The Portland daily press., 1884-12-30

WIN. CARY SANGER,
VIM. W. AIKEN,
Executive Committee.
Governor Cleveland replies to the above as
follows:
ALBANY, N. Y, Dec. %, 1884.
Hon. Geo. I'm. Curtis, President, etc.:
Dear Sir: Your communication, dated Dec.
20, addressed to me on behalf of ths National
Civil Service Reform League, has been receiv.
ed. That practical reform in the civil service
Is demanded is sbundantly established By The
fact that the siatuts referred to in your COM
munication to secure such a result has been
passed in Congress with the assent of both po-
litical parties, and by the further fact that
sentiment is generally prevalent among patri-
otic people calling for a fair and honest en-
forcement OF the law which has been thus en-
acted. regard myself pledged to this because
my conception of the true democratic faith
and public duty requires that this and all
other ststutes should be in good faith and
without evasion enforced, and because is manS
utterances made prior to my election as Pres-
dent, approved by the party to which I belong
aud which have no disposition to disclaim, I
have in effect promised the people that this
should be done. I am not unmindfa1 of the
fact to which you refer. that many of our citi-
zsns fear that the recent party change in the
national executive may demonstrate that
abuses which have grown mp in the civil SER
vice are irradicable. know they are deep.
ly rooted, and that the spoils system
has been supposed to be intimately related to
success in the maintenance OF party organiza-
ton, and am not sure that all those who pro.
fess to be friends of this reform will stand
firmly among its advocstes when they find it
obstructing their way to patronage and place.
But fully appreciating the trust com mitted to
my charge, no such consideration shall caase
relaxation on my part of the earnest effort to
enforce this law.
There is Glass of government positions
which are not within the letter of the civil
service statute, but which are so disconnected
with the policy of administration that remoy-
81 therefrom of the present incumbents, in my
opinion, should not bo made during the terms
for which they are appointed, solely on part-
san grounds, and for the purpose OF putting In
their places those who are in political accord
with the appointing power. But many
now holding such positions have for
feited all just claim to retention
because they have used their places
for party purposes in disregard of their duty to
the people, and because, instead of being de-
cent public servants, they have proved them
selves offensive partissns aud unscrupulous
mspipulators OF local party management. The
lessons of the past should be unlearned, and
such officials, as we'll as their successors,
should be taught that efficiency, fitness and
devotion to public duty are the conditions of
their continuance in public place, and that the
quiet and unohtrusivs exercise of individual
political rights is the reasonable measure of
their party service. If were addressing none
but party friends / should deem it entirely
proper to remind them that though the COM
ing administration ia to be Democratic, due re-
gard for the peoples interest does not permit
faithful party work to be always rewarded by
appointment to office. and to say to them that
while Democrats may expect all proper con-
sideration, selections for Office rot embraced
within the civil service rules will be based
upon sufficient inquiry as to fitness instituted
by those charged with that duty, rather than
upon persistent importantly or self-soicited
recommendations on behalf of the candidate
for appointment.
Yours very truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND.