St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-01
GOV. CLEVELIND AND THE CIVIL
SERVICE.

The manly reply of Gov. Cleveland to the
letter of the Civil Service Reform League is
what the League, the Democratic party and
the American people generally had right to
expect. The party which has been in power
for quarter of Il century past, while nomi-
nslly advocating "civi service reform" OF
late years, has, in reality, proven to be D
sham and hollow mockery of any real re-
form. 1t has used the public patronage
solely as a system of reward and gain for
political hcnchmen, regardless Of honesty Or
fitness, and 1t is only since the people have
voted to turn the rascas out" that they
have become jealous champions of the here
tofore dead letter civil service statutes. 1t
rem .ins for the incoming Democratic adj
minisiration to give the country the first Illus
tration of an honest civil service.
Gov. Cleveland has the honesty aud man
illness to say to his political friends that they
cannot obtain and hold office simply because
they are or have been his politi-
cal supporters. de does not
propose TO make sweeping removals
in order to reward his political supporters,
and if he carries out the sentiments of his
recent letter, he will receiveSthe cordial en-
dorsement and support of all patriotic citi-
zens, irrespective of party affiliations.
IL must not be understood, either, from
this declaration, that there are to be no re-
moyals from office. The public affairs of the
nation have been for years honeycombed
with corruption, and there are abundant
reasons for numerous and radical
changes in officials. There are undouht-
edly numerous faithful auh honest officials
now serving the government, who Will I'M
doubtedly, aud properly, be retained until
their terms Of service expire, when their
places will be filed by equally competent
and faithful Democratic officials. There are
far more numerous public offices held By dis
honest men, by political partisans, who have
continually violated both the spirit and the
letter Of the civil service legislation by the
shameless political prostitution of their
offices, and whose summary removal is de-
manded by every public consideration.
Gov. Clcvelaud's letter is an mphatic dec
laration that such otliceholders must retire,
and he would be false to the public trust re-
posed in him If he took any other position.
1t is not only probable, but reasonably
certain, that there will be considerable dis
appointment in the disposition of patronage
under the incoming administration, and no
better evidence of the honesty and sincerity
of the Democratic party, in pledgiEg itself to
genuine reform, could be afforded than
this individual discussion from the
policy which Gov. Cleveland is publicly
pledged to inaugurate. The Democracy have
taken the reins Of power not for day or for
year, but for half century at least, and in
due time honest1Dsmocrats will be found
filing the positions of honor, profit and trust
throughout the country. Gov. Cleveland's
announcement that those who have already
violated the civil service law will be subject
to removal, opens as wide field as any
reasonable Democrat need desire, and those
who look for anything better or a general
hegira on the 5th Of March will be very pro-
perly doomed to disappointment.