St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1885-10-03
PRESIDENT CLEvELAND's REPLY.
EXECUTIVE MANSION.

|
| To Hon. DOrra0R y. Eaton.
MY DEAR SRI am receipt of your let
| ter rendering your resignation as a member
| of the Board of Civil Service Commissioners,
| can not refrain from eXnre ssng my sim
| cere regret that you have determined &c
| withdraw from q position in the pu7lc ser
vice where your intelligent performance OF
| duty has been OF inestmab value to the
country. The friends of civil service r4for1n,
and all those who desire good government
fully appreciate your devotion for the cause
| in which You early enlisted, and they have
| seen with satisfaction that yOur zeal and
faith have not led yoa to suppose that the
reform In which you wert en9a2 ell is insult
ed to the rules WI ich ordinarily govern pre-
greSSiYe human affairs, that it should at
once reach perfection anu universal accept.
ance. You have been wiling patiently to
accept good results as they, step by step.
could be gained. holding every advance with
unyielding steaifastness
The success. which hui far has attended
the work of civil service reform is largely
due to the fact that is practical frie nds
have proceeded upon the theory that real
| anu heaithy progress can only be made as
such of the people who cherish perncious
political ideas, long fosteredand encouraged
BY vicious partisansh,n, are persuaded that
changes contemplated by the reform offers
substantial improvements and benefit.
A reasonable liberation for old picjudiceS,
q graceful rco=n ton of every aid, sensi-
bic utilization OF every instrGmeata1ty that
promises assistance and constant effort
to demons rate the advantages OF the new
order of things are the means by VIII Itch this
reform movement Wlll in the future be
further advanced, the opposition of Ineor.
rigiDle spo;lsnen rendered Intellectual, an6
the cause placed upon a sure foundation.
OF course there should be no. surrender OF
principle nor backward step: AMI all laws
for the enforcement of the reform should be
rigidly executed : but the benefits which its
principles promise will not be fully realized
unless the ncquiescence of the people is ad-
ded to the stern assertion OF u doctrine anC
the vigorous execution of the laws.
1t Is source of congratuIation that there
are SO many friends of civil service reform
marshaed on the practic u side OF th9 ques.
tion and that the number is not greater of
those who profess frendliness for the cause
and yet mischevOuSly AMI with superciliOus
self righteousness discredit every effort not
in exact accord with their attenuated ideas,
decry with carping critf ism the labor OF
those actually inNthe Geld OF reform, and,
ignoring the conditions which bound and
qualify every struggle for Il radical improve
nent in the affairs of government, demand
complete and Immediate perfection.
The reference in your letter to the attitude
system established by the civil service law,
beside being entirely correct exhibits an APP
probation of honest enieavory in the diree-
ton of reform and Il disposition to do Justice
to proved sincerity. which is most crafty
ing. If such treatment of those upon whom
the duty rests of administering the govern
ment according to reform methods was the
universal rule, and II the em5arra sments
and perplextties attending sach IN admins
tration were fairly regarded by ntl those
protesting to be friendly to such meth
DDS, tie aVowed enemies of the cause
would be afforded less encouragement.
l. believe in civil service reform,
and its application I'm the most practicable
form attainable, among other reasons, be-
cause 1t opens the door, for.the rich and the
poor alike, to participation in pubic Of
flee holding. And hope the time is ut hand
when all our people will see the advantages
of Il reliance upon such an opportunity; up
ON merit and fitness, instead of depensl-
cnce on the caprice or selfish interest OF
those who impudently stand between the
people and the machinery Of their govern
Inent
In the one case reasonable intellgen ce
and the education which is freely furnisae ell
Or forced upon the youth af our land are
the credentials to Office in the other the
tion in partisan work often uniting per-
son morally. II not mentally and physically,
for the responsibilities and duties OF public
employment.
You will agree with me. think. that the
support which has been given to the present
administration in its efforts to preserve and
advance this reform by Il purity restored
to power after exclusion for many years
from participation In the plIceS attached 60
the public service; confronted with 81 new
system preclildfng the redistribution OF sucE
places IN its interest; called upon 10 sur.
render advantages which perverted par.
Eud taught the American people
belonged to success, and nerturbed with
suspicion always raised in such an emer-
gcncy, thnt their rights III tic conduct OF
this reform had not been scrupnlousIy re.
garded, should receive due Acknowledged
ment and should confirm our belief that
there Is u sentiment among the people bet.
ter than a desire TO hold office. ana 4 patri-
otto impulse upon which may safely rest the
integrity of our institutions and the strength
and prosperity of our Government.
have determined to request you to re-
tain your position until the first day of No
vember next, at which time your resignation
may become operative desire to express
my entire confidence in your attachment to
the cause OF civil service Iesorm, and your
ability to render it efficient aid and / In.
duige the hope and expectation that, not.