Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-10-01
THE PRESIDENTS REPLY.
EXECUTIVE MANSION.

WASHINGTON, Sept. Ii, 1885
My DEAR SIR:-I am in receipt of your letter
rendering your resignation as a member of the
board of civil service commissioners | cannot
refrain from expressing my sincere regret that
you have determined to withdraw from position
in the public service where your intelligent per-
Torrance of duty has been of inestimable value
TO the country. The friends of civil service re-
form, and all those who desire good government
fully appreciate your devotion to the cause in
which you early enlisted and they have seen with
ton that your zeal and faith have not led
you to suppose that the reform in which you were
engaged is unSuited to the rules in which ordi-
nary governments progress in human affairs, or
that II should at once reach perfection and uni
verSal acceptance you have been willing patient
~ to accept the good results as they step b. step
could be gained, holding every advance with I'M
yielding steadfaStneSS. The success which thus
far has attended the work eff civil service reform
is largely due to the fact that its practical friends
have proceeded upon the theory that real and
healthy progress can only be made as such.
People who cherish perniciouS, polit; ideas
long fostered and encouraged by vicious parti-
Sansh1p are persuaded that the change
contemplated by the reform offers substantial
improvement and benefits, reasonable liberation
for old prejudices, graceful recognition of every
act and sensible utilization of every instrumen-
tally that promises assistance and the constant
effort to demonstrate the advantages of a new
order OF things are means by which this reform
movement will render the opposition of incor-
rg1ole Spo1Smen Intellectual and the cause placed
upon sure foundation. OF course there should
be no surrender of principle nor backward step,
and all laws for the enforcement of reform
should be rigidly enforced, but the benefits which
its principals promise will not be fully realized
unless the acQuieSence of the people is added to
the stern assertion of the doctrine and the vigor-
Gus execution of the laws.
1t is a source.of congratuation that there are so
many friends of the civil service reform mar
shaled on the practical side of the Question-and
that number is not greater if those who profess
frI9ndlIneSS for the cause and with SuperciliOuS
self-righteouSness discredit every effort not in
exact accord with their attenuated ideas, decry
with c8rping criticism the labor of those actual
ly in the field of reform, and ignoring the cond-
lions which bonnd and qualify every struggle for
radical improvement in tie affairs of the govern
ment, demand complete and imemediate per-
lection. The reference in your letter to the
attitude of members of my cabinet to the merit
system established by the civil service law be-
sides being entirely correct, exhibits an
appreciation of the honest endeavor in the drec-
ton of reform, and the disposition to do Justice
10 proved sincerity, which is most gratifying.
Ii such treatment of those upon whom the duty
rests OF administering the government according
to the reform methods was the universal rule,
and If the embarrasSments and perplexities at
tending such an administration were fairly
regarded by all those protesting to be friendly
to such methods, the avOwed enemies of the
cause would be offered less encouragement.
believed in civil service reform and its appca-
ton on the most practical form attainable
among other reasons, and because
it opens the door for rich and poor alike par
ticipaUion in public place holding, and hope the
time is at hand when our people will the adj
vantage of reliance for such an opportunity
upon merit and fitness, instead of dependence
upon the caprice selfish interests of those who
impudentiy stand between the people and the
ma chinery Of their government. In the one case
a reasonable intelligence and an education which
is freely furnished or forced upon the youth of
land the credentials to office Ia the other
the way is found in the favor secured by parti-
cipatiOn in partisan work, often uniting per-
son morally if not mentally and physically, for
the responsibility and duties of public employ
mept. You will agree with me, think that the
support which has been given to the present adj
a M l.
vance this reform by the party restored to power
after an exclusion for many years from parttcl-
patton in tie places attached TO the
public service and confronted with @
such places in its interest called upon to surrend
er the advantages which perverted partisanship
had thought American people belonged to sue
cess and perturbed with the suspicion always
aroused in such an emergency that their rights
in the conduct of this reform had not been Scru-
puously regarded, should receive due acknowl-
edgement and should confirm our belief that
better than desire to hold office
and patriotic impulse upon which May safely
rest the integrity of Institutions and perpetu-
ity of our government. / have determined to
request you to remain in your present position
until the first day of November next,
become operative. 1 desire to express
ny entire confidence in your attachment
to the cause of civil service reform and in your
ability to render it efficient aid and ndugle the
hope and expectation that, notwithstanding the
acceptance of your resignation, your interest is
the object for which you have labored so asSidu-
ousy and will continue beyond the official term
which you surrender.
Yours very truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND.