The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-01-07
The Civil Service.

tlOnal CIVIL SERVICE. Ills aCuS as gov
ernor of New York and his general char
acter for official honesty and lirmness
of determination had inspired conf
dence. Since his election his position
with reference to the civil offices which
will come under his control has been a
matter of lively concern to his party
friends, and of curious interest to his
political opponents. There have been
signs of the breaking out of an ire
pressible conflict" in the victorious
party over this matter of the offices.
Mr.. Cleveland has been generally cred
tied with determination to stand by
the pledges given before election. A
division of his party, represented by
men like Senators Bayard and Pendle-
ton, and also the independents who
voted for him and secured his election,
insist that the new administration will
enforce the civil service law, as mat
ter both of duty and policy. The other
party to conflict which threatens de-
mocracy with an impending crisis "
is the great multitude, picturesquely de-
scribed by Mr.. Curtis as Every hungry
and very thirsty" which resists, with
all the desperation of twenty-four years
of fasting, the abrogation of the rule,
"To the victors belong the spoils."
This faction is not in a self-denying
mood. 1t has no stomach to stand like
Tantalus, under law passed by repub-
licans and enforced by a democratic
president, with choice fruits hanging
over it, without the power of reach
ing them to satisfy its hunger or
its thirst. There is no installing on
which side of this question the element
in the democratic party from which
the cause of good government has the
most to fear is arrayed. The sub
iect of speculation is, Will it be the
controlling element? Will President
Cleveland bend before the storm which
will break upon him after the fourth of
March? The demand for office of each
incoming administration, under contin-
ued republican supremacy, has been
crushing. What will it be when the
administration changes parties as well
as presidents? What President Cleve-
land says he will do IN that event is
found in the following letter, which he
has recently written in answer to an
address from the National Civil Service
Reform League:
"That practical reform in the civil SER
vice is demanded is abundantly established
by the fact that a 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 a sentiment is generally prevalent,
among patriotic people, calling for the fair
and honest enforcement of the law which
has been thus enacted l regard myself
pledged to this because my conception of
true democratic faith and public duty re-
quires that this and all other statutes should
be in good faith and, without evasion, en-
forced, and because in many utterances
made prior to my election as president APP
proved by the party to which belong, and
which l have no disposition to disclam,
have in effect promised the people that this
should be done. am not unmindful of the
fact, to which you refer, that many of
our citizens fear that the recent party
change in the national executive may dem
| onstrate that the abuses which have grown
up in the civil service are ineradicable. /
know that they are deeply rooted and that
the spoils system has been supposed to be
intimately related to success in the mainte-
nance of party organization, and / am not
sure that all those who profess to be the
friends of this reform will stand firmly
among its advocates when they find it, OBJ
structing their way to patronage and place.
But, fully appreciating the trust committed
to my charge, no such consideration shall
cause relaxation on my part of an earnest
effort to enforce this law. There is a class
of government positions which are not
within the letter of the civil service statute,
| but which are so disconnected with the
policy of an administration that the removal
therefrom of present incumbents, in my
| opinion, should not be made during the
terms for which they are appointed, solely
on partisan grounds, and for the purpose OF
putting in their places those who are in
political accord with the appointing power.
But many now holding such positions have
forfeited all just claim TO retention, because
they have used their places for party pur-
poses, in disregard of their duty to the peo-
pie, and because, instead of being decent
public servants, they have proved them
selves offensive partisans and INSCRIPTIONS
manipulators of local party management
The lessons of the past should be unlearned
and such officials, as well as their success
sors, should be taught that efficiency, fitness
and devotion to public duty are the cond
tons OF their continuance in public place
and that the quiet and unobtrusive exercise
of individual political rights is the measure
of their party service. III were addressing
none but party friends, should deem it en-
tirely proper TO remind them that, though
the coming administration is to be demo
cratic, due regard for the peoples interes
does not permit faithful party work to b'
always rewarded by appointment to office
and to say to them that while democrats
may expect all proper consideration, selec
: tons for office not embraced within thu
civil service rules will be based upon suf
ficient inquiry as to fitness, instituted b.,
: those charged with that duty, rather thar
upon persistent importantly or self-solicitet
l recommendations, on behalf of candidates
/ for appointment"
= Mr.. Cleveland regards himself pledged
= to the enforcement of the civil servic,
law, in good faith and without eva
e SION" His personal declarations il
: this respect should be as satisfactory l.
: the supporters of that reform as the
e will be dismaying to the expectant dem
t ocratreaching out, with greedy hand, /
Il grasp all the spoils of victory. TIL
!, president-elect is not unmindful of tn
d fact that fears are felt that the recen