The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-10-01
% the Preside
PRESIDENT CLEvELASD's REILLY.
ENEtU TIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON. ID c.. September II.

WASHINGTON, ID u, SeDtemOe IL.
To Hon. DOrHldn B. Eaton.
Ny DEAR SIR:-I am n receipt of your let-
rer rendering your resignation as a member
of the Board of Civil Service Commissioners
i can not refrain from expressing my sim
cere regret that You have determined to
withdraw from a position in the pu rlic 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 tuat your zeal and
faith have not led yon to suppose that the
reform in which yOu were en0a9e1 is insult
ed to the rules which ordinarily govern pro-
gressiye human affairs. CT that il should at
once reach perfection and universal accept
ance. You have been willing patiently to
accept good results as they, step by step,
could be gained. holding every advance with
unyieldns ssea 1faStne~s
The success which thus far has attended
the work of civil service reform is largely
due to the fact that its practical fris ndS
have proceeded upon the theory that real
and healthy progress can only be made as
such of the people who cherish pernciouS
political ideas, long fostered and encouraged
by vicious partisanship. are persuaded that
changes contemplated by the reform offers
substant al improvements and benefit.
4 reasonable liberation for old pre- in dices,
a graceful r-co N ton of every aid. senSi-
BILE utilization OF every instrumentality that
promises assistance and a constant tnOrt
to demons rate the advantages OF the new
order OF things are tie means by which this
reform movement VIII in the future be
| further advanced, the Oppo ,itiOn OF in"Ur-
rigible spoilsmen rendered Intellectual, and
! the cause placed upon sure foundation.
OF course there should be no surrender Of
principle nor backward step: AMI all laws
! for the enforcement OF the reform should be
rigidIy executed: but the benefits which its
| principles promise will not be fully realized
/ unless the acquleScence of the people is ad
ded to the stern assertion OF doctrine and
/ the vigorous execution of the laws
n IL nf pnn TN a
are so many friends OF civil service reform
! marshaled on the practical side OF the queS
! tion. and that the number is not greater OF
! those VINO profess frendlineSS for the cause
| and vet mischievously and with supercilious
! self righteousness discredt every effort not
| in exact accord with their attenuated ideas,
| dacrv with Carping criticism the labor OF
! those actually in the field of reform, and
| ignoring the conditions which bound and
/ qualify every struggle FOR Il 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 ap-
| probation of honest endeavOr in the direc-
! tinn of reform and 4 disposition to do justice
| to proved sine Gritty, which is most gratlfy
| ing If such treatment of those upon whom
! the duty rests of administering the govern
! mant according to reform methods was the
| universal rule, and if the em5arra- s,nentS
! and DerpleXities attending such an admins
| tration were fairly regarded by all those
! protesting to be friendly to such meth
| ods, tie avowed enemies of the eau Sc
would be afforded less encouraEement
IL believe in civil service reform
| and Its application III the most practicable
! form attainable, among other reasons, be-
| cause it opens the door, for the rich anl the
! poor alike, to q participation in public Of
| iice-holdng. And hope the time is mt iand
| when all our people viii see the adVan'a'E'S
| of Il reliance upon such an opportunity; up
on merit and fitness, instead OF Il Gepen l.
| hA interest
! those who impudently stand between the
people and the machinery of their govern
ment
! In the one case Il reas Dnabla intelligen &C
! and the education whicn is freely FURNISHED
! or forced upon the youth of our land are
/ the credentials to office in the otner the
| way is found in favor secured by p1rtlclpa-
| ton in partisan work often uniting per
| son morally. if not mentally and physlchliE
for thn responsibilities and duties oil puOIE
| employment.
/ support which has been given to the present
| administration in its efforts to preserve an
| advance this reform by party restort'
! to power after exclusion for many year
| from participation in the places attached u
the public service; confronted with new
| system precluding the redistribution OF Suci
| places in its interest; called upon To sur
render advantages which a perverted par
tisanship lad taught the American people
belonged to success, and perturbed W q
| suspicion always raised III sllch an ehlel
/ gcncy, that their rights in the conduct oi
! this reform had not been scrIpu!ouSly re-
garded, should receive due acknowledge.
! ment and should confirm our beleI thit'
| there is a sentiment among tne people bet
ter than desire to hold office, and pltri
| otic impulse mp n which may safely rest the
| integrity of our institutions and the strehS
! 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
/ NAV become operative. desire to express
/ my entire confidence in your attachment to
J the cause of civil service re. orm, and youl
ability TO render it efficient ald, anu IN
! duIge the hope and expectation that not
| wi hstanding the acceptan'e OF your reS:@'
/ nation your interest IN the object for wh'cl
! you have labOred 50 a>s:duously, VIII con
| tinue beTond the OH iIi term which No 1 sur
! render. Yours very truly