The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1885-11-07
RESIGNED.

Hon. Leroy ID. Thomau's Resignation Hs
Civil Service Commissioner Accepted by
the President An Interesting Letter
From Mr.. Thoman-The Presidents Re-
ply.
WASHINGTON, D. c., October 81
The following is the correspondence be-
tween Hon. Leroy d. Thoman, OF the
Civil Service Commission, and President
Cleveland, respecting the formers resig'
nation, which the President has ac-
cepted, to take effect November LIST,
next:
WAsHINGToN. u. c., october 90, 1885.
SIr:-Rcspectfully referring to converse
tion had with YOU ms early as March 10th, in
which expressed the wish to he relieved of
my duties as Il member of the United states
Civil Service Commission, and also TO the
apparent fact that Ii was not then your pleas
ure to cons der my request, | now have the
honor to tender formally my resignation,
and earnestly to beg I'm early con
sidCraton OF the same and its accept
ance While thus asking release from
so honorable trust, desire
to record my qualification over the proved
practicability and remedial effectiveness
of the reform procedure. Tried veterans
In political warfare view with amaZement
the fncle though radical departure from the
familiar methods of the spols system of
distributing patronage. strenuous ana SIN
cere argument, and also deliberate perVer.
sion, mark the opposition OF Inherent
grouns Of antagonists. And yet 1t must be
concluded that n majority of the political
leaders in either party Is in accord with the
| PendletOn law, II its original enactment, ana
| emphatic Endorsement by subsequent
| Congress- were honest legislative expires.
| sions, and not the coercion of moral cow
ardicc by popular sentiment, nor partisan
| legerdcmnb.
In the great tnsk of administrative re-
| form, which YOU have undertaken in accord
| nnce with personal and party pledges, the
| people will give aid. 1t has been my pleas
| urG within the last two months to visit quite
a number of the states and Territories OF
! this Union, and IT was my good fortune TO
| meet with many of their citizens II is
! gratifying to know that the people confide
! in the uncquivocal intention OF the
| President 10 sustain the mer'
| They hnd condemned the evils OF the former
methods. Long experience had made Their
! knowledge accurate. They welcomed the
| inauguration of the new The distinctive
| features OF the present reform appealed 70
| Il typicully American sentiment, which com
mnnds and advances merit. With the pre-
else "details Of the new procedure their nc
| Quintnnce WIS not so intimate. To this they
| are fast succeeding, and the result will be
| cordial approval.
The inception and maintenance of great
reforms are with the people, ] pClleNo Vnal
the fundamental idea OF civil servic: reform
is charact eristic OF American thought Pop
ular hesitation over the acceptance of stat
utory details, suggests merely sale con-
servatism. In the initial stages of this re
form there was response throughout the
Nation. Political contests assumed new
tone. Old time methods of corruption were
| discouraged, and bossism was grappled
with fresh vlgor. The Improvement Is yet
marked. II vicious elements still seek OBJ
trusion into elections, the chances OF thcil
success have been lessened.
The reform spirit is militant and advances
toward complete success. Corruption by
official patronage has been removed. with
the imparting of purer life to official cir
Giles, the power OF the private purse to pur
chase political honors will be less danger
Gus Public appreciation OF the fact thai
this reform does not trench upon stur dy
partizanship came late 1t was sedulouslN
maintained that the civil service was
to be composed of men who should
abjurc certain rights OF citizenship. witt
the gradual, but inevitable, rcfutation o
this fnlse view, the outlines OF tho reform a
last stood forth In clcarness 1t Is n reform
which Views the civil service as q vast bust
ness agency; its search Is for the best Mt
tainnble merit. In business, which Is no
political, II enfOrces no tests OF party. Wit
confident trust IN the success OF your admin
istraton, am
Your obedlent servant.
LEROY u. THoMAN.
M