The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-31
Hon. Dorman B. Eaton Says 1t Is Timely
and Significant, and EmbOdies the Views
sOf True Statesmen of all Parties.
There viii Be No Mixed Cabinet, and
No Timid or Compromising Policy.
The Defeat of the Republican Party Attribu-
ted to Its Ineffective Support of Civil
Service Reform in the Beginning.
HON. DoRMAN b. EAToN.
Views of the President of the Civil-Service
Commission.

Views of the President of the Civil-Service
Commission.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3O.-Hon Dorman B.
Eaton, president of the Civilservice Commits
sion, was to-day asked by a representative of the
Associated Press for his views in regard to Gov
ernor Cleveland's letter. published this morning.
Mr. Eaton, in reply, expressed himself as follows:
ut would be unpardonable presumption in me
to assume to speak for Governor Cleveland but
1 may speak freely for myself. l regard the
letter as the deliberate, significant and timely
utterance of man who comprehends the situa-
ton and has the courage of his convictions and
his duties. 1t is a platform on the subject to
which it relates. The views of the letter are
those common to all true statesmen of both
parties. These views are those most
rapidly growing in the hearts of the people. The
policy disclosed in the letter is that by which
alone his party can retain power or the country
escape decay. 1t shows plainly that we are to
have no mixed Cabinet and no timid or compro-
missing policy, but strong, positive honest,
courageous and absolutely Democratic admins
tration. 1t will be one in broad contrast to the
last Democratic administration, which was weak,
evasive and scornful of a noble and growing SEN
timent. l may do injustice to my political
opponents, but I must think that many of them
have been hoping that Governor Cleveland
would be found ready to break his pledges and
trihe with his convictions This letter ought to
dispel ali such Illusions and is, therefore, time
ly. The place-hunters of his party may yet give
him much trouble and perhaps may bring their
party near to ruin by their greed for Office
'The Democratic party now stands, as it did
when Buchanan was elected where two roads
separate-one leading to honor and victory,
and the other to shame and defeat. Its
fate depends on its choice of roads
and leaders. If I cared more for my party than
for my country, l should hope the greed and
clamor for places and spoils would break
through the civil service law and rules, and en-
gulf the new President with all the statesmen of
his party The declaration of the letter that
the lesson of the past should be unlearned' may
well be pondered by Republicans as we'll as
Democrats.
at is Just ten years since President Grant,
through a special message, asking a Repub-
hcan Congress to make a small appropriation
for enforcement of civilservice rules to
which the Republican party was solemnly
pledged. Unfortunately there was then
no statesmen in Congress who could see that the
new cause, with elements of potentcy in the near
future, was beginning to stir the hearts of the
people. In the eyes of Republican leaders, the
early friends of the cause were enthusiasts and
doctrlnarles,' at whom partisan journals es-
pecially delighted to sneer. No member in
either House cared to even call for the yeas and
nays on the appropriation. Amid jeers and
laughter civil-service reform, in the opinion of
the leaders of its enemies was consigned to the
tomb of the Capulets. About that time the Re
publican party entered upon slow decline job
berry and patronage mongering more and more
flourished. At that time. too, was begun
a deliberate method-and soon after
ward carried forward through
many affiliated organizatioLs-that broad
appeal to the virtue and wisdom of the
country which two years ago convinced a re-
luctant Congress that the reform sentiment
must be needed. A civil service reform bill was
prepared. Courageous and patriotic Demo
crats-Pendleton in the Senate and Willis in the
House-to whom the country owes much,
brought in that bill, which Republicans con
tributed by far the most in speech, earnestness
and votes to make it a law. But their return to
sound principles on this subject was rather late
aud their support Of them in the last canvass
was rather feeble and equivocal-tacts which
in my opinion. insured their defeat. They then
gave the Democrats chance to capture that
cause and now that reform sentiment having
grown to be great political farce, having cap
tured the Empire State, and under the leader
ship of Governor Cleveland shaped its admin
istration to reform methods, speaks in firm, de-
cisive and unmistakable language through the
letter Of the President-elect, whom that senti-
ment has thus early in its course brought to the
head of this Nation.
I'm these facts we may see part of the lesson
to be unlearned. 1t seems to me plain where
the new President stands, and which road ho
regards as the true road to honor and duty
But will his party unlearn the lessons of its own
folly, gain wisdom from the folly of its oppo-
nentsl Under the now civil-service law, Re
publican administration, with magnanimity
Unprecedented in our history has given official
pla fn IN of oil
nents. Will the Democratic administration
have the patriotism and courage needed to fol-
low that examplel These are vital questions
which that letter suggests and which impart to
it profound significance"
TALK AMONG CONGRESsAIEN