Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-01-01
oLEEEnAND,s 1srrsR.
Press Comments on she New Presi-
dents Declared Policy.

OLEFALAND'S LBfTA&.
Press Comments ON the New Presi-
dents Declared Policy.
New York World. Dam.
Governor Clevelsnd's letter TO the
National Civil Service Reform Lshgne
will doubtless be warmly discussed, Int
perhaps not ss warmly Endorsed by many
Of the politicians Of his own party.
The President.eleot promulgatss no
new doctrine and takes no sudden posi-
ton. He stands where he has always
stood, the advocate Of genuine, practical
Civil Service reform. The only thing
novel in his present declaration Is that Il
comes al this time. II has been the COM
mon practice Of candidates to simplify re.
form We've before election and to be silent
after election. But 1t 10 = characteristic
OF Governor Cleveland that he speaks a.
all times tru.hfully and seriously and
means what he says. II any body ex.
pected that Grover Cleveland would have
one voice for the campaign and another
for the Presidency he did not know the
man.
New York Tribune, Rep.
Hungry and thirsty Democrats should
not be too awfully discouraged over Mr..
Cleveland latest Civil Service profession.
Between the lines OF his announcement,
In his letter to the Civil Service Reform
League, Of his stern determination to
discipline Republican officials who have
been prominent in politics, they may
read tidings Of comfort and Joy. This
declaration is in line with Mr.. Hendricks
statement that the only way to "get al
the books" which contain the proofs Of
Republican villany" Ia to turn ont the
men who have charge Of them. These
expressions, rightiully interpreted, seem
to bs about as broad as charity and to
cover vast amount Of patronage.
New York Herald, IId.
Mr.. Clevelsnd's letter setting forth the
spirit In which he belisves the Civil Ser
vice reform should be carried into effect
strikes I'd as an important notice to q
large number Of ofioe-holders who, In the
recent CANVASS, carried to a shameful
extreme their disregard for the obllga.
tions OF their positions It Is declara-
tion made apparently with other purpose
than that Of courteously answering some
gentlemen engaged In the patriotic enter.
prise Of endeavoring to purify the public
service. II ia q hind Of personal
platform upon which the President. elect
Wishes II 10 be understood that he intends
10 stand ; and he seems to invite public
attention TO the subject so distinctly IS
TO commit himself in such way that he
may be held to his declaration. He Is
not afraid Of his responsibilities and does
not mean TO shirk his duties or sneak
away under cover Of delusive interpre-
tations OF the statute. y He not
only accepts the law, but believes that II
might properly include many offices not
now within Its scope, and believes that
the inoumbents OF such Offices should
hold for their full terms II they have OBJ
served the spirit Of the law. But other.
wise they may look to themselves.
New York star, tDem.)
Governor Cleveland interprets the Civil
Service act by the rules Of robust COM
mon sense. His notion Of the needed
reform is not that Of psdAnt or fanatic
theorist, but OF practical, earnest bust
ness man. He proposes to make no
sweeping changes in merely clerical
offices, while on the other hand he does
not propose to let any strained construc,
lion OF the Law shield those officials
whose tenures have been based on their
PARTISAN zeal rather than on their
htness aud industrial service. Doubtless
the intentions disclosed in this
letter will not be welcome to hosts Of
Democrats who are already scramblinR
for appointments; yet the line marked
/ 7ut by the President elect Is the only 0ne
, by which We can eliminate from our
politics the dangerous and corrupt inilu-
encss that necessarily inhere in an army
Of violently partisan office holders, In
! sheer self defense Mr.. Cleveland gives
notics that The executive favor ia not "a
/ be Won by ''psrsistent importantly OF
self 90 icited recommendations on beh ali
OF candidates for appointment" This
out to diminish, il II does not wholly
arrest, the pilgrimaEes to Albany.
philadelphia Times, Ind.
This letter will not, however, brinp
much comfort TO the men now In Office
, who have made their places recruiting
, stations for political party, and who
have suddenly been seized with great ad
miration for the tenu-e Of offios portion Of
the Civil Service reform principle. III
: serves notice upon such persons that they
Will BE- expected to 90 aud that without
, serious or unnecessary delay. And i
: there 10 TO be any genuine reform OF exist
ing methods the ofioial guillotine oanno,
be- set In motion too quickly. On the
, other hand, he 10 no less positive In hia
notice to his own partisans that claims O.
party activity and energetic self-seekinr
are not the elements he will seek In fill
, ing vacancies.
, Phil de phia Record, Ind Dem.
Governor Cleveland's straiRh forward
| aud pXnltnIt Fanlty ~ H.
X form League will remove much doubl
IN Tue public mind concerning the policy
OF his administration in regard to re-,
movais from office. Whilst declaring
that he will enforce the principles Of
Civil Service reform, he distinctly says
that he Will make an exception OF "those
who have forfeited all just claim to reten
tion because they have used their places
Tor party In disregard of their duty to
the people, and because, Instead Of bell Q
decent public servants, they have proved
themselves offensive psrtisans and un
sofupulous mAIipulatOTH OF local party
management. This covers the who'e
ground, and ought to satisfy the most
ardent friend of Civil Service reform.
without the large exception which the
Preaident-elect makes, reform Of the
Civil Services would bs out Of the cues.
ton.
Philadelphia Press, Rep,
Mr.. Cieveland's response to the call Of
the National Civil Service R Storm L sapnais
the 6rst authentic declaration Of Lis
policy on any commanding public cues.
tion. II Is the most explicit utterauce he
has himself made either before or since
the election, and no interpreter who has
stood between him and the public has
succeeded in approaching 80 clear or 80
gratifying statement Of his attitude