The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-04-29

Mr.. Pendleton's speech at the Dinner In
His Honor.

NEW York, April 2S.-When Mr.. Pendle-
ton was introduced, the gentlemen cheered
him for several minutes. Mr.. Pendleton re-
sponded to the toast, "0ur Guest OF the
Evening"" Ae SAID, in substance: "Mr.
President and Gentlemen--I feel 50
much honored by your kindness tonight
that 1 can not we'll express my graft
tude, for words of fitting acknowledgment
fail me. There are emotions which find no
ready Dtterance. Daring my life have had
grateful public assurances of cordial D.
provsl from friendP. have hsd the cordial
coed will of fellow psrtisans, but the highest
honor was reserved for this evening. When
l receive this mark OF commendstion from
my fellow-citizens of New York. who are as
sembled without distsnction OF political
parties, professions or callings in life, whose
only bond of union is their resolute purpose
to abolish the civil service evils. and 10
rescue the country from the perils which
these evils involve, l ses many noble names
among these presentto night. many Of whom
l had not known until an hour ago but We
ere assembled, brethren, according to the
faith, 1t is to that faith and not 70 me
personally that you pay this tribute.
as I stand among you, am pain
fully conscious boT much more
l owe TO your cOHsiderate partielity than 10
any claim Of my own. l have been faithful.
persistent and unhinching. and always
ready to sacrifice the present, in assurances
that the people in the end would see the
right, and thus eventually win in the future.
I was cropping in the dark with the jerks
bill of the old time, until Mr.. Dorman b.
Eaton explained the defects OF
that measure. I then successfully urged
the passage of the Civil Ssrvice Reform
bill IL l bear Gears they are honorable in
sigma, won IN en- honorable achievement
/ will not discuss the wrongs to be corrected
or the methods Of Fighting them. Show me
the spoils system and the merits system, aud
| will show you warfare iueYitable and 10
the desth; either may live, but the other
must die. The spoils system gives the
offices of the people not to those bsst
qualified, but to those who have rendered
the best partisan service TO the successful
csndidate it u.es public service to pay pri-
vate debts; it raises an immense army OF
oficeholders who are enlisted and paid out
of the public treasury by the party in
power; Z spoils public faith. public credit,
the public service, and in the end Will spoil
the public institutions. The system
should have no resting place in
our government The civil service system
on the other band has for lis dogma. a public
Office is public trust and the best tied TO
discharge the duties OF al Office should De
charged with the responsibility. Toe one
piyotal idea around which the details of this
public service should be entitled "a enter
nto competition for the same. IL is fair,
open, manly way. The system has wtrked
1t has improved the public service and has
made men work well and not feel like siEves.
It's scope should be enlsryed
and should be extended 10 sll Offices
where political opinions are not Necessary
to the discharge of duty, and 1t will be En-
tended. The faith of the administration Is
pledged to il. Let us press this good work
now and always TO final contamination
/ have entire faith IN President Cleveland -
a true friend of civil service reform.
TCbeers The bold and manly stand be
took in his letter OF acceptance and OF IN
early declarations made his election posi-
bic, and his actions since have been
deliberate and within the lines Of highest
duty. No more difficult task ever devOlved
upon man than upon Grover cleveland on
tie day OF his Inauguration. IN my Jodg-
ment, On the whole he has done remarkably
well. lCheers- This ls the critical time OF
his administration. lie must formulate
policies and encounter criticism from his
political opponents; he must appoint ONCE
holders, and many good men viii be
Sisappointed, bat IL IS the dUiy OF
ell his Just country men, however, they may
feel inclined TO criticise hln. 10 give nlm
now in the supreme moment OF his trial,
that hearty support that eve-y chosen raier
of eyerv free people II entitled 10. Gentle
men, I mipgle my nesrtiefe CIR grain ftloRs
with yOuls upon the emwiuent success one
good csose has attained ard thsnk you one
and all for the haEteTIDs token OF 7onr con-
siGeretiCn.'