Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-12-30
GOV. CLEVELAND'S VIEWS.

In response to letter addressed to him
by Geo. VIM. Curtis and Others Of the Civil
Service Reform League, requesting Gov.
Cleveland to be guided by the principles of
civil service reform in the selection of pub
lie servants ia his coming administration,
the President elect writes:
ALBANY, N Y, Dec. 25.
Hon. Geo. Wm Curtis, President, &c:
Dear Sir-Your communication, dated
Dec. -, addressed to me on behalf of the
national Civil Service Reform League, has
been received That practical reform In
the civil service is demanded is abundantiy
established by the fact that statute, re-
ferred to in your communication, to secure
such a result has been passed in Congress
with the assent of both political parties;
and by the further fact that a sentiment IS
generally prevalent among patriotic people
calling for the fair and honest enforcement
of the law which has been thus enacted. l
regard myself pledged to this, because my
contention of true democratic faith and
public duty requires that.this and all other
statutes should be in good faith and without
evasion enforced, and because in many ut
terances made prior to my election as presl-
dent, approved by the party to which be-
long, and which I have no disposition to
disclaim, have in effect promised the peo-
pie that this should he done.
am not unmindful Of the fact to which
YOU refer, that many of our citizens fear that
the recent party change in the national ex'
ecutiye NAV demonstrate that the abuses
which have grown up in The civil service
are ineradicable. l know that they are
deeply rooted, aud that the spolIs system
has been supposed to be intimately related
to SUCCESS in the maintenance of party Or
ganization, and am not sure that all those
who profess to be the friends of this reform
will stand firmly among its advocates when
they find it obstructing their way to patron
age aud place. But fully approaching the
trust committed TO my charge, no such con
sideration shall cause q relaxation on my
| rart of an earnest effort to enforce this law.
There is a class of government positions
| which are not within The letter of the civil
service statute, but which are SO dlsconnect-
ed with the policy of an administration that
the removal therefrom of present incum
bents, iu my opinion, should not be
made during the terms for which they
were appointed solely on partisan
grounds, and for the purpose of put
| ting in their places those who are in po-
litical accord with the appointing power.
But many now holding such positions have
forfeited all just claim to retention, because
they have used their places for party pur-
poses in disregard Of their duty to the PEG
DIE, and because instead Of Deiug decent
public servants, they have proved them
selves offensive partisans and INSCRIPTIONS
manpulators of local party management.
The lessons of the past should be unlearn-
ed, and such officials, as we'll as their sue
cessors, should he taught that efficiency,
fitness and devotion TO public duty are the
conditions of their continuance in public
place, and that the quiet and unobtruslve
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 coming admins
tration is to be democratic, due regard
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 consideration, selections for office
not 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 i'm
portunity or selfsolicited recommendations
| on behalf of candidates Tor appointment.
Yours, very truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND.