Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1885-10-01
PRESIDENT CLEvELAND's REPLY.
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
VIZ nnmI.. II q cantnna har Ill

WASHINGTON, D. G., September H.
To Hon. Dorman D! Eaton.
My DEAR SIR:-I am in receipt OF your iet-
ter rendering your resignation as member
Of the Board OF Civil Service Commissioners
can not refrain ffon expressing my SIN
cere regret that you have Determined 70
Withdraw from d position IN the PUBIC ser.
vice where your Intelligent performance on
country. The friends of civil service feforni
and all those who desire good government
fully appreciate your devotion Tor the Gauss
In which You 6afly enlisted, ana they nave
faith have not led you to suppose .nat tne
feform in which you were engaged Is Insult
ed to the rules which ordinarily. govern pro.
gressiye human affairs, OF that IL snoulu ~
once reach perfection and universal accept:
ancc You have been willing patiently 10
aSceI't good results as they, step by step,
could be gained. Folding every advance with
unyielding steadfastness,
the work OF civil service reform Is Largely
due to the fact that its practical frie nds
have proceeded upon the theory that, real
and healthy progress can only be made !u, as
political ideas, long fostered and ehcorratgted
by vicious craftsmanship, are persuaded tiids
changes contemplated by the reform oilers
substantial improvements and benent.,.
A reasonable liberation for old plejudices,
graceful recognition of every aid, q sensi.
BILE utilization of every instrume1tallty that
promises assistance and constant effort
to demonstrate the advantages OF the new
feforni movement Will in the future be
further advanced, the opposition OF incOr.
figible spoilsmen rendered Intellectual, and
the cause placed upon sure foundation. !,
" course there Should be no surrender OF
principle NOR backward step; and all laws
Tor the enforcenieft OF the reform should be
rigidly executed: but the BENEFITS which its
principles promise will not be fully realized
- In a ,iH
ded TO the stern assertion OF doctrine and
the vigorous execution of the laws.
1t Is a source Of cUngratulation that there
are so many friends of civil service reform
inarshaled on the practical side OF the ques,,
tlon. and that the number Is not greater OF
those who profess frlendlness for the cause
and yet mischievously and with supercilious
self righteousness discredit every effort not
in exact accord with their attenuated Ideas,
decry with carpng criticism the labor OF
those actually IN the field of reform, and,
ignoring the conditions which bound and
qualify every struggle for a 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 al ap.
probation OF honest endeavor in the direc-
ton Of reform and q disposition to do justice
to proved sincerity, which is most crafty
Ing. If such treatment of these upon whom
the duty rests of administering the govern.
ment according to reform methods was the
universal rule, and II the embarrassments
and perplexitles attending such an admins
| tration were fd.rls regarded by all those
protesting to be friendly to such meth
| ODDS, tile avowed enemies of tile cause
would be Afforded less encouragement.
l believe In civil service reform,
and rs application In the most practicable
| form attainable, among other reasons, be-
cause y opens the door, for the rich and the
1ice holding. And hope the time,is at hand
| when oil OUR people Will see the advantages
Of reliance upon such an opportunity; up
| on merit and fitness, instead OF depend.
| ence ON the caprice or selfish Interest oil
those who impudently stand between the
people and the machinery of their govern
ment
In the one case reasonable ihtelligen &C
and the education which Is freely furnish ed
or forced upon the youth of our land tire
| the credentials to office; in the other. the
way is found in favor secured by apartlcipa'
ton in partisan work often uniting per-
| son morally, II not mentally and physically
for the responsibilities and duties of public
employment.
You will agree with me. think, that tho
support which has been given to the present
| administration In Its efforts to preserve nnt
advance this reform by q party restored
to power after exclusion for many years
from participation IN the places attached tt
| the public service, confronted with new
| SNSttIu lTtCluulHg tiit ICNfStIluubiOu VI SNSi
places in its interest: called upon to sur
render advantages which a perverted par
tisanship lad taught the American peop
belonged to success, ana perturbed wit'
suspicion always raised In such an emer
gency, that their rights in the conduct o
this reform had not been scrupulously re
gnrded, should receive due acknowledge
ment and should confirm our belief tina
there Is a sentiment among the people bet
ter than desire to hold office, and patrl
otic impulse upon which may safely rest TIL
integrity OF our institutions and the strength
and prosperity of our Government.
have determined to request you to re
tain your position until the first day OF No
vember next, at which time your resignation
may become operative. desire to expires
my entire confidence In your attachment Il
the cause OF civil service reform, and you
ability to render 1t efficient aid and iE
dulge the hope and expectation that not
withstanding the acceptance OF your resig
| nation, your INTEREST," in the object for whlc
YOU have labored so asslduously, will con
tinue beyond the official term which you sur
render. Yours very truly,
-.