Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-10-01
THE PRESIDENTS REPLY.
NO BScRWARD srkrs IN cryI1
SERTIcE REFORM.
Fuli Text 0f President CIcveHnnsf,s
Reply 90 Commissioners EafonsH
letter of Resignation.


Full Text of H'rekidcnt CIcveynnsg,s
Reply 60 Commissioner EasonsH
Letter of Hessgunfion.
| -
The following is President Clevclanda
answer to the letter of Dornan b. Eaton.
resigning his position on the OiyilSerticc
| commission
! My DEAR SIR; am in receipt Of your
letter rendering your resignation IN q
member of the board of Civil ServieE5
commissioners. cannot refrain from
expressing my sincere regret TINT So11
have determined to withdraw from a 1,laki IA
tion in the public service where youf 1n-
telligent performance of duty has been 1T
ineetimable value to the country. The
friends of Civil Service reform and all
those who desire good government fnily
9ppreciate your devotion to the cause in
which you early enlisted, and they have
seen with satisfaction that your zeal and
faith have not led you to suppose that the
reform in which you were engaged is un-
suited to tic rules which ordinarily
BoIeru progress in human affairs or that
II saould at once reach Perfection and
universal acceptance. You lave been
willing patiently to accept good results
as thay, step by step, oould be gained,
stead!astness.
The success which has thus far attended
the work Of Civil Service reform is largely
due TO the fact thnt its practical friends
have proceeded upon the theory that
rtnl and healthy progress can only be
made MS such of the people who cherish
petnicious political ideas, long fostered
and encouraged by vicious pnrtisanship,
are persuaded that the change conteni-.
plated, by the reform offers substantial
improvements and benefits. A reasonable
federation for old prejudices, a graceful
recognition of every aid, sensible
utilization of every instrumentidity that
promises assistance and constant effort
to demonstrate the advantages of the new
order of things are the means by which
this reform movement will in the future
be further advanced, the opposition Of
incorrigible spoilsmen rendered inef-
fectual and the cause placed upon a sure
foundation.
NO BACKWARD STEP.
OF course there should be no surrender
of principle nor backward step, and all
laws for the enforcement of the reform
should be rigidly executed; but the bene-
fits which the principles promise will not
be fully realized unless the aGquiescence
Of the people is added to the stern asser-
tion of doctrine and the vigorous execu-
ton of the laws. 1t is a source of CON
graduation that there are SO many friends
of Civil Service reform marshaled ON the
practical side of the question, and that
the number is not greater of those who
profess friendliness for the cause and yet
mischieyously and with supereilious self
righteousness diseredit every effort not in
exact accord with their attenunted ideas,
deery with carping criticism the labor OF
those actually in the field of reform and,
ignoring the conditions which bound and
qualify every struggle for a radical i'm
provement in the affairs of governments,
demand complete and immediate perfec-
ton.
The reference in your letter to the atti-
tude of the members of my cabinet to the
merit system established by the Owl
Service law, besides being entirely correct,
exhibits an appreciation of honest en-
deavor in the direction of reform and a
disposition to do Justice to proved sim
cerity which is most gratifying. If such
treatment of those upon whom the duty
rests of administering the government ac-
cording to reform methods was the uni.
versal rule, and if the embarrassments
and perplexities attending such an admin
istration We're fairly regarded by all those
processing to be friendly to such methods,
the avowed enemies of the cause would be
afforded less encouragement.
believe in Civil s. iee reform and its
application in a 'racticable form
attainable, anon, sasons because
it opens the do6l 4or the rich and tie
poor alike to a participation in public
place-holding. And hope the time is at
hand when all our people will see the adj
vantage of reliance for such an oppor-
tunity upon merit and fitness, instead of
dependence upon the caprice or selfish
interest of those who impudently stand
between the people and the machinery of
their government. In the one case a
reasonable intelligence and the education
which is freely furnished or forced upon
the youth Of our land are the essentials
to office; in the other the way is found in
favor secured by participation inI arti-
san work, often uniting a person
morally, if not mentally and physically,
for the responsibilities and duties of
public employment.
TRIBUTE TO THE DEMOCRATS.
You will agree with me, think, that
the support which has been given TO the
present administration in its efforts to
preserve and advance this reform by
party restored to power after an exclusion
for many years from participation in the
places attached to the public service, con-
fronted with new system precluding the
redistribution of such places in its
interest, called upon to surrender advan-
tages which perverted partisanship had
taught the American people belonged to
success and perturbed with the suspicion,
always raised in such an emergency TINT
their rights in the conduct of this reform
Ind not been scrupulously regarded,
should receive due acknowledgment and
should confirm our belief that thare is
sentiment among the people better than a
desii Ia Office, and patriotic im-
pu Which may safely rest the in
cur institutions and the
nd perpetuity of our govern
e determined to request you TO
Liam your present position until the first
by uf November next, at which time
your resignation may become operative.
desire 10 express my entire confidence
in your attachment to the cause of Civil
Service reform and your ability to render
it efficient aid mud / indulge the hope
and expectation that, Notwithstanding the
acceptance Of your resignation, yonr in
tcrest in the object for which you have
lnbored so assiduonsly will continue
beyond the official term which you sur
render.
F.vFg gWar mn mo