Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-12-30
THE FUTURE.
The Country Realizes that the Right
Man has Been Selected for
the Right Place.
The National 0ivil-seIvioe Reform League
Draw from the President-Blsot
His Policy,
No Changes to Be Expected Solely
ON Partisan Grounds-The
Spells System Must Go.

NEW YORK, Dec. 20-The follow
ing correspondence explains itself:
NATIONAL CIviLSEEyIcE BEronM
LEAGUE oEflcE, PINE s1naEr
NEW York, Dec. 20, 1881.
To the Hon. Grover Cleyelond
"Sm--we have the honor to adj
dress you in behalf of the National
Ciyil-scrvice Reform league, an associ-
alton composed Of citizens OF all parties
whose sole purpose is indicated by its
name, and which has taken no part
whatever in party controversy. The
vast increase In TIE number of
persons engaged in the civil SER
vice and the grave mischiefs
and dangers arising from the
general prescription in the service,
which for half century has fol-
lowed the change OF party control OF
the national administration have pro-
duced so profound an impression upon
the public mind that the first effective
steps towards reform were taken with
the cooperation of both parties In the
passage of the reform act of January
TO- 1883 The abuses which that act
seeks to correct, however, are SO
strongly intrenched In the tradition
and usages of both parties that there is
naturally widespread anxiety to test
the party change In the national eX.
ecutive effected by the late election.
Believing, as we do, that the reformed
system cannot be held TO be securely
established until IL has safely passed
the ordeal OF such party change, and
recalling with satisfaction and conf
damon .gnHgr t,ublfa ax-rropuangs Fn.vwvu
BILE to reform, and your official acts as
chief executive OF the state of
New York, we confidently COM
mend this cause TO your patriotic care
in the exercise of the great power with
1 which the American people have in
| trusted you, Respectfully yours,
| George William Curtis, president;
| O.. w. Potts, secretary; John jay,
| Mooriield Starrey, j. Hall Peasants,
w. w. Montgomery, Everett r.
| Wheeler, Fred Cromwell, Morrill,
| Wyman, ir,, Carl Schurz, Sllas w.
! Burt, A. r. MacDououRh, VIM. Ca
rey Sanger, VIM. w Aiken, executive
committee.
PRRsIDENT-ELECT CLEYEIAND's RE-
PLY.
ARRAY, NEw YoRK, Dec. 25, 1881.
I
SIR Your communication dated
Dec. goth, addressed to me on behalf Of
the national civil service reform League
has been received. That prac-
tica reform in the civil SER
vice reform Ia demanded, Is
abundantly established by the fact
that the statute referred to in your
communication TO secure 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
has been thus enacted. / regard my
self pledged to this because my CON
eeptlon Of true Democratic faith and
public duty requires that this, and ali
other statutes, should be In good faith
and without evasion enforced, and be-
cause, in many utterances made prior
u my election as president-apDIove
| by the party to which be.
long and which have
no disposition to dsclaim-l
have in effect promised the people that
this should be done. am not unmind
ful Of the fact TO which you refer thai
many OF our citizens fear that from this
recent party change 1t Is natural thai
the executive may demonstrate thai
the abuses which have grown up II
the civil service are ineradlcable, ]
know they are deeply rooted aud thai
the spoils system has been supposed 4
he intimately related TO success Ii
the maintenance OF party organiza
ton, and am not sure that al
those who profess 10 be friends OF thi
reforms will stand firmly among its ad
vocates when they find II obslruetinl
their way 10 patronage and place. Ru
iully appreciRting the trust committee
10 my charge, no such consideration
shall cause the relaxation on my par
u earnest fort TO enforce this law
There u a class Of government position
which are not within the letter OF tn
civil-service statute, but whicl
are SO disconnected will
the policy OF an administration tina
the removal therefrom OF the presen
Incumbent, In my opinion, should no
be made during the term for whicl
they were appointed solely on partl
~ grounds aud for the parp0se o
putting 10 their place those who mr.
m political accord with the appoinllnl
power. But many now holding auel
places have forfeited ali Just claim q