The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-09-25
LAYING OUT THE WAY
ri WHICH TH5 NEW YORK DEMOC-
RACY MAY WALK,
n They Want to-The President Again Ex-
presses His Views on Civil Service
Hill Seems To BE the Coming
Mantle Convention
Proceedings.


dent has accepted the resignation Of Dor
man b. Eaton. to take effect Nov. !. The
lengthy correspondence between Mr.. Cleve-
land and the civil service commissioner is
the Chief topic in political circles. Mr..
Eaton highly eommends the administration,
and says that he would have resigned sooner
but that his friends wished him to remain
and ASST in the work OF civil service re-
form under the new administration, and in
this connection says:
There WAS another reason why could not
tender my resignatlon-and should have re-
fused TO 40 so had it been reque,tel-at or
near the time of your accession to Office.
should regard 1t a. psrnicious precedent,
utterly repugnant To the spirit of the civil
service act, TO treat the office of civil service
commissioner as political, and hence as one
to be filled at the beginning of each pre- l.
Dental term
He gives history Of his connection with
the reform and expresses the conviction
that it is here to stay and that the present
administration will see th,.t so far a. 1t has
power the reform shall stay
The presid mt, in his reply accepting the
resignation, expresses his regret at Mr..
Eatons determination and warmly com
administration, aud the steadfastnoss with
which no has held to what was gained in
that direction. The president then con
tmues:
A reasonable toleratioa for old pred jul
diceS graceful recos ..IJIon of every aid,
a sensible utL cation q, every Instrumental
ity thai prol Uses aSSiStance. end constant
effort Ia demonstrate tue advantages of the
new order % things are the means by
which THIS reform movement will, In
the future, be further advanced
tina opposition of incOrrigible spoilsmen
rendered. in tfsctual, and the cause placei
upon sure foundation. OF course there
should be no surrender of principle, nor
backward steps, and all laws for the en-
forcement of the ref ,rm should he rigidly
executed; but the benefits which its princi-
pies promise will not be fully realized unless
the acquiescence of the people is aided g.
the stern assertion OF doctrine aud the
vigorous execution OF the laws.
He congratulate, the friends Of the cane
that the number "is not greater Of those
who profess friendliness for the cause, and
yet mischievoaSly and with supercilous self
Righteousness discredit every effort not In
exact accord with their attenuated ideas,
decry with carping criticism the labor of
these actually in the field of reform" and
with regard to the attitude of the cabinet,
to which Mr. Eaton had referred in terms
of appreciation, says the reference Is ed
tirsly correct and Exhibits an appreciation
OF honest eudesvor in the direction of re-
form and a disposition to do justice to
proved sincerity which is most gratifying
If the embarrassments and per-
plexities attending such an administration
were fairly regarded by all those professipg
to be friendly to such methods, the avowel
enemies of the cause would be afforded less
encouragement"
The president then says he believes in
civl service reform because among other
things "it opens the door for the rich and the
poor alike to a participation in public place.
holding, and hope that the time is at hand
when the people will see the advantage of a
reliancs for such an opportunity upon merit
and fitness instead of dependence upon
the caprice and selfish interest of those who
impudently stand between the people
and the machinery of the government"
This participation in partisan work required
Of those who desire office soften uniting a
person morally, if not mentally and physi-
cally, for the responsibility and duties of
public employ ment"
Mr. Cleveland says good word in clos.
ing fer the party in power, rs follows:
You will agree with me, l think, that the
support whioh has been given to the present
administration in its efforts to preserve aud
advance this reform 10y party restored tn
power after an exclusion for many years
from participation IN the places attached 10
the public service; confronted with new
system precluding the redistribution Of such
places In its interest; called upon to sur
render advantages which a perverted
partianshIp had taught the American
people belonged to ST ccess, and, perturbed
with the SUI picion always raised in such an
emergency that their rights in the conduct
of rhis reform had not Aeen scrupulously
regarded. should recsive due acknowiedg-
ment, and should confirm our belief that
there is q sentiment among the people better
than a desire to hold office and a patriotic
impulse upon which NAV safely rest the
integrity Of our institutions and the strength
and perpetuity Of our government
He then requests Mr. Eaton to remain in
Office until Nov. / next, and trusts that his
interest in civil service reform will not
csass upon his retirement from Office.