Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-12-31
EATON LAUDS CLEVELAND
THE CHARACTER OF THE MAN
STAMPED IN HIS LETTER.

AsHINGTON, Dec. 80-Hon. Dorman b.
Eaton, President OF the Civil Service Com
mission, was to-day asked by a representa-
/ tive OF the Associated Press for his views in
regard to Gov. Gleveland's letter published
thls morning. Mr.. Eaton, in reply, ex-
| pressed himself follows: ''It would be an
unpardOnable presumption in me 10 assume
10 speak for Gov. Cleveland, but may speak
freely for myself. l regard the letter as
deliberate, significant and timely utterance
| OF a man who comprehends the situation, and
has the courage Of his convictions and his
duties. 1t Is a platform on the subject to
/ Whlch 1t 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.
Inc policy disclosed in the letter Is that bv
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
tlmlu or compromising policy, but a strong,
| PosltlVe, honest, courageous, and absolutely
Democratic administration. 1t will be one of
convictions and principles, in broad contrast
| 10 the last Democratic administration, which
was weak, cOwardly, evasive and scOrnful Of
the noble and growing sentiment and was,
consequently, ruinOus TO the parry and dis
| graceful to the country.
PLACE HUNTERS TO BE DISAPPOINTED.
81 may do injustice to my political opponents,
but must think that many of them have been
hoping that Coy Cleveland would be found
ready to break his pledges and tritie with his
| convictions. This letter ought to dispel such
| illusions, and is therefore timely. 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 de-
| feat. Its fate depends on its choice of roads
| and of leaders. If cared more for my party
than for my country l should hope that greed
| and clamor for places and spOils would break
| through the civil service law and rules, and
| engulf the new President with all the states
| men of his party. The declaration of the let
ter that the lessons of the past should be un-
learned" may well be pondered by Republi-
cans as well as by Democrats.
BIRTH OF THE REFORM MOVEMENT.
''It is just ten years since President Grant
| through special message, was asking a Re-
| publican Congress to make small apprOpri-
! alton for the enforcement of civil service rules
| to which the Republican party was solemnlv
pledged. Unfortunately there was then no
/ statesmen IN Congress who could see that q
npew cause with the elements of potency in
near future was beginning to stir the
s Of the people. In the eyes of the Re-
IAN leaders, the early friends of the
here enthusiasts and ''doctrinalres''
partisan journals especially delight
neer. No member in either House
20 even call for the ayes ana
pm the appropriation. Amid
the opinion of the leaders OF its
was consigned to the tomb of the
,. About that time the Republican
| tered upon slow decline. ,JobDery
tronage mOngering more and more
ing. At that time began a de-
III method, which soon afterward car
ri rward through many affiliated organi-
"a that broad appeal to the virtue and
W of the country which two years ago
co ed the reluetannt Congress that the
re sentiment must be needed. The civil
SCI reform bill was prepared.
LED BY NOBLE DEMOCRATS.
rageous and patriotic Democrats. Pen
did in the Senate and Willis in the House,
to Pm the country owes much, brought in
tina Pill, to which the Republicans con-
tri q by far the most in speech, earnest
mes yhd votes to make law. But their re-
tur sound principles on this subject was
rat late, and their support Of them in the
last vass was rather feeble and equivOcal
fact Ich, in my opinion, insured their de-
| feat ey thus gave the Democrats chance
to g re that cause. and now that the
refOr sentment, having grown to be
a gres Plitical force, having captured the
Empirl ate, aDd, under the leadership of
| Gov. G. land, shaped its administration to
reform Rds, speaks in firm, decisive and
unmlsta language through the letter of
the Presf kct, whom that sentiment has
thus early cOurse brought to the head
| of the natlo AeSe facts we may see part
OF the lesson learned. 1t seems to me
| plain where President stands, and
| which road - as the true
| road to hOnofV nRRnt will his
| party unlearn own
folly or gain wisd is op-
| ponents2 Will it rship?
| Under the neW ciYirN kepub-
| lican Administrations slty un-
| precedented in our histdy official
| places to from 500 to political
opponents. viii the Demon nistra-
tiOn have the patriotism andv needed
to follow that example2 re vital
| questions which that letter. Ists and
which lmpart to 1t profound sig nce."
REPRESENTATIVE ELLIS wS.
Gov. Cleveland's letter IN ref be to the
civil service law seems to have lsed the
Democratic congressman as wei the Re
publican ofliceholders. Congre n Ellis,
| of Louisiana, was asked what h ought of
the production. He was charmed 1t is the
voice Of a statesman" he said. He ntlnued /:
ut is the principle Os the DemOc Y to sus-
| tam and enforce the law. All ii offering
this country has ever endured h3 zen the
| result Of breach Of the law. havV Alt il in
my own State when the constitution torn
away and the people exposed to thd urge
of lawlessness. The Republican par yves
its downfall TO its disregard the
letter of the law. The life of The DEM by
depends upon its uphOlding the law.
the policy indicated in Gov. Cleveland'N
ter, twenty-five years from now the pa
| VIII still be in power. Gov. Cleveland b.
proven himself to be a statesman of high
order. He will trample out this accursed
spolls system; and pray that every Demo-
cratic Senator and Representative may gather
around him and hold up his hands, as Aaron
held up the hands OF Moses. They must sus-
tain him, and make the name of the Demo-
cratic party lasting insignia Of honor and
honesty. There are sentiments in that
letter that should be posted over the portals
and gateways, as the jews used to do. They
should serve as frontal pieces to the crest
before the eyes OF American politicians"
FEELING OF THE IOwANs.
l Iowa Congressman seem to be easily sus-
tanned this year. Judge Murphy, Of that
, State, says that he ''eats and sleeps with the
! Hennepin canal project. Congressman Pusey
says that he read Clevelands letter before
foot hat ha TO-
week. MessrT. Buckner of Missouri, Buch-
, anan and Nichols Of Georgia, Dibrell Of Ten
, nessee, Springer of ILLINOIS, and Hopkins OF
l | Pennsylvania all expressed unb0unded salts
= faction over the paper.
Some Republican Congressman profess a
: fear that there is a letter between the lines
| which means that every Republican office
, | holder who can be dismissed upon any pre-
! | text will have to ''walk the plank"
e MR.. HOLMAN'S NEED OF PRAISE.
! Representative Holman thought the letter
''timely, manly and proper" He said: "Ihe
| Independents gave Mr.. Cleveland valuable
? support, and it was eminently proper for him
to answer their inquiry. AS to his course
with regard to removals from and appoint
| ''that Gov. Cleveland is entirely honest and
r sincere, and that he will faithfully
carry out the civil service law"
He said further that in Indiana, the Federal
| officials generally are very good men and
e good officers, with the exception Of those in
! the Interna Revenue service, who, Mr.. Hol-
| AAouHutg ntiu b~OA oPPoAhhSN NANNY AOA
| partisan service.
D Mr.. Buckner Of Missouri, who was sitting
| near, indOrsed Mr.. -HolmAn's Communications
, | OF the letter. He said that Gov. Cleveland
| had done right IN spreading his views upon
civil service reform before the country at this
| time.
E Mr.. Miller, of Pennsylvania, who is a Re-
| publican, said that he thought Gov. Cleve-
| land would have TO go out OF this country to
get non -partisans to fill his offices, He would
| have to import them.
: EAuRENRAnI,u ruICC