TO PRESIDENT CLEVELAND
Before leaving Washington I had a conversation with Secretary Carlisle about the financial situation, in the course of which he expressed himself as more and more inclined to think that the earliest possible calling together of Congress—earlier than September—would be advisable. I am very much of the same opinion. The financial condition of the country is becoming more critical every day. The failures and restrictions of credit which have already occurred are only a premonitory symptom. Whatever measures the Executive alone can take will only be palliatory, temporary makeshifts. I fear you take too great a responsibility upon yourself for what may happen if the meeting of Congress is put off unnecessarily long. As to the chances of getting the required legislation, they would probably be as good now as they may be four months hence.
My conversation with Mr. Carlisle also drifted upon the Sturtevant case, and Mr. Carlisle gave me the same reasons for the removal that I heard from you. You probably had them from the same source. After I had seen Mr. Carlisle I met several newspaper correspondents, some of whom I know to be very honorable and responsible men. The story I heard from them was very different; that Mr. Sturtevant was a man of moderate fortune, “well off” for a Government clerk; that he had acquired his means by economy, prudent management and a few fortunate investments; that the charge of his supplying [?] newspaper men with stationery etc., was utterly unfounded and absurd; that he was much esteemed as a citizen; that if the fact of a Government clerk's getting into good circumstances by legitimate means were to subject him “ex ipso to suspicion” and tell against him, it
