Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1885-01-13
. Letter From Gov. cIeveIand.-

stAEBANY, N. Y, Die. 25, 1884.
To. Hon. George Wm.. Curtis, prest-
dent, dc.
DEAR SIR: Your Communication,
dated December 20, addressed to me
on behalf of the National Ciyil-Ser-
vice League, has been received.
That Impractical reform in the civil
service is demanded is abundantly
established by the fact that a statue,
referred to in your communication,
to secure such result, has been pass
ed in Congress with the assent of both
political parties, and by the further
fact that a sentiment is generally
prevalent among patriotic people
calling for the fair and honest enforce
ment of the law which has been thus
enacted. 1 regard myself pledged
to this because my conception of true
Democratic faith and public duty re-
quires that this and all other statues
should be in good faith and without
evasion enforced and because inmany
utterances made prior to my election
as President, approved by the party
to which I belong, and which 1 have
no disposition 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 executive may
demonstrate that the abuses which
have grown up in the civil service are
Iincradicable. 1 know that they are
deeply rooted, and that the spoils
system has been supposed to be in
timately related to success in the
maintenance of party organization,
and I am not sure that all those who
profess to be the friends of this re-
form will stand firmly among its adj
vocates when they find it obstructing
their way to patronage and place.
But fully approaching the trust COM
mitted to my charge, no such con,
sideration shall cause relaxation on
my part of an earnest to enforce this
law.
There is class of government po-
sitions 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 du-
ring the terms for which they were
appointed, solely on partisan grounds
and for the purpose of putting in theil
places those who are in political &C.
cord with the appointing power.
But many now holding such pc
sitiQns have forfeited all just claim
to retention, because they have usec
their places for party purposes il
disregard of their duty to the people
and because, instead of being decent
public servants, they have proved
themselves offensive partisans anC
unscrupulous manipulators of loca
party management.
Is The lessons of the past should be
unlearucd, and such officials, as vel
as their successors, should be taught
that efficiency, fitness and devotion
to public duty are the conditions o.
their continuance in public place
and that the quiet and unobstructive
exercise of individual political right:
is the reasonable measure of thcir
party service.
eff 1 were addressing none but
party friends should deem it entire,
ly proper to remind them that though
the coming administration is to be
Democratic, due regard for the PEG.
PIES interest does not permit faith,
full party work to be always rewarded
by appointment to Office, and to say
to them that while Democrats may
expect all proper consideration, Sc
lections for Office not embraced within
the ciyil-service rules will be based
upon sufficient inquiry as to fitness
instituted by those charged with thai
duty, rather than upon persistent i'm.
portunity or self solicited recommen,
dation on behalf of candidates for ap.
pointment. Yours, truly,
"GRovER CLEvELASD."
The village of Moorefield, in Hardy