Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-09-24

/ benefit 10 public service. Ii il possible that
q number of Congressmeu and politicians of
the dominant party, with considerable fol-
loving OF office seekers. may, notwithstand
ing the vastly augmented strength OF the en-
lightene6 public, repeat the folly Of those of
my own party in 1874. hy resisting we'll
matured Judgment and definite policy of their
own administration on the reform issue If
such is to be fact this is not the place for
showing why such attempts would be far
more disastrous than the republican restora-
ton of the spoils system against the advice
of President Grant. Such 4 cause and con-
flict it would preciptste would be reg ,rdless
of The good results of the civil service act OF
any experience in its administration. In any
part that might have in such u contest. |
could far better serve the cause Of reform in
the exercise of that full liberty which is
hardly compatible with the proprieties of my
present Office, and have the honor of being
with the highest respect, your obedient ser
want, DoRMAN b EATON
President Cleveland IN his reply SAYS:
II cannot refrain from expressing my
sincere regret that you have determined to
withdraw from the position in the pnblic SER
vice where your intelligent performance OF
duty has been OF ines estmable value TO the
country The friends OF civil service reform
and all those who desire good government
fully appreciate YOUR devotion TO the cause
in which you early enlisted, and thev have
seen with satisfaction that yvur zeal and
faith have not led YOU to suppose that the,
reform in which YOU were engaged is unsuit-
ed to the rules which ordinarily govern pro-
gress in human Affairs, or that il should at
once reach perfection and universal accep
tance. You have been willing patiently t.
accept good results AS they. st,n nv slep
could be gained holding every advance with
un>ielding steadfa~tness The success which
thus far has attended the work o, civil service
reform, is largely due TO the fact tha, its
practical friends have proceeded upon
the theory that real and healthy
progress can onlv be made as such if people
who cherish pernicious political ideas. long
fostered and encouraged bv vicious partisan
ship, are persuaded that the change con-
templa.ed by the reform offers substantial
improvement and benefits. Reasonable toll
Grafton for old prejudices, graceful recognj-
ton of every aid, sensible utilization of every
aid that promises assistance and constant eff
fort to demonstrate the adyantaves of the
new order of things are the means bv which
this reform movement will in the future be
further advanced, the opposition of incorriyi-
BILE spoilsmen rendered Intellectual and the
cause placed upon a sure foundation. OF
course there should be no surrender of prin-
ciple nor backward steps. and all laws for
the enforcement of the reform should be
rigidlv executed, but benefits which its prin.
ciples promise will not be fully realized nm
less acQuescence of the people is added to
the stern assertion of the doctrine and yig,r
Gus enforcement of the laws. 1t is a source
of congratuation that there are SO many
friends of civil service reform marshaled on
the practical side of the question. and that
number is not the greater of those who pro-
fess friendliness for the cause and vet ms
chievously and with super erciious s. IL righteous
ness discredit all efforts not in exact accord
with their attenuated ideas ,decrv witb carpinv
criticism the labor of those actually in the
field of REFORM and ignoring the conditions
which bound and quality every struggl. for
radical improvement in the affairs OF the gov
ernment demand complete and immediate
perfection. Reference in your letter to the
attitude of the members of NV cabinet to
merit the system establish bv civil service
law, besides being entirely correct. exhibits
an appreciation of the honest endeavor in the
direction of reform, a DISPOSITION to do ius-
tice to proved sincerity which il most
gratifying. II such treatment of those upon
whom the duty rests of administering the gov
ernment, according to the reform methods,
was a universal rule, and if the embarrass-
ments aud perplexities attending such ad-
minstration were fairly regarded by all those
prot s-ing to be friendly to such methods,
the avp~ ed enemies of the cause would be
afford less encouragement | believe in
the civil service reform and its application