The Osceola times., 1885-10-03
PRESIDENT cLEvELASD's REPLY
wAsafSGros' y c. ~ seS,emhoos' ! nleNsios'

" - nl.ar
To Hon. D0rmdH y. Eaton. a.
MY DEAR siR;-l am n receipt OF vopr l..
ter rendering your resignation as a M MI ,et'
of the Board OF Civil Service Commisspeolnuef
can not refrain from expressIne ,,',lers
crre regret that YOU have de,er,,,.s s sii-
withdraw from position In the nnhIa 70
Vice where your Intelligent perfdrmanser scr.
duty has been OF inestlmable value ~ oi
country. The friends nf civil scrylce 80 80 the
aud all those who desire good Royernnln
fully appreciate your dcyotion for Tho na' cn'
In which you carly enlisted, and they hse
seen with satisfaction that your zeal and
faith have not led you to suppose tha, ,ha ,hi
reform In which you were eagagel ia n,s,',.s .ms
ed to the rules Which ordinarily goyern nre
gresslve human affairs, or that il shonl6 y.
once reach perfection and universal accent
anct. You nave been willing patIentI,,
accept good results rs they, step by star
could be gained, holding every advance w,iph,
unyielding steadfas'ness WV"
The success which thus far has at,ona,
the work OF civil serv Ice reform Ia iar.11
due to the fact that It's practical frianX
have proceeded upon the theory that raai
and healthy progress can only be made a.
such OF the people who cherish pernlrIo"s
political Ideas. long fostered and encour,god
by vicious partisanship, are persuaded tba.
changes contemplated by the reform Offers
substantial improvements and benefit.
A reasonable liberation for old pieludicas
graceful REQ gntion OF every nld a sensif
BILE utilization OF every instrument entalty thar
promises assistance and constant effort
order of things are the means by which tbis
reform movement Will In tho future bs
further advanced, the oppos sition OF Incur
rgiblc spoilsmen rendered Intellectual, and
the cause placed upon sure foundation
OF course there should be no surrender of
principle nor backward step: ana ali laws
for the enforcement OF the reform should be
rigidly executed: but the benefits whien its
principles promise Will not be fully realized
unless the acqucscence Of the people IL adj
ded to the stern assertion OF n doctrine and
the vigorous execution of the laws
1t is a source OF congratulation that there
are so many friends Of civil serv &C reform
marshaled on the pract,c Il side OF the ques'
tion. and that the number Is not greater OF
those who profess fricndliness for the cause
and yet mischieyously aud with suDerclllous
self righteousness dlscrcdit every effort NOT
IN exact accord with their attenuated Ideas
decry with tarping oriti Ism the labor oi
those actually in the ncld OF reform, and,
ignoring the conditions which bound and
qualify every struggle fora radical improve.
m ent In the affairs OF government, demand
complete and immediate perfection.
The reference In your letter TO the attitude
of the members OF my Cabinet to the merit
system established by the civil service law,
beside being entirely correct exhibits an ap.
probation Of bonest endeavOr in the direc.
tion OF reform and disposition to do justice
to proved sincerity, which Is most crafty.
ing. IL such treatment OF those upon whom
the duty rests OF Administering the govern.
ment according to reform methods was the
and perplexities attending suck an admins.
tTation were fairly regarded by nil those
professing 10 be friendly to such meth.
DDS, tie avowed enemies OF the cause
would be afforded less announcement
believe In civil service reform
and its application In the most practicable
form attainable, among other reasons, be-
cause IL opens the door, for the rich aud thu
poor alike, TO a participation In public OF.
flee holding. And hope the time Is at hand
when all our people VIII see the advantages
OF reliance upon such AN opportunity, up.
on merit anu fitness, instead OF depend.
ence on the caprice or selfish interest OF
those who impudently stand between ths
people and the machinery OF their govern
ment
In the one case feas sonable intelIlgen CO
and the education which is freely furnish ed
or forced upon the youth OF our land are
the credentials to office in the other. the
way Is found In favor secured by pnrticlpA-
tion In partisan work often uniting per.
son morally. II not mentally and physically,
for the responsibilities and duties OF public
employment.
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 Y party restored
to power after exclusion FOR many years
from participation In the places attached Ia
the public service; confronted with new
system precludng the redistribution OF such
places In Its Interest, called upon to sur
render advantages which n perverted par.
tisanship lad taught the American people
belonged to success, and perturbcd with
suspicion always raised In such an cmer.
gency. that their rights In the conduct oi
this reform had not been scrupulously re.
gurded, should receive due acknowledge.
ment and should confirm our belief that
there Is "A sentiment among the people bot
ter than n desire TO hold office, and a patrl-
otic impulse upon which may safely rest the
integrity of our Institutions aud the strength
and prosperity of our Government.
| have determined to request you 70 re-
tain your position until the inst day OF Mo-
vember next, at which time your resignation
may become operative. ! desire to express
my entire confidence in your attachment to
the cause OF civil service Tc orn, and your
ability to render 1t efficient aid, and In
dulgc the hope and expectation that, not
withstanding the acceptance OF your Tesig-
nation, your interest In the object for which
YOU have labored - ass.luously, Will con-
Time beyond the on iHl term which you sur
render Yours very truly,
fIENTIkNn.