The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-27
TIE o,vrL-sERvIcE COMMISSION.

of Hon. Leroy d. Thoman.
WASHINGTON, Oct 26-Civil-service Commits
sioner Thoman has rendered his resignation, and
it has been accepted by the President, to take
effect Nov. l. Following is the correspondence:
"WAsHINGToN, Oct. 20, 1885.
"Sir-Respectfuily referring to converse
ton had with you as early as March 10, in which
| expressed the wish to be relieved Of my duties
member of the United States Civil service
Commission, and also to the apparent fact that
it was not then your pleasure to consider my
quest, / now have the honor to tender, formally,
my resignation, and earnestly to beg an early
consideration of the same, and its acceptance.
While thus asking relief from so honorable
trust, desire to record my qualification over the
proved practicability and remedial effectiveness
of the reform procedure. Tried veterans in po-
litical warfare view with amaZement the facile
spoils system of distributing patronage.
Strenuous and sincere argument, and
also deliberate perverson, mark the oppo-
sition of different groups of antagonists;
and yet it must be conceded that majority Of
the political leaders in either party is in accord
with the Pendleton law. If its original enactment
and emphatic Endorsement by subsequent Con-
gress were honest legislative expressions,
and not the coercion of moral cowardice by pop
u!ar sentiment, nor partisan legerdemain, in
the great task of administrative reform, which
you have undertaken in accordance with personal
and hearty pledges, the people will give aid. 1t
has been my pleasure, within the last two
months, to visit quite a number of the States
and Territories of this Union, and it WAS my good
fortune to meet with many of their citizens. Ii
is gratifying TO know that the people confide in
the unequivocal intention CT the President to
sustain the merit system in the civil service.
They had condemned the evils of the former meths
DDS. Long experience had made their knowledge
accurate, They welcomed the inauguration of
the new. The distinctive features of the present
reform appealed to typical American senti-
ment which recommends and advances merit.
With the precise details of the new procedure
their acquaintance was not so intimate To this
they are fast succeeding and the result will be
cordial approval. The inception and mainte-
nance of great reforms with the people.
Popular hesitation over the acceptance of stat
utory details suggests merely safe conserva-
tism. In the initial stages of this reform, there
was a response throughout the Nation. Polit-
ical contests assumed new tone; old-time
methods of corrupting were discouraged, and
'bossism' was grarpled with fresh vigor. Tho
improvement is yet marked. If vicious
elements still seek obtruSion into elections, the
chances of their success have been lessened.
The reform spirit is militant, and advances to-
ward complete success. With the mparting
Of purer life to official circles the power of the
private purse to purchase political honors will be
less dangerous. Public appreciation of the fact
that this reform does Lot trench upon sturdy
partisanship came late. It was sedulously main
tanned that the civil service was to be composed
of men who should abjure certain rights of cti-
zenship. With the gradual but inevitable refu-
tatlon of this false view, the outlines of the re-
form at last stood forth in clearness. It is a re-
form which views the civil service as vast busi-
ress agency; it's search is for the best attainabe
merit. In business which is not political it en-
forces no tests of party. With confident trust
In the success of your administration,
II am your obedent servant
LEROY ID. THOMAN.
ITO the President"
''WASHINGTON, Oct. "a 1885.
Hon. Leroy d. Thoman, Civ-service Commissioner:
my Dear Sir-I have received your letter
rendering your resignation a member of the
Civilservce Commission, which is in further
of inclination expressed by you very
soon after my Inauguration as President The
resignation thus rendered is hereby accepted, to
take effect on the 1st day of November next. I
congratulate you upon the fact that in the Office
which you relinquish you have been able. by sim
ccre and earnest work. and by steady devotion
to the cause which you have had in charge, to do
much in the interest of good government and
improved political methods.
"Yours sincerely,
'GRovRR CLEVELAND, President"
An Associated Press reporter called uron COM
missioner Thoman, this evening" and in answer
to question as to his future intentions, he said:
II will not be idle moment. have some pri-
vate business matters which will occupy my at
tention for short time, and then expect to re.
sumo the practice of law" 1t is said that Judgs
Thoman has under consideration proposition
from large corporation in New York city.
Judge Thoman is scarcely thirty-fve years of
age, but has enjoyed an experience equal to that
which most public men have at the age of sixty
years. He came here with the reputation Of
being man Of pronounced ability, and was in
troduced by Senator Pendleton, distinguished
gentleman and scholar. He was given position
paying him So. 500 year and his expenses-a
position carrying with it considerable honor.
He was admitted to the best of society and taken
into the highest political circles. Young vigor-
Gus, intelligent and with all the surroundings
he enjoyed, he ought to have stood to-day in the
front rank of the Democracy and should have
been invulnerable in his present position. All
these opportunities he has permitted to pass
without profit.