCCESSOR, PRESIDENT MCKINLEY A draft of Cleveland's public eulogy in the wake of President McKinley's death from a bullet fired by Leon Czolgosz in Buffalo on 6 September. Former President Cleveland, a Democrat, recalls attending Republican McKinley's inauguration and praises his example: "The death of our lamented President and the solemnities that followed it have especially touched me. I not only sustain my full share of the grief which is common to all my fellow citizens, but it seems to me that I have been brought within a more inner circle of relationship to the man we mourn...I recall...when he came from his home to receive from my hands the great office to which he had been elected [i.e., the Presidency]. I remember the pleasant social meetings...and the technical formalities that passed between us...and I remember how through it all the incoming President in his amiable manner manifested his serious appreciation of the responsibilities he he was about to assume. An incident interesting now occurred on our way to the Capitol where he was to take the oath of office [on 4 March 1897] as we sat side by side amid the cheers of many thousands of his rejoicing fellow citizens and friends. While he acknowledged their hearty greetings in the most friendly manner he wore the sober expression that plainly showed his thoughts were on the solemn things that awaited him. I shall never forget his manner when he turned to me and said: 'What an impressive thing it is to assume tremendous responsibilities.' I recall too our parting at the White House on our return from the inauguration ceremonies and the exchange of hearty good wishes for each other -- he the President and I a private citizen. As I held his hand and wished for him the greatest measure of success I added: 'and I hope Mr. President when your term ends you will have all the reasons that I now have to welcome retirement.'" "Hardly more than forty-eight hours ago, I went to.. Washington. Again...I visited the Capitol building. Again my presence there was related to him; but the way there was lined with quiet sad weeping men and women and when I arrived I stood by his coffin. He had met the responsibilities he so keenly realized when we met together then. The manner in which he had met and borne them was known and approved by his fellow Countrymen; and his accounts had been submitted to God for final audit. As the incidents of the time when I saw him assume the responsibilities crowded into my mind, the thought came upon me with tremendous impressiveness that I had been related in a most imtimate way to the beginning of a distinguished presidential career of which the end was then before me in death -- death with honor and death without fear of the judgements sent of God." "What is then left behind for our people by the President we mourn? He has left us a priceless gift in his example of a useful and pure, of his fidelity to public trusts and his demonstration of the value of the kindly virtues that not only ennoble mankind but lead to success. It is for us who remain to enforce this example and make it a saving influence for good in all our progress as a nation and in any vicissitude that awaits our future." Cleveland concludes with the thought that McKinley's memorial services "should be but the beginning of more strenuous extertions on the part of our Churches to arouse our people to their obligations in the fulfillment of every civic duty," and to a recognition that "God still lives and reigns; and he will not turn his face f