The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-01-07
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
President Elect Cleveland Defines
his Position.

ALBANY, Dec. %, 1884
Hon. GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS, Pres
ident, &C.: -
DEAR SIR-9our communication.
dated December 20, addressed to me on
behalf of the National Civil Service
Reform League, has been received.
That practical reform in the civil
service is demanded is abundantly es-
tablished by the fact that statute,
referred to in your communication to
secure such a result has been passed in
Congress, with the assent of both politi
cal parties, and by the further fact that
among patriotic people calling for the
fair and honest enforcement of the la "
which has been thus enacted. / regard
myself pledged to this because my con-
ception of true democratic faith and pub
lie duty requires that this and all other
statutes should be in good faith and
without evasion enforced, and be-
cause in many utterances made prior
to my election as President approved
by the party to which ! belong and
which have no disposition to disclaim,
| have in effect promised the people that
this should be done.
i am not unmindful of the tact 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 inerad-
icable. | know that 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 the friends of
this reform will stand firmly among
its advocates when they find 1t obstruct.
ing their way 20 patronage and place.
But fully approaching the trust COM
mitted to my charge, no such consider
alton shall cause relaxation on my part
OF an earnest effort 10 enforce this
law.
There is a class of government posi-
tions which are not within the letter of
the civil service statute, but which are
so disconnected with the policy of an
administration that the removal there
from of present incunibents, In my
opinion, should not be made during the
terms for which they were appointed
solely on partisan grounds and for the
purpose of putting in their places those
who are in political accord with the
appointing power. But many now
holding such positions have for
felted all just claim TO retention, because
they have used their places for party
purposes in disregard of their duty to
the people; and because, instead of being
decent public servants they have proved
themselves offensive partisans and uu-
scrupulous manipulators of local party
management. The lessons of the past
should be unlearned, and such officials,
as well as their successors, should be
taught that efficiency, fitness and devo-
ton to public duty are the conditions
of their continuance in public place,
and that the quiet and unobstrusiye
exercise of individual political rights
i the reasonable measure of their party
service.
1t were addressing none but party
friends should deem it entirely proper
to remind them that though the coming
administration is to he Democratic,
due regard for the peoples interest does
not permit faithful party work to be
always rewarded by appointment to
office; and to say to them that while
Democrats may expect all proper con-
siderations, selections for Office not
embraced within the civil service rules
will be based upon sufficient inquiry
as to fitness, instituted by those charged
with that duty, rather than upon per-
sistent Importantly or self-solicited
on behalf of candid
ates for appointment. Yours very truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND.