New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-09-30
LETTER FROM PRES. CLEVELAND.

Chief Civil Service Commissioners Eaton
Resigns, Satisfied With tho Progress
Mado-Mr. Cleveland, Accepting the
Resignation, Expresses Himself Most
Emphatica1ly in Favor of tho Reform.
There was made public some lengthy cor
respondence between Dorman B. Eaton,
chairman of the civil service commission,
and President Cleveland, in which Mr.. Eaton
tenders his resignation to the president to
take effect Nov. 1, and Mr.. Cleveland ac-
ceptsit Thereasons for Mr.. Eaton's resig-
nation are, first, that he found himself upon
the salary of So, 500, which it pays him. and
for which he left a large and lucrative law
practice.
PRESIDENT CLEyELAND's REPLY.
Executive Mansion, Washington, Sept.
II, 1SS5.-Hon. Dorman B. Eaton-NIy
Dear Sir: am in receipt of your letter
rendering your resignation as a member OF
l cannot refrain from expressing my sin
cere regret that you have determined to
withdraw from a position in the public
service where your intelligent performance
OF duty has been OF inestimable value to
the country The friends OF civil service re-
form, and all those who desire good gov
ernment fully appreciate 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 unsuited to the rules which ordinari-
~ govern progress in human affairs,
or that it should at once reach
perfection and universal acceptance.
You have been willing patiently to
accept good results as they step by step
could be gained, holding every advance
with unyielding steadfastness. The success
which thus far has attended the work of
civil service reform is largely due to the fact
that it's practical friends have proceeded
upon the theory that real and healthy pro-
gress can only be made success if the peo-
pie who cherish the pernicious political
ideas, long fostered and encouraged by vi
cious partisanship, are persuaded that the
changes contemplated by the reform offer
substantial improvements and benefits. A
reasonable federation for old prejudices, a
or: ful recognition of every aid, a sensible
limitation OF every instrumentality that
promises assistance, and constant effort
to demonstrate the
ADVANTAGE OF THE NEW ORDER OF THINGS,
are the means by which this reform move
ment will in the future be further advanced
and the opposition OF incorrigble spoils-
men rendered Intellectual and the cause
placed upon sure foundation. OF course
there should be no surrender of principles,
nor backward step, and all laws for the en-
forcement OF the reform should be ridgidly
executed; but the benefits which it's princi.
pies promise will not be fully realized unless
the acquiesence OF the people is added to
the stern assertion OF a doctrine and the
vigorous execution OF the laws. It is
source OF congratulation that there are so
many friends OF civil service reform mar
shaled on the practical side ofthe question,
and that the number is not greater of those
who profess friendliness for the cause, and
yet mischievously, a:d with supercilious
elf-righteousness, discredit every effort not
in exact accord with their ultimate ideas,
decry with carrying criticism the labor OF
those actually in the field of reform, and
qualify every struggle for radical
improvement in the affairs of govern
ment, demand complete and imme-
mediate perfection. The reference in
your letter to the attitude OF the mem
bers OF my cabinet to the merit syetem es-
tablished by the civil service law, beside
being entirely correct, exhibits an appre-
citation OF honest endeavor in the direction
OF reform and a disposition to do justice
to proved sincerity, which is most crafty
ing. Ifsuch treatment OF those upon whom
ment according to reform methods was the
universal rule and il the embarrassment
and perplexities attending such an admin
istration were fairly regarded by all those
processing to be friendly to such methods,
the avowed enemies to the cause would be
afforded less encouragement. / believe in
civil service reform and it's application in
the most practicable form attainabla.
Among other reasons, it opens the doors
for the rich and poor alike to participation
in public officeholding, and hope the time
of a reliance for such an oppor-
tunity upon
MERIT AND FITNESS
instead OF a dependence upon the caprice or
selfish interest OF those who impudently
stand between the people and the machin-
cry OF their government. In the one case a
Intelligence and the education
which is freely furnished or forced upon the
youth OF our land are the credentials to
office. The other way is found in favor Sc
cured by a participation in partisan work,
often uniting a person morally, if not
mentally and physically, for the response
bilities and duties of public employment.
You will agree with me, think, that the
support which has been gwen to the pres
ent administration in it's efforts to preserve
duu advance UnlS reform Dy party re-
stored to power after an exclusion for many
years from participation in the places at
tached to the public service, confronted
with new system precluding redistribu-
ton OF such places in it's interests, called up
on to surrender advantages which |
a perverted partisanship had taught
the American people belonged to
success, and perturbed with the
suspicion, always raised in such an emer-
gency, that their rights in the conduct of
this reform had not been scrupulously re-
garded, should receive due acknowledge
ment, and should confirm our belief that
there is a sentiment among the people bet
ter than a desire to hold Office, and patri-
otic impulse upon which may safely rest the
OF our constitution and strength
and perpetuity OF our government. have
determined to request you to retain your
present position until the first day of No