Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-10-17

Cl,n Service Reform.
4 LETTER FROM D. b. EATON, ESQ
To the Editor Of The Republican -
In your journal of September 20, ma
long article addressed t. me, with per
sonality quite peculiar infer you desire q
brief response: and have three reasons fol
desiring TO make one. First, because | an
always glad to oblige any one, and you
especially next. because | do not like to
be placed in a false position; and, lastly,
because | much wish that the intelligent
people by whom your paper Is read should
not have their invaluable support OF clyh
service reform in any way undermined OF
discouraged \ native Of New England
myself, and much indebted TO one of the
great institutions of learning in your Com
m0nwealth, | naturally turn to that quar-
ter of the Union for an intelligent and
courageous support Of reform IN the
common interest of honesty, education and
capacity. lfpossible, would also be glad
to allay your fears, and to encourage your
zeaf for that cause.
Into some of the topics to which you
/ refer, must be excused for not entering
/ have long been an admirer Of Mr.. Curtis,
/ 10 whom YOU 50 much refer. His political
| standard has always scenes 10 me high and
/ his ability 10 be great; and the country Is
much indebted for his Seli-sacrlhclng labor
/ in the cause of civil service reform, for
I which, with all its friends | honor him.
/ But Is 1t neodful to insist that the reform
will fail. or ought to fail, because one Of
/ It's great champions could serve "a its leader
no l0nger2 VIII not all that depend upon
the good temper and fidelity of It's friends
Ii seems to me that the real question Is,
What can We DO for the cause? We know
the late chairman remains its friend and
cheers on those who wisely stand by 1t.
Nor DO see any good likely 70 come to the
reform by raising constant questions about
the motives of the President. Say, II you
please, Mr. Editor. Here j. a government
official irving to screen tine executive,
who appointed him / can sc0rn all
that unit! | find some evidence that
such charges are well founded. and II do
find il, trust | shall know how to deal
with it. One reason why such questions
are mi-chievOus l.. that they have the air
OF coming from the enemies of the reform.
! know it, authors are its warm old friends,
but what more cunning and dangerous Is
sue could its enemies raise than this: that
all the President is doing for it is from
some selfish or dishonest motive2 Hit was
said, instead, that enough Is not being
more. if public opinion on the subject was
raised and intensified by your journals and
other journals, 50 that high, irresistible
demand from the people should rise over
the executive and all the officials, by which
the work OF reform should be made more
easy, broad and rapid, | certainly would be
the last 10 complain; and without having
the slightest right to speak for the Pre>i
dent, ] venture the opinion lac would not
be the first 10 complain. Have you really
considered where the re form at present I
finds It's sustaining strength? Is it not in /
these two uarters mainly the Intelligent, +
honest, nOn-partlsan portion OF the people /
which fear your article Is well adapted |
to dishearten and in the President and his |
Cabiuet-which it seems to assail ? Do /
you bear in mind that no President, before
Gen. Grant, in our time at least, ever gave
such a reform any support? Have You con-
sidered that If, to day. the President should
withdraw his support, the reform could
make no progress-would be officially dead
until civil service reform President should
be 'lected2 Are You aware against what
fearful pressure and solicitation of partI-
sans and mercen2ries the President Is now
TO maintain himself in the de-
fence of the ground that reform has won
and OF the principles of which you say he
- no AlthU- Il IL nor poSsiDle tuen, uhleSs
you have more positive evidence that all
TINS defence and support OF civil service re-
form Is for Il really dishonest purpose, which
you can point out. that the best way to ad-
vance it may be to allow the work to inter-
pref the motive, and to strengthen the
hands of the workman without imputing
intentions?
So far as | have been able to see, and ;
ave tried To look the matter squarely IN
The lace the support which the reform has
'eceiVed from the President and his Cabl-
net mas been from motives which you and |. q
Is Americans, as honest men, as pledged
rlends-o that reform, ought to approve.
i You think | am dcluded, 1t was hardly 7
wort! Your trouble to ask me 50 many
ueStl9hS. IL Is lncredlb!e-to me that any t
andid mind can read the first rule prOmul- a
gated on the 3th OF August last-the rule i
n n, regard 70 the applications Tor Office and .
,hici4l solicitation Tor olhce with any Il
'o .I ol 'ue purpose OF the executive to e
tdilu "S tne "ofA ne mas undertaken or c
'iln any DOUBT mat the great enlargement Il
u Us sphere thereoy made was entered
pom WIN any IeNS resolution than one hrm
n nu SteSuS enough 10 encounter, II need be,
IA 1'io ig4 eeS % our partisan ana merce- Il
aiy PoIi5l'H' "cIo9s 'ne pain Oh "hich that J.
Hle STANDS a. a new and irownlng barrier. II
70" ~ ~ Nv. ftoPu,o 70 Hi4Ae HS sen re- -
ioi .'.o Hueiity anu am not mere
: 'io "Po'os's., u any 9ulcer, Out an +,
"et Sou4 qgoS'IoIs acIoIulhs 10 my con Il
an 'oii ga nav coiiHuehcel IN -
D,;l in'0H' anu Iuau,S HiihneSs Oh
- ~. - anu uUu, als9' thut am y
=. 80 ~ nj menu 10 NC unucI any Som-
= Incl =" hi0" VIII PIc'enI my speaking -
4'0el9 IA Coilueiinatioh II shdII ulscONer ="
- Necessity ior uoins 70. ="
cannot answer IN detail your mali col ol
IN Vi questions, out only the principal Vi
Oheui- IerhaPS' on fenectlon, you Will re
rec tnlt the one as 20 whether am act III
z me role OF dupe and decoy," GU
ouIG De regarded as waived, II you really 50
TENDED TO ask It, Inc following, hope ap
u VIII accept as fairly covering the resi- sh
e; WI
l. cannot say that l am satisfied with re-
! position, because all the friends of the pr
orm DO NOT give II united and effective me
pport, and 1t advances more slowly than CHI
It's my taste. But as, on the whole, it ito
-kes steady advance, is daily gaining new
ends, and has the firm support of the =
esident, the cabinet and the higher senti-
N. of the nation. | am content to labor me
d to wait. | feel sure it will achieve a res
nplete victory, 50 let US be cheerful, and &c
lent.
;. There are some uncertainties as to the pie
ent of its present application which need ter
be cleared and removed. There is great Tn
d of study and caution as to how far the u
empI should be made to extend competi- -.
=, -, aie many Itner perPleAitles- II