Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-01-07
Gov. CleveIand's Views.

| In response to letter addressed to him
by Geo. VIM. Curtis and others of the
Civil service Reform League, requesting
Gov. Cleveland to be guided by the prin-
ciples of civil service reform in the selec-
ton of public servants in his coming adj
ministration, the President-elect writes:
ALBANY, N. Y, December 80.
To Hon. Geo. Wm. Curtis, president, etc.
| DEAR SIR,-Your communication on be-
half of the national civil service reform
| league has been received. That practi-
| cal reform in the civil service is demanded
is abundantly established by the fact that
statute referred to in your communication
| to secure such result has been passed in
\ congress with the assent of both political
Rparties, and by the further fact that a SEN
Kiment is generally prevalent among patri-
tic people calling for the fair, honest en-
f5rcement of the law which has been thus
enacted. regard myself pledged to this,
because my conception Of true dem ocratic
faith and public duty requires that this
and all other statutes should be in good
faith and without evasion enforced, and be-
cause, in many utterances made prior to
my election as president, approved by the
partH to which belong and which have
no disposition to disclaim, have in effect
promised the people that this should be
DONE ! 1 am not unmindful of the fact to
| which you refer that many of our citizens
fear that the recent party change in the
| national executive may demons trate that
the abu ses which have grown up in the
civil service are ineradicable. know that
they are deeply rooted, and that the spoils
system has been supposed to be intimately
related to success in the maintenance of
party organization, and | am not sure that
all those vino profess to be the friends of
| this reform will stand firmly among its adj
vocates when they find it obstructing their
way to patronage and place; but, fully ap-
preciating the trust committed to my
charge, no such consideration shall cause
a relaxation on my part OF an earnest effort
to enforce this law. There is class of
government positions which are no. within
the letter of the civil statute; which are SO
disconnected with the policy of an admin
| istration that the removal therefrom of
present incumb ents, in my opinion, 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 men holding such positions have for
feited all just claim to retention because
they have used their places for party pur-
pose in disregard of their d ty 10 the pee
pie, and because, instead Of being decent
public servants. they have proved themselves
| offensive partisans and INSCRIPTIONS ma
nipulators 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 the conditions
of their continuance in public place, and
that the quiet and unobtrusive exercise of
individual political rights is the reasonable
measure of their party service.
Ii l were addressing none but party
friends, l should deem it entirely proper to
remind them that, though the coming adj
mnistration is 10 be Democratic, due re-
gard tor the people's interest does not per-
nit faithful party work to be always re-
warded by appointment to Office, and to
say to them that while Democrats may ex-
pect proper consideration, selections for
Office not embraced within the civil service
rules will be based upon sufficient inquiry
as to fitness, instituted by those charged
with that duty, rather than upon persist
ent importantly Or self-solicited recommen-
dations on behalf Of candidates for appoints
ment. Yours very truly,
| GROVER CLEVELAND.