Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1885-01-02
ALRANK, N. Y. Dec. 20, 1884.


Hon. Geo, Wm. Curtis, Pres, dc.
Dear SSe->Your communication
dated Deccmber 20, addressed to
me oh behalf of the National Civil
Service Reform League, has been
received, That practical reform
in the civil service is demanded, is
abundantly established by the fact
that statute referred to In your
communication to secure such a re-
suit has been passed in Congress-
with the assent of both political
parties; aud by tho further fact that
a sentiment is GENERALLY prevalent
among patriotic people calling for
the fair aid honest enforcement of
the law which has been thus enacted.
I regard myself pledged to this,
because my conception of true Dem.
ocratic faith and public duty re-
quires that this and all other stat
utes should be in good faith and
without evasion enforced, aud be.
cause in many utterances made
prior to my election as President,
approved by the party to which /
bolong, and which l have no dispo-
sition to disclaim, 1 have in effect
promised the people that this should
be done. l am not unmiudful of
the fact to which you refer, that
many of our citizens fear that the
recent party change in the national
Executive may demonstrate that
the abuses which have grown up in
the civil service are ineTadicable.
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 l am not
sure that all those who profess to be
the friends of this reform will stand
firmly among its advocates when
they find it obstructing their way
to patronage aud place. But fully
appreciating the trust committed t.
my charge, no such consideration
shall cause a relaxation on my part
of an earnest effort to enforce this
law. There is a class of govern
ment Positions which are not withiu
the letter of the civil service statute
but which are SO disconnected with
the policy of an Administration tia
the removal therefrom of present in
cumbents, in my opinion, should not
be made during the terms for which
they are appointed, solely on parti
san greeNds, and for the purpose Of
putting in their places those who are
III political accord With the appoint.
ing power. But many now holding
such positions have forfeited aii Just
claim to retention, because they
have used their places for party pur
poses in disregard of their duty &c
the people; And because, instead Of
being decent public servants, they
have proved themselves offensiv.
partisans and unscrupulous manipu
lators of local party management
The lessons of the past should b.
anieasAed, and such officials as vel
as their successors should be taught
that efficiency, fitness and devotion
to public duty are the conditions o.
their continuance in public place
and that the quiet and unobtrusiv,
exercise of individual political right
is the reasonable measure Of theit
patty service, Ill ware addressing
none but parry, ftiesds 4 should
deem it entirely proper to tcmiad
them that though the conAiag .:.Ad
ministrationis to be Demeefatio
a due regard for the peoples @intcr
est does not permit faithful part
work To be always rewarded by APP
poiAtneat to office; and to say t.
them that while Democrats may ex
Reet NIL proper consideration, selec
tioHs for Office, not embraced in tn
civil service ~ les, will be based up
cH sasScient inquiry as to 6tnoss
iastith ted by those charged wit
that duty, rather than upon persist
ent importantly, or self-solicite'
Recommendations en- behalf of can
dsdates for appointment.
1 Yours very truly,
| GROVER CLEVELAND.
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