Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-01-03
THE PRESIDENTS POLICY.

A number of gentlemen in behalf
of the National Civil Service Reform
League, an association composed OF
members of all parties, addressed a
letter to President-elect Cleveland
making enquiry concerning the policy
he would pursue in regard to making
appointments to Office. The letter
was signed by George William Curtis,
Chairman, William Potts, Secretary;
John Jay, Moorefield Storey, J. Hall
Peasants, w. w. Montgomery, Ever
EFT P. Wheeler, Frederick Comwell,
Morrill, Wyman, Jr., Carl Schurz, silas
w. Burt, A. r. Marlborough, VIM.
Cary Sanger, William w. Aiken,
Executive Committee.
Mr.. Cleveland's reply is as follows:
ALBANY, Dec. Is, 1SS4.-Hon.
George William Curtis, President.
Etc.-Dear Sir: Your communication,
dated December 20, addressed to me
on behalf of the National Civil Service
Reform League, has been received.
That practical reform in the civil SER
is demanded, is abundantly established
by the fact that the statute referred to
in your communication to secure
such result has been passed in Con-
gress with the assent of both political
parties, and by the further fact that
sentiment is generally prevalent
among the patriotic people, calling for
a fair and honest enforcement of the
law which has been thus enacted, I
regard myself pledged to this, because
my conception of true Democratic
faith and public duty requires that
this and all other statutes should be in
good faith and without evasions en-
forced, and because in many utteran-
ces made prior to my election as Pres
ident, approved by the party to which
I belong, and which have no dispo-
sition to disolaim, ! 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 .;arty
change in the National Executive may
demonstrate that abuses which have
grown up in the Civil Service are in
eradicable. know they are deeply
rooted and that the spoils system has
been supposed to he intimately related
to success in the maintenance of party
organization, and ] am not sure that
all those who profess to be friends OF
this reform will stand firmly among
its advocates when they find it OBJ
structing their way to patronage and
nj full hn
trust committed to my charge, no
such consideration shall cause re-
laxatian on my part OF an earnest
effort to enforce this law.
There is a class OF Government po-
sitions which are not within the letter
of the civil service, but which are so
disconnected with the politics of an
administration that removal therefrom
of present incumbents, ip my opin-
ion, should not be made during the
terms for which they were 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 for
feited all just claim to retention, be-
cause they have used their places for
party purposes, in disregard OF their
duty to the people, and because, ia
stead of being decent public servants,
they have proved themselves offensive
partisans and INSCRIPTIONS manipula-
tons of local party management
The lessons of the past should be
unlearned, and such officials, as well as
their successors, should be taught
that efficiency, fitness and devotion to
public duty are conditions Of theiF
continuance in public service, and
that quiet and unobtrusive exercise
of individual political rights in reas-
enable measure of their party service.
If | were addressing none but party
friends, | should deem it entirely
proper to remind them that, though
the coming administration is to be
Democratic, a due regard to the pea=
pies interest does not permit faithful
party work 10 be always rewarded by
appointment to Office, and to say to
them that whils Democrats may ex-
pect all proper consideration, selec-
tons for Office not embraced within
RiVil-service rules will be based upon
sufficient inquiry as to fitness by those
charged with that duty, rather than
upon persistent Importantly or self
solicited recommendations on behalf
of candidates for appointment Yours
very truly, GROVER CLEVELAND.