The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-12-30
WITHOUT EVASION"
CLEVELAND SAYS HE WILL ENFORCE
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM,
And VIII Not Gonfine Himself Only Il
Those Positions within the Letter
of the important
Correspondence.

NEW York, Dec 80 George William
Curtis, president of the National Civil Serv-
ice Reform league has addressed letter to
President-elect Cleveland, asking him to an
nounce his intentions regarding the enforce
lnent of the civil service reform law, and the
advancement of reform principles. To this
letter Mr.. Cleveland responds as follows:
ALBANY, Dec. 25, lSS4-HoE. GEORGE
WILLIAM CURTIS, PRESIDENT, ETC: DEAR
SIR Your communication dated Dec. ~,
addressed to me on behalf of the National
Civil Service Reform league, has been re
ceived. That practical reform in the civil
service is demanded is abundantly
established BY the fact that the
statute referred to in Your communion
ton to secure such 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 fair and honest
enforcement of the law, which has been thus
enacted. l regard myself pledged to this
because my conception of the true
Democratic faith and public duty re-
quires that this and all other statutes
should be, in good faith and with
out evasion, enforced, and because in the
many utterances made prior to my election
as president, approved by the party to which
belong, and which have no disposition t.
disclaim, ! have, in effect promised the
people that this should be Gone | am
not unmindful of the fact, to which
you refer, that many of our citi-
zens fear that the recent party
change in the national executive may
demonstrate that the abuses which have
grown up in the civil service are merad
icable | know they are deeply rooted, and
that the spoils system has been supposed t.
be intimately related to success in
the maintenance of party organization
| and | am not sure that those
who profess to be friends of that reform will
stand firmly among its advocates when they
find it obstructing their way to patronage
and place. But fully approaching the trus
| committed to my charge, no such consid
Grafton shall cause a relaxation on my par
of an earnest effort to enforce thi
eminent positions which are no
| within the letter of civil servic
statute but which are so disconnected wit
the policy of an administration that remova
| therefrom Of present incumbents, i'll m
opinion should not be made during the torn
for which they were appointed, solely o
partisan grounds, and for the purpose of put
ting in their places those who are i
| political accord with the appointln
| power. But many now holding position
have forfeited all just claim to retention
because they have used their places for part
purposes in disregard TO their duty to ii
the people, and because, instea
of being decent public servants, the
have proved themselves offensive part
sans and unscrupulouS manipulatOrs (
LEGAL party management. The lessons {
the past should he unlrarned, and sue
officials, as well a their successors, Shout
he taught that efficiency, fitness and dew
ton to public duty ar conditions Of the
continuance in public places