Montgomery County sentinel., 1885-01-02
Cleveland on Civil Service Reform.

A letter was addressed TO President-elect
Cleveland, on December Goth, by Geo. w.
Curtis, President Of the Civil Service Re-
form League, and signed numerously by
other members Of that organization In
the letter Mr.. Cleveland is requested to be
guided by the principles of civil service re-
form in the selection of public servants in
his coming administration. The following
answer was received:
ALBANY, N. Y. Dec. %, 1884.
To Hon. Geo. Wm Curtis, President, dc.
DEAR SIR: Your communication, dated
December 20, addressed to me on behalf of
the Nanional Civil Service Reform League,
has been received
That practical reform in the civil service
is demanded is abundantly established by
the fact that statute referred TO in your
communication to secure such result has
been passed In Congress with the assent of
both political parties, and by the further
fact that sentiment is generally prevalent
among patriotic 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 duty re-
quires that this and all other statutes should
be in good faith and without evasion en-
forced, and because in many utterances
made prior to my election as President, ap.
proved by the party to which | belong, and
which have no disposition to disregard,
have in effect promised the people that this
should be done.
am not unmindful of the fact to which
you refer, that many ofour citizens fear that
the recent party change in the national Ex-
ecutiye may demonstrate that the abuses
which have grown up in the civil service
are ineradIcabe. | know that they are
deeply rooted and that the spols system has
been supposed to be intimately related to
success in the maintenance of party organi.
zation, and | ani not sure that all those who
profess to be the friends Of this reform will
stand firmly among its advocates when they
find it obstructing their way to patronage
and place. But fully appreciatng the trust
committed to my charge, no such consider
alton shall cause relax on my part of an
earnest effort to enforce this law.
There is a class of Government positions
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 therefrom of present incum-
bents, in my opinion, should not be made
during the terms for which they were ap.
pointed, solely on partisan grounds and for
the purpose of putting in their places those
who were in political accord with the ap-
pointing power.
But many now holding such positions
have forfeited all just claim to retention, be-
cause 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 them
selves offensive partisans and INSCRIPTIONS
manipulators of local party management.
The lessons OF the past should bo un-
learned, and such officials, as well as their
successors, should be taught that efficiency
fitness and devotion to public duty are the
conditions of their continuance in public
place, and that the quiet and unobtrusive
exercise Of individual political rights is the
reasonable measure of their party service.
If were addressing none but party friends
| should deem it entirely proper to remind
them that though the coming administration
is to be Democratic, a due regard for the peo-
pies interest does not permit faithful party
work to be always rewarded by appoint,
ment TO Office, and to say to them that while
Democrats NAV expect all proparcYnsidera
lions, selections ioa office npte,nafaaad wi.l.
in the civil service rules viii b. based upon
sufficient inquiry rs to fitness, instituted by
those charged with that duty, rather than
persistent importantly or self.solioitel re.
Communications on behalf Of candidates fol
appointment Yours, very truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND.