The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1885-10-03
PRESIDENT CLEvELAND's REPLY.


WASHINGTON, ID c., september IL. !
To Hon. DOr7ndn B. Futon.
MY DEAR SUI am II receipt or your let'
ter rendering your resignation as n member
of the Board of Civil Service Commissioners,
can not refrain from expressing my sin
cere regret that you have determined to
withdraw from position in the public ser.
vice where your intelligent performance OF
duty has been of inestimabe value to the
country. The friends of civil service reform
and all those who desire good government
fully appreciate your devotion for the cause
in which you early enlisted, and they have
seen with satisfaction that YOur zeal and
faith have not led you to suppose that the
reform in which yOu were engaged is insult
ed to the rules which ordinarily govern pre-
gressive human affairs, or that it should NJ
once reach perfection and universal accept.
ance. You have been willing patiently to
accept good results rs they, step by step,
could be gained, holding every advance with
unyielding steadfastness
The success which thus far has attended
the work of civil service reform is largely
due to the fact that its practical trie nds
have proceeded upon the theory that real
and healthy progress can only be made as
such of the people who cherish pernicious
political ideas, long fostered and encouraged
by vicious partisanship, are persuaded that
changes contemplated by the reform offers
| substantial improvements and benefit.
a reasonable toleratiOnf0r old pTejudices,
Il graceful recon ton Of every aid, sensi-
| BILE utilization OF every fundamentally that
| promises assistance and constant effort
/
| order of things are the means by which this
| reform movement will in the future be
| further advanced the Oppo Sition of iu"Ur
| rigble spoilsmen rendered ineffectual,alC
! thAeause placed upon sure foundation.
or course there should be no surrender OF
| principle nor backward step; ana all laws
| for the enforcement of the reform should be
rigidly executed; but the benefits which its
! principles promise will not be fully realized
unless the acquiescence of the people is ad
! ded to the stern assertion of II doctrine anc
| the Vigorous execution of the laws.
1t is source of congratulaton that there
| are so many friends OF civil service reform,
| marshaed on the practical side of the ques-
| ton. and that the number is not greater OF
| those who profess irendliness for the cause
and yet mlschevousy and with supercilous
! self righteousness diScredit every effort not
| in exact accord with their attenuated ideas,
| decry with carping criticism the labor OF
| those actually in the 1ield of reform, and,
| gnoring the conditions which bound and
| qualify every struggle fora radical improve
ment in the affairs OF government, demand
| complete and immediate perfection.
| The reference in your letter to the attitude
! of the members of my Cabinet to the merit
| system established by the civil service law,
| beside being entirely correct exhibits an APP
| probation of honest endeaVor In the direc-
| tlon OF reform and Il disposition to do Justice
| to proved sincerity, which is most crafty
| ing. If such treatment of those upon whom
| the duty rests OF administering the govern
| ment according to reform methods was the
universal rule, and II the embarra-sments
| and perpleXties attending such an admins
| traton were fairly regarded by all those
| protesting to be friendly to such meth
! dds, the avowed enemies of the cause
would be. afforded less encouragement.
| l believe in civil service reform,
| and its application in the most practicable
| form attainable, among other reasons, be-
cause II opens the door, for the rich and the
poor alike, to participation in public Of
| flee holding. And hope the time is mt hand
when all our people will see the advantages
| of Il reliance upon such an OppOrtun up
| on merit and fitness, instead of n depend
rnce on the caprice or selfish interest OF
those who mpHdently stand between the
| people and the machinery of their govern
| hent
In the one case reasonable intelligen ce
| and the education which is freely furnish ed
Or forced upon the youth of our land are
the credentials to office in the other. the
| way is found in favorsccured by participa-
ton In partisan work often uniting per
| son morally, II not mentally and physically,
| for the responsibilities and duties OF public
| employment.
You will agree with me, I think, that the
| support which has been given to the present
| administration in its efforts to preserve and
| advance this reform by party restored
| to power alter exclusion for many years
| from participation In the places attached to
| the public service; confronted with new
| system prccluding the redistribution OF Sucl
places In its interest; called upon to sur
render advantages which perverted par
tsanship had taught the American people
belonged to success and pcrturbed VITA
| suspicion always raised In such an cmer-
! gency, that their rights in the conduct OF
this reform had not been scrupulOusly re-
garded, should receive due acknowledge
ment and should confirm our belief that
there is a sentiment among the people bet
ter than a desire TO hold Office, and a patri
otc impulse upon which may safely rest the
integrity of our Institutions and the strength
and prosperity of our Government.
have determined TO request you to re-
tain your position until the first day of No
vember next, ut which time your resignation
may become operative. i desire to express
my entire confidence I'm your attachment to
the cause OF civil service reform, and your
ability to render IL efficient aid, and l In.
duge the hope and expectation that, not
outstanding the acceptance of your resig-
nation, your interest in the object for which
YOU have labored so assiduOusly, will con.
tnue beyond the official term which YOU sur
render. Yours very truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND,