Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-09-24

pWIllpNt VI your administration lullNlNllN
20 enforce both the law aud the rules m
the iniurc, The few changes YOU made
In full have but added to their Justice
and efficiency, So far as have been able
tc learn there Is not. member oi Your
cabinet who has not, as a result IT his eN-
pcrlencc w oil'cc, higher sense than be-
fore VI The need of cutOUing the
merit Of the system In the pub
lie service which the ciNll-.crVicc
Ac, and the rules have established
from the heads of the many departments
IN the posiSl and customs service, TO
which the examinations extend, to all
parts ofthc Union, whether they hc RI.
publicans holding over or new officers
from the other party, there has come no
reason for the belief that the merit ~ the
system Is not welcomed aS great benefit
to The public service, great influence Tor
honesty In politics and great relief
to the heads OF the oiliocS, Now
that the principles Of lustlcn
upon which that system is hascd; its
tendency to suppress patronage, wrong
doing and official iavortism; It's great
encouragement OF the public schools and
It's supper, OF high character and man.
hood IN politics, are being meW rapidly
Gonprchrndcd hv the people than ever
before, ! feel sure tina, IL Is Ia The near
future, 60 have act only greatly cnlarg.
cd, hit an almost unchAllvngod, ont0n,c-
mcnt, IL Is really an Issue
between the people and HE politicians,
a contest fora spoil system nf office 0n
! the one slide aud Tor i merit system Of
I ONCE on The other The friends 81 the
latter contend Tor free opportunity oi
every citizen to win an office for himself
/ by his own incrltS Of the tarMer for The
exclusive right OF the great officers aad
( the great politicians Co use all OF the lNn,-
{ 900 plnces they can control and all the ass
4 sesNincnts they can cNtoW TO blibe voters,
I 20 buy the press, 70 elect themselves aud
Ito Keep their party 10 power
against the VIII OF the people.
I between the extremes there Is uuQucs-
\ tionnhly large numhcr nf candid and
40 ,r,e,lc citizens. | DO not rcicf To these
/ facts, 80 decisive OF the lcrpc,uily OF the
merit system, with the vain conreit tlnt
4 II they were otherwise or II the prospect
was dlseourglng my rcmalnlug come
missioner would avail ANYTHING; hut |
( wish to leave no doubt OF my absolute
faith IN the continuing triumph OF the re.
form policy, aud no friend oi
reform has the least reason Tor
thinking ought TO remain IN
my Office. Indeed. the triumph Of that
policy Is now absolute, and the contest
Is already over IN that part az tie govern.
mont 10 which the above legitimate ut-
thorlty aud responsibility Tor the ali-
polntments aud removals rest aud
la which alone th,' thutUugh
information needed tor a correct iudg-
ment as TO the utility OF the new system
exists. In other words were II no, for
the interference 81 congress aud poll
tlcians with tae constitutional function
and intended liberty of the president
and OF the Other officers having
appointing power, there would be no OPP
pualii0n worthy ~ notice 20 he merit
system OF office rhosr who oppose : So
B WIN, with few exceptions, he ihosc
7 only whose participation IN tho appoint.
mcnts aud removals Is nn absolute usur-
: patton aud an lntelmcddllug by which the
countciposc ni the government has
been Impaired, open competitions Of
merit for appointment aud The suppress
! Sion of political assessments ara fainl.
! President Grant approved a civil.suryiCe
rule Ia arrest that lntermcddling with
. the president aud other appointing
! officers 10 The liberty which the consti
4 tuition aud law contemplate repent
j. that the hnal decision Is already given
e and the contest is alrendy over President
! Grant doridcd that Issue, and his
= last official declaration to congress on
9 The subject declared II u source OF m0rtl'
= licaiion that congress had refused an APP
y propriltlnn which he had In u special
Y message requested 10 aid in the cone
u tinuCd enforcement of thu merit
i system which ho declared 10 have
p been beneficial President Arthur IN each
! annual message after the ciNil.scrNicc act,
q rcailitnpd TIA, judgment 81 the executive
j. department, Judgment which he dr..
+ clarod expressed the View Of every lncu-
= Der Of his cabinet. ~ the daily nets Of
n the present administration the same judg-
g ment il approved and Endorsed. i u
Il ppsaible ihut q number OF congressman
IS and politicians OF the predominant party
D. Nlih considerable following ol Office
II seekers muy, notwithstanding the vastly
C augmented strength of enlightened
" public opinion, repeat the folly OF thus,
. Of my own party Ia 1874 by resisting Tho
d well-matured Judgment aud the definite
: policy Of their own administration on the
d reform issue. II such Is to be the fact,
y this IS not the place for showing why
c such an attempt would be far more dlsgs.
= trons than The Republican restoration Of
the spells system against the advice pl
o President Grant. such n course and tic
@ conflict IL would precipilatc would be re-
y gnfdlHNb oi the HoDu results Oh inc NlNll-
Il service act or any experience IN rs ud-
! mnlstratlon. ~ any part ! might have
i IN such n contest could far better serve
q the cause Of reform ia the exercise
+ of that fun liberty which Is
: hardly compatible with the prophecies 81
J. my present office. have the honor Of
q being, NTH the highest respect,
y Your Obediuut seryaut,
o DORaAS Is. EArON,
= 10 the President
= riT PRESIDENTS REPLY.
EXECUTIVE MAsht1s, {
n NAsHisnfos, sept. ~, lr,i !
1 10 The Hon. Dormnn li Eaton
/. My DEAN higi--l am In receipt Of your
II letter rendering your resignation ~ 4
j member Of the board Of the ciYil-,erylee
a commissioners I cannot refrain from
u expressing my sincere regret ilei
r. you have determined 10 withdraw from
4. position ~ the public service whore
n your intelligent performance Of your dlity
(, has BEEN Of lnestmablc value 10 The cogn.
4 Try. The friends Of ciyil-serylce reform
N aud all those who desire good govern