The Aberdeen examiner., 1885-01-08


OTHERS.
By telegraph to Mobile Register.
New York, December 29-Tfe
following correspondence explains it,
self:
NATIONAL CIVIL SERVICE !
REFORM LEAGUE, NOD, PINE STREET,
New YORK, DECEMBER 20, 1854.
Hon. Grover Cleveland:
We have the honor to address you
on behalf OF the National Civil Ser
vice Reform League, an association
composed OF f'citizens of all parties,
whose sole purpose is indicated by
its name, aud which takes no part
whatever in party controversy. The
vast increase in the number of per-
sons engaged in civil service, and
the grave mischiefs and dangers
arising from the general proscrip
ton in the service, which for half q
century has followed the change of
party control of the national admin
istrution, have produced so profound
an impression upon the public mind
that the first effective steps toward
reform were taken with the Co oper-
alton of both parties in the shape of
the reform act of January 16, 1888.
The abuses which that act seeks to
correct, however, are so strong y
in,renched IN the traditions and
usages of both parties that there is
naturally widespread anxiety lest the
party change IN the Exe cutive affect
ed by the late election should show
them to be insuperable not believ
ing, as we do, that reformed system
cannot be held to be secured and
established until it has safely passed
the ordeal of such party change,
and recalling with satisfaction and
confidence your public expressions
favorable to reform, and your official
acts as chief executive of the State of
Naw York, we confidently commend
this cause 10 your patriotic care in
tie exercise of the great power vii b
which the American people have
entrusted you. Respectfully yours,
GEO. VIM. CURTIS, Prest.
"Wm. Potts, Secretary.
sJohn Jay, Moorefieid Story, j.
Hall Peasants, w w. Montgomery,
Everett 2. Wheeler, A. Cromwell,
Lorill Wyman, Jr., Carl Schulz, ,Silas
w Burt, A. s. LacDonough. VIM
G rey Janger, W. W. Aiken, Execu,
tive Con mittee."
Pr sident elect Cleveland's reply
was as follows
ALBANY. n. Y, Dec %, 1884
Hon Geo VIM. Curtis, Prest etc.
Denr Sir--Your Communication
daIed Dgcember 20ih, addressed tu
me on behalf Of the National Civil
S rvice reform League, has been re-
ceIved. That practical reform in the
civil service is demanded is nbun
dainty eslabi he'd by the fact that
the atute referred 10 in your com
munication to secure such Il result,
has been passed in Congress with
the assent of both political parties,
and by the further fact the sentlmen
is generally prevalent among patriots
ic people calling for the fair and
| honest enforcement OF the law which
has been thus enacted regard
myself pledged to this because my
conception of true Democratic faith
and public duy requires that this
and all other statutes should be in
good faith and without evasion en-
forced, and because i'll many utter.
ances made prior to nay election as
President, approved by the party tc
which l belong, and which l have nc
disposition to disclaim. | have in
effect prom s d the people that this
should be done. am not unmindtuI
of the fact to which you refer that
many of our citizens are fearful thai
the recent party change in the
national executive may demonstrate
that the abuses which have grown
up in the civil service are ineradica ,
BILE. | known that they are deeply
rooted, and that the spoils system
has been supposed to be intimately
related to success III the maintenance
of party organization, and | am MOI
sure that all those who profess to be
friends of this reform will stand
firmly among its advocates when
they find ii obstructing the way tc
patronage and place, bnt fully ap-
preciating the trust committed to my
charge, no such consideration shall
cause relaxation on my part Of al
earnest effort to enforce this law
There is a class of Government posi-
tions which are not within the letter
of the civil service statutes, but which
are so disconnected with the policy
of an administration that remova
therefrom of present incumbents
should not be. made during the tel ms
for which they were appointed solely
on partisan grounds, and for the
purpose of putting in their places
those who are in political sympathy
with the appointing power,bu many
now holding such positions have
forfeited all Just claim to retention
because they have used their places
for party purposes in the discharge
of their duty to the people, and
because instead of being decent pub
lie servants thay have proven them
selves offensive partizans, and un
scrupulous manipulators of local
party management. The lessons Of
the past should be unlearned, and
such officials, as we'll as their success
sors should be taught that efficiency
and devotion 10 public duty are the
conditions of their continuance in
public place, and that the quiet and
unobtrusive exercise of individual
: political rights is reasonable
measure of their party service. Ii
were addressing none but my party