Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-12-30
THE cfvIL.sEg VICE LEAGUE
Address 70 the Presidents. Eiect-,A Happy Re.
sponsc frcm Him.

Address 70 the President Eiees--A Happy Re
sponsc from Him.
TBy telegraph TO the Dispaich.1
NEW YORK. December 29.-The follow
Ing correspondence explains Itself:
NATIONAL CrvIL-sERvIcE REYoRN LEAGUE. }
OrricE No. PINE STREET,
NEW YORK, December 20, 1884.
! Hon. Grocer Cleveland:
sir.--We have the honor to address yot
on behalf ~ the National Civil-Seryice he
form League, an association composed o
citizens Of all partics whose sole purpose u
indicated by its name, and which takes NJ
part whatever In party controversy. TIL
vast increase In the number OF per
sons engaged in the civil service ant
the grave mischeis and dangers arr
sing from general proscriptio,
i'm The service, which for bali n century ha'
followed the change OF party control Of
tie National Administration, and have pro
duced so profound an impression upon the
public mind. that the first effective steps to
wal reform were taken with the coOpera'
ton Of both parties in the passage OF thC
reform nc; Of January 16, 1888. .be abn'e'
which that act SEEKS to correct, however,
are so strongly cDtrenched In the trldi
iiors and agcs OF both parties that there
j. naturally widespread anxiety lest tn
party change in the National Executive
effected by the late election should sh)N
them 10 lie insuperable; hut believing a
we do that the reform system cannot be-
held 10 be securely established until it hl'
safely passed the ordeal OF such party
change. and recalling with satisfaction and
confidence your public expressions favor.
allie 20 reform, and your official acts as
Child Executive Of the State Of New
York, we confidently commend this cause
to your patriotic care in the exercise OF the
great power with which the American pco-
pc have entrusted You.
Respectfully yours,
George William Curtis, president; VIII
liam Potts, secretary; John Jay, Moor
field Story. j. Hall Peasants, W. W.
Montgomery. Everett l.. Wheeler. Frede-
rick Cromwell. Morrill, Wym1n, Jr.,
Carl SclurZ, Silas W. Burt, a. L.. Mac
Donaugh, william Carey Sanger. and
William w. Aiken, Executive Commit
tee.
PREsIpENT-ELRCT CLEyELASD's REPLY.
ALBANY, y. T., December p. 1884.
Hon. George William Curtis, President, de-:
Dear Sir,-Your communication dated
December 20lh. addres. ed to me on behalf
Of the National CiviI-Seryice Reform
League. has been received. That practi-
cal reform in civil service is demanded j.
abundantly established by the fact that the
statute reierTedtO in your communication
TO secare such result has been passed in
Congress with the assent OF both political
parties, and by the further fact that the
sentiment is generally prevalent among
patriotic people calling for fair and honest
enforcement OF the law which hIs been
thus enacted. | regard myself pledged to
this because my cOncep ion OF true Demo-
cratic faith and public duty requires that
this and all other statutes should be n good
faith and without evasion enforced, and
because in many uttcrances made prior to
my election a. President. approved 10y the
party to which | belong. and which have
no disposition TO disclum, have in effect
promised the people that this should be
done. | am not unmindful OF the fact To
which you refer, that many OF Que citiz us
fear that the recent party change IN the
National Executive may demonstrate that
abuses which have grown w in the civil
service are incradicablc. ] know that they
are deeply rooted, and that the Spoils SyS.
tenn has been supposed TO be intimately re-
lated to success in the maintenance OF party
organization, and / am not sure that all
those who profess TO be friends OF this
reform will stand firmly among its adyO-
Gates when they fiud it obStructine their
way 10 patronage and place. but fully APP
prccIating the trust committed t. ny
charge. no such consideration shall ca1-e q
relaxation on ny part OF IN earnest eff irt
to enforce this law. There is a clas oi
Government positions which are not
within the letter Of ciyil-seryice stliu'r,
but which are so disconnected with The
policy Of an Administration that removal
therCfrOm Of the present incumbents, in
my opinion, should not be made during
the terms for which they were appointed
solely on partisan grounds. and for the
purpose OF putting in their places
those who were in political accord
with the appointing power; but
many now holding such positions have
forfeited all just claim 10 retention
because they have used their places for
party purposes in disregard Of their duty
TO the people, and because, instead OF being
decent public servants. they have proved
themselves offensive partisan> and uns :ru-
ious manipulators oi local party manage.
ment. The lessons OF the past should be
unlearned. and such officials, as well rs
their successors. should be taught that efli-
ciency, fitness, and devotion 10 duty are
conditions Of their continuance in public
place, and that q quiet and unObtrllsive eX-
erCise Of individual political rights is
reasonable measure OF their party service.
II ! were addressing none but party
friends. should deem It entirely proper TO
remind them tnat though the coming Admin
istraiiOn il to toe Democratic. due regard
for the peoples interest does not permit
faithful party work to be always rewarded
by appointment 10 Office, and TO say to
them that while Democrats may expect all
proper consideration, selections for ofli'e
not embraced within the ciyil-scryicc rules
will be based upon sufficient inquiry aS ~
fitness instituted 10y those charged with
that duty rather than upon persistent i'm
porlunity or sclf.sOlicited recommendation,
on behalf OF the candidates for appoint
mCnt. Yours very truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND.