The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1885-10-01
CI4EvRH.AND,s LRrrrv
CERTlN0 EATON,a
RESIGNATION.

a Ma0tor1v DOcu0ene. s~...
Perth In . Clear and H.e~s.S.
way. ana with Mart
Fraakness, the Adv..
ssges anA the aDlmc-L
dies ~ Civil Service
Refsrm.
WASHINGTON, September 23.-The p,...,
to-day sent 10 Dorman B. Eaton cba;,,,. :.
the civil service commission. long le,te, 80.
forth his views and policy 10 relation 10 s;as
service. and accepting Eaton's resipn.,.a. wa
take effect on November l. The follo-,,@
the letter in full:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WAsHrseTor
september IL, 1885
Hon. Dorman b. Eaion-My Dear s;,.
in receipt of your letter rendering Won. "a
nation rs . member Of the board al o:.s suag,
vice commissioners. / cannot refr.;, ~.
expressing my sincere regret that yon hon
determined To withdraw from posi,;o. nave
public service where your intelligent No., y ae
ance Of duty has been Of inestimable r.ln
the country. ~@
The friends Of civil service reform, aid AHA.
who desire good government, fully ann,a4ss
your devotion to the cause in which ran
enlisted, and they have seen with ss,;ss'a.g
that your zeal and faith have not led ro.
suppose that the reform in which vos
engaged is unsuited TO the rules which ord;..s.e
govern progress IN human affairs, or tina, !, So.
at once reach perfection and universal , .as
lance. You have been willing natier,is
accept good results as they stem hr 80, %
could be gained, holding every advance nan '.sp
yielding steadiastness. W
No x..1.f
work Of civil service reform is largely du ~ W.
fact that its practical friends have nrocs.sa s
upon the theory that real and heallhv
Can only be made as such of the pt,nle 80
cherish perncious political ideas. long s.,,s.ls
and encouraged by vicious pariisansbir .' ~
persuaded that the change contenpla,si &c &c
reform offers substantial Improvements ~
benefits. Reasonable federation for old n,a a;a
dces, graceful recognition of every aid seps ;,s
utilization OF every instrumeniaty tba, mr..
ises assistance and constant effort to demo,s,rs,a
the advantages of the new order of tb;nrs s se
the means by which this reform moyemnr, , Me
in the future be further advanced the ono"a Hia
of incorrigible spoIlsnen rendered InefF.c,',.I
and the cause placed upon a snr. Io,'nJa
ton.
OF course there should be no sur,ena.. r
principle nor backward step, and an lsws c' "
the enforcement of reform shouA he -
executed, but the benefits which its prnc,ra.s
promise will not be fully realized unless ,Ss
acquiescence OF the people is added To The stern
assertion oil doctrine and rigorous execution of
laws.
1t is a source of congratulalion that there areso
many friends of civil service reform marsbsled
ON the practical side Of The question, and thai
the number IS not greater OF those who profess
friendliness Tor the Cause and vet miscbieyously
and with supercilious self-righleou,Dess dscrc,t
every effort not in exact accord with tbei,
attcnuated ideas, decry with carpinp criticism
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 OF government demand comD,se
and immediate perfection
The reference in your letter 10 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 endeavOr in the direction oi reform
and a disposition TO do justice To proved SINGER.
ity, which is most gratifying. II such treat
ment of those upon whom the duty rests Of
administering the Government according to
reform methods was The universal rule, and if
the embarrassments and perplexities attending
such an administration were fairly regarded
by those protesting TO be friendly to such
methods, the avOwed enemies of The cause
/ believe in civil service reform and its ap-
pication in the most practicable form attain
able, among other reasons because il opens the
door for rich and poor alike to participation
in public place holding, and hope the time b
nj hand when all our people will see the al
vantage of reliance for such an opportunity
upon merit and fitness instead of dependence
upon the caprice or selfish interest OF those who
impudently stand between the people and The
machinery Of their Government In one case
reasonable intelligence and The education
which is freely furnished or forced upon the
youth of our land are credentials to office The
other way is found in favor secured BY parlci-
patton in partisan work often uniting person
morally, il not msntally and physically for the
responsibilities and duties of public employ
ment.
You will agree with me, l think, that the
support which has been given to Tie present
administration in its efforts to preserve and 3D.
vance this reform by party restored in power
after an exclusion for many years from parci-
patton in the places attached to the public SER
vice, confronted with a new system precluding
the redistribution of such places in It's interest
called upon to surrender advantages which
perverted partisanship had taught The American
people belonged to success, and perturbed with
The suspicion, always raised in such an emer
gency, that their rights in the conduct of this
reform had not been scrupulousy regarded.
should receive due acknowledgment and should
confirm our belief that there is sentiment
among the people better than the desire 10 hold
office, and u patriotic impulse upon which may
safely r-st the integrity of our institutions and
the strength and rerpetuiiy of our Govern
ment.
have determined to request you TO ntaiB
you present position until the first day OF No
vember next, at which time your resignation
may become operative
L desire to express my entire confidence in
your attachment TO the cause of civil servire
reform and your ability 10 render 1t efficient aid.
and ! indulge the hope and expectation that,
Notwithstanding the acceptance OF your resigna
ton, your interest in the object for which you
have labored so assiduously will continue be-
yond the official term which you surrender
Yours, very truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND
A DESVER ATE RHIEU