The Greenville times., 1885-01-03
Important Latter from ths Prssl-
dsHt Elect


p albany, Dec %, 1884.
+ Hon. George William Cnrtis, Pres
Z idcht, etc.
"a Dear Sir-Yoar Communication
& dated Dec. 20, addressed to me IN
l. behalf Of the National Service Re
D. form League, has been received
o That practical reform in the civil
q service is demanded is abundant.
= ly established BY the fact that the
l. statute referred to in your com.
z mnnlcation, to secure such result.
i has been passed in Congress, with
e the assent Of both political parties,
and by the further fact that the
sentiment is generally prevalent
among thepatriotic people, calling
Tor fair and honest enforcement of
! the law which has been thus en-.
acted, | regard myself pledged to
this, because my conception Of
true Democratic faith aud public
duty requires that this aud all 9th.
er statutes should be in good faith
and without evasion enforced, and
because in many utterances made
prior to my election us President,
approved by the party to which |
belong and which have no dispo
sltion to disclaim, have in effect
promised the people that this
should be done.
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.
utlye may demonstrate that the
abuses which have grown up in
the civil service are ineradi able.
| know they are deeply rooted and
that the spoils system has been
supposed to be intimately related
TO success in the maintenance of
party organization, and | am not :
sure that all those who profess to
be friends of this reform will stand
irmly among its advocates when ,
they find It obstructing their way
to patronage aud place. But fully ,
appreciating the trust committed ,
to my charge, no such considera. ,
tions shall cause relaxation on nv /;
part of an earnest effort to enforce /,
this law.
There Is a class Of government q
positions which are not within the .
letter of the civil service statute. !
but which are so disconnected Z,
with the policy of an administra. :
lion that the removal therefrom of ;,
The present ineumbents, in my !
opinion, should not DO made 4
during the terms for which =
Ihey were appointed solely ON =
partlsans ground, and for the .
~
purpose OF putting in their places q
nose who are in political ac. n
'ord with the appointing power; il
'nt many now holding such posi- -
ions have forfeited all Just claim =,
o retention, because they have :,
lsed their places for party pur. !,
'oses in disregard of their duty to h,
he people, and because instead of =
icing decent public servants, they :,
ave proved themselves Offensive
artisans and INSCRIPTIONS man.
pulatora Of local party manage. W
lent. II
The lessons of the past should al
o unlearned, and such officials, as A
'eilas their successors, should be ri
'ught that efficiency, fitness and co
eviction to public duty are condi. Ell
ons of their continuance in pub. til
9 place, aud that quiet and unob.
'usive exercise of their ndivid. We
Al political rights is q reasonable sc
casure of their party service. niC
II | were addressing none but eel
'rty friends, | should deem il en-. su,
rely proper to remind them that. Co
ough the coming administration thi
to be Democratic, a due regard up
T the peoples interest does not pal
'rmlt faithful party work always del
be rewarded by appointment to Tn,
lce, aud to say to them that yol
hle tue Democrats may expect
proper considerations in seleo.
ms for Offices not embraced =
thin the civil service rules, it viii !
based upon sufficient inquiry as vi
the fitness instituted by those 'o'
'rged with that duty, rather than - s'i
on persistent Importantly or '"f'
tsollcited recommendation on qua
lalf OF candidates for appoint. SOU %, :
NJ. Yours, very truly, "
GROVER CLEVELAND. sV0'
-- 1s-e--z ----- tHe
Tae River Problem. cars
Helena. Ark Dno re 1904 nv"