Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-09-24
THE LETTER.
rhe fnllowing is the President's letter
EXECUTIVE MANsION,l
WAsHINGToN, ID. c., sept. q, 1885.

IHH LETTER.
The following is the Presidents letter:
EXECUTIVE MANsION,l
WAsHINGToN, ID. G., sept. 81, 1885. !
g,, D5y9qan 3. Eaton: MY DEAR SIR
am IN receipt of your letter rendering your
,s..rngtlon as member OF the Board OF civil
service Commissioners. cannot refrain
from expressing my slneeTe regret that you
beC, determined TO withdraw from the posi-
t,., b.. the public service where your intelli-
cent performance Of duty has been OF most
ssnmable value TO the country. The
frer,i, OF civil service reform aud
IN those who desire good government
9,irr snureCiate your devotion to the cause in
trbIl.h You early enlisted; and they have seen
WIKI satisfaction that your zeal and faith
have NOT led you to suppose that the reform
IN r,rhch YOU we're engaged is unsuited to the
miles which ordinarily govern progress In
human affairs, or that it should at once reach
,erfecti1u and universal acceptance. lOu
have been willing, patiently, to accept good
,esuits AZ they step 10y step could be gained,
io'jng every advance with unyielding stead
fsstness.
SASS OF THE MOVEMENTS SUCCESS.
The success which has thus far attended the
work of civil service reform is largely due TO
the fact that its practical friends nave pro-
ceaded upon the theory that real aud healthy
urOgress can only be made as such of the peo-
BE who cherish pernicious political ideas,
nc fostered and encouraged by vicious par
tis8pship, are persuaded that the change
contemplated by the reform offers substan-
tlal Improvements and benefits. Reasonable
liberation for old prejudlces. graceful Tecog-
niuOu OF every aid, sensible utilization of
every nstrumentallty that promises assist
ance and constant effort to demonstrate the
advantages OF the new order of things. are
the means by which THIS reform movement
will in the future be further advanced, the
opposition Of incorrigible spollsmen rendered
Intellectual, and the cause placed upon sure
foundation.
NO BACKWARD STEP.
Of course there should be no surrender of
principle nor backward STEP and all laws for
the enforcement OF reform should be rigIdly
executed. but the benefits which it's principles
promise viii not be fully realized unless the
8cquiesceuce of the people Is added to the
stern assertion of the doctrine and vigorous
execution of the laws. 1t is source of con-
graduation that there are SO many friends of
cyl service reform marshalled on the practl
sal side of the question, and that the number
snot greater Of those who profess friendh-
ness for the cause and vet mischevouslv and
with superciliOus self righteousness discredlt
every effort not in exact accord with their
aJtenuated IDEAS, decry with carpinR crItl-
csm the labor of those actually in the field of
reform and ignoring the conditions which
bound and qualify every struggle for radical
Improvement in the affairs o. the government,
demand complete and immediate perfection.
THE CABINETS ATTITUDE.
The reference in your letter to the attitude
Of the members of my Cabinet to the merit
system established by the civil service law,
besides being entirely correct, exhibits an
appreciation OF honest eudeaYOr in the direc-
hon of reform. and disposition to do Justice
to proved sincerity which Is most gratifying.
u such treatment of those upon whom the
duty rests of administering the government
according To reform methods was the unlyer-
sal rule. and if the embarrassments aud per-
p'eXlies attending such an administration
were fairly regarded by all those protesting
TO be friendly to such methods, the avOwed
enemies OF the cause would be afforded less
encouragement.
BELIEVER IN REFORM.
believe in civil service reform and its ap-
flicatlon in the most practicable form attain
&O.e; among other lreasOns, because it opens
ihe door for rich and poor ALIKE to participa-
Non IN public plsceholding, and I hope the
lne i at hand when all our people will see
iAe advantage of reliance for such an OppOr-
luuiy upon merit and fitness. instead Of de-
PehQenct upon the caprice or selfish interest
81 those who impudeotiY stand between the
people and the machinery Of their govern
meht' IN one case. reasonable intelligence
ana education, the latter OF which il
feely furnished or forced utOn the
1oulh or our land, are credentials
70 once. In the other, the way is
FOUND IN favor secured by participation In
partisan work, often uniting person moral
~ il not mentally aud physically. for the re-
aonsblhtes anu duties Of public employ
TIRE PARTY's SUPPORT.
iou wlll agree with me. think, that the
suphort which has been given to the present
administration III it, efforts TO preserve and
.UF"Nce lhl7 reform by the party restored to
P'"cr' alter an exclusion for many Years
,'m participation In the places attached 10
s s'o puD Ie service, confronted with a new
,i" Hluulng redistribution or such
07 ih ts interest, called upon to surrender
t1Ee5 which perverted partisan
r naI taught the American people
9H tuu 70 success, and perturbed
Ml'h J0e suspicion always raised in such an
Ti'' -ehcy that their rights in the conduct Of
r corn hAd not been scrupulOusly re-
srL W. snouid receive due Acknowledgement,
& ~. sN'uld confirm our belief that there Is u
",-ent among the people better than a de-
W Hu1 Office. aud "A patriotic imrulse
ol Zen may safely rest the integrity Of
na .''. .tUuons aud the strength and per-
-''"1 'i our government.
AccErTANCE or THE RESIGNATION.
O., nave determined % request vou TO retain
pbn '7ent position until NOV. ! next, At
6f..r,,.' 'l"e your resignation may become
fa..l. desire 60 express my entire con-
r,.l do Aour attachment to the cause Of
r,s.' 'fI'r reform and your ability to render
p..t.t.- 1ld, and indulge the hope and eX-
sHr. 'Nat .notwithstand ng tie accent
teo.irc,' 3gur resignation, your interest in
sIu...f ur when Nou have lahOrcd ~ ar
t.r,, Wll continue beyond the Official
fr " "H'en YOU surrender Yours very
GROVER CLEVELAND.
, MR.. EAToN's LETTER.
,e,, WI service Commissiouer Faton's
Saw. 90, tV7ikhatlon IS dated July %, and
'Ae opening paragraph:
f.t ' execution Of the purpose Of which
re-r...I YOU several weeks since. verv
sfr.i... ""1 tender my resignation as Cfyil
# you- ,' .Hi '-siouer but out ( Difference To
mi. t- Will not urge It's acceptance
II c,r,.,u tme the autumn az Won may dud
p Tor new appointment
ba Ton recites bis connection with
r.,,'i service reform movement. and
I...a mat II was his desire 40 be- re-.
rom Official connection with the
b., -'nh after It was fairly estsblisbed
n... was lissuaded from Insisting upon
tb.,, '..ln by the arguments OF friends
cas. ,",ie would be critical period In
Ha a.,reee." ne" party should come into power.
st.UI. flalply iHom the hostile Journals that
nt f.... W u"F 2ed, if I resigned, with fee-
,...s. tNe pefila OF that crisis, Ii was clear
II irIr. iL no excuse from my long serviee
Il fef.r,. t.ciAratlun OF my canfidence in tbe
FL uuIfI, F.ley of the Presidential csndidnte
Wol.d -.i .atesmen Of the Democratic Marty
E bl .Itg az ltc.Fe me from the damaging plaugi-
< J could ..,esl y chAfge. As a private citizen
E. 11irnr ~ tle tmputation hut ~ a pnIiie
what 49, ~ oelng in private way soue-
s Reform ,lneu with the cause of evil servico
O. Tori, nau no right 10 make an opporttni-
use eu,t mural enemies iu either partv 10
NH fH. D.