The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-01-03
cleveland on civil-serviee Reform


The National Civil-Service Reform League
on December 20 addressed letter to Presi-
dent-elect Cleveland, calling his attention to
the civiLservice law, &C., to which he replied
as foIlows:
ALBANY, N. Y, Dec. &c, 1884.-To Hon.
George VIM. Curtis, president, &c.-Dear
Sir: Your communication, dated December
20, addressed to me on behalf of the National
Civil Service Reform League, has been re-
ceived That practical reform in the civil
service is demanded is abundantly established
by the fact that statute, referred to in your
communication, to secure such result, has
been passed in Congress with the assent OF
both political parties, and by the further fact
that sentiment is generally prevalent among
patriotic people calling for the fair and honest
enforcement of the law which has been thus
enacted / regard myself pledged to this be-
cause my conception of true Democratic faith
and public duty requires that this and all
other statutes should be in good faith and
Without evasion enforced, and because in
many utterances made prior to my election as
President, approved by the party to which
belong, and which | have no disposition to
disclaim, have in effect promised the people
that this should be done.
81 am not unmindful Of the fact to which
you refer, that many of our citizens fear that
the recent party change in the national exec
utive may demonstrate that the abuses which
have grown up in the civil service are ineradi-
cable. | know that they are deeply rooted,
and that the spoils system has been supposed
to be intimately related to success in the main
tenance of party organization, and l am not
sure that all those who profess to be the
friends of this reform will stand firmly among
its advocates when they find it obstructing
their way to patronage and place. But fully
approaching the trust committed to my charge,
no such consideration shall cause relaxation
on my part of an earnest effort to enforce this
law.
'sThere is class of government positions
which are not within the letter of the civil
service statue, but which are so disconnected
with the policy of an administration that the
removal therefrom of present incumbents, in
my opinion, should not be made during the
terms for which they were appointed solely
on partisan grounds and for the purpose OF
putting in their places those who are IN poht-
zeal accord with the appointing power.
But many now holding such positions have
forfeited all Just claim to retention because
they have used their places for party purposes
| in disregard of their duty to the people, and
because, instead of being decent public ser
wants, they have proved themselves offensive
partisans and INSCRIPTIONS manipulators OF
4
local party management.
''The lessons of the past should be I'M
learned, and such officials, as well as their
successors, should be taught that efficiency,
fitness and devotion to public duty are the
conditions of their continuance in public place,
and that the quiet and unobtrusive exercise
of individual political rights is the reasonable
measure of their party service.
''If were addressing none but party friends
l should deem it entirely proper to remind
them that though the coming administration
is to be Democratic, due regard for the peo'
ple's interest does not permit faithful party
work to be always rewarded by appointment
to office, and to say to them that while Dem.
ocrats may expect all proper consideration,
selections for office not embraced within the
civil-service rules will be based upon sufficient
inquiry as to fitness, instituted by those
charged with that duty, rather than upon per-
sistent importantly or selfsolicited recon-
mendation on behalf of candidates for ap-
pointment. Yours, very truly,
"GRovER CLEVELAND"