The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-01-06

Advocates when They Find il OBJ
.structing their Way to Patronage
and Place."
ga due Regard for the Peoples In
terest Does Not permit Faithful
Party Work to be Always Rewar-
ded by Appointment to Office"
Honest democrats
May Expect all Proper ConSidera-
tion." But those who Stand Upon
the "SpOils" Platform will Receive
no Consideration.
New YoEK, Dec 29.-Tbe following
correspondence explains itself:
Natl. CIVIL SERVICE REFoRM LEAGUE
OFFIcE No. 4 PINE STREET,
New York. Dec. 20, 1884.
The Hon. Grover Cleveland:
SIR: We have the honor to address
You on behalf of the National Civil Ser
vice Reform League, an association COM
posed Of citizens of all parties, whose
sole purpose is indicated by its ,and
which takes no part whatever in party
controversy. The vast increase in the
number Of persons engaged in the Civil
Service, and the grave mischief and dan
gers arising from the general bproscrip-
ton in the service which, for half cen.
tury, has followed change Of party
control of tho national administration,
have produced so profound an impres.
sion upon The public mind that the first
effective steps toward reform were taken
with tho CO. operation OF both parties in
the passage OF the reform sct Of January
l6, 1883. The abuses which that act
seeks to correct, however, are
30 Strongly Entrenched
In the traditions and usage Of both par
ties that there is naturally widespread
anxiety lest the party change in the ma
tional Executive, effected by, the late
election, should show them, to be insu-
perable. But believing, as we do, that
the reformed system cannot be held to
he securely established until II has safely
passed the ordeal Of such party changes,
snd recalling with satisfaction and conf
dence your public expressions favorable
to reform and your official acts as the
chief executive OF the State OF New
York, We confidently commend this cause
to yous patriotic care in exercise of the
great power with which the American
people have intrusted you.
Respectfully yours,
GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS,
President
WILLIAM Porrs. Secretary.
John Jay, Moor6eld Storey, J. Hall
Peasants, Everett P Wheeler, Frederick
Morrill, Wyman, aJr, Carl
Schurz, Silas W. Burt, A. r MacDon-
ougb, William Carey Sanger, William
Executive Committee.
President-Elect Cleveland's Reply.
ALBANY, December IS, 1884.
Hon. George VIM. Curtis. President. Etc:
DEAR SIR: Your communication dated
December 90, addressed to me on behalf
of the National Civil Service League.
has been received. That practical re-
form in the civil service Is demanded is
established by the fact that
the statute referred to In your communi
cation to secure such result has been
passed In Congress, with the assent OF
both political psrties.< and by the further
fact that sentiment is generally preva.
lent among patriotic people, calling for
q fair and honest enforcement OF the
law which has thus been enacted. / re-
gard myself as
Pledged to This
because my conception of true Demo
cratic faith and PLAIN duty required that
this and all other statutes should be in
good faith and without evasion enforced,
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 dis
claim, / have in effect promised the peo-
Pile that this should be done. am not
unmindful of the fact that some friends
of this reform will not stand firmly
among its advocates when they find it
obstructing their way to patronage and
place, but fully sppreciaiiug the trust
committed to nv charge no such consid-
Grafton shall cause relaxation on my
part OF an earnest effort to enforce this
law, though there is a class of Govern
ment positions which are not within the
letter Of the civil service statute.
Another fact, to which you refer. is
that many OF our citizens fear that the
recent party change In the National FIX
ecutive demonstrate that the abuses
which have grown up in the Civil Ser
vice are eradicable. I know they are
deeply rooted, and that ..
The Spoils System
has been supposed to be intimately re.
lated to success in the maintenance oil
party organization, and ! am not sure
that all those who profess TO be Repub
licans. but who are disconnected with
the policy II an administration should
be retained, but the removal of the pres.
ent incumbents, in my opinion, should
not be made during the terms for which
they we're appointed solely on partisan
ground and for the purpose Of putting
10 their places those who are IN political
accord with the appointing power But
many now holding such positions have
forfeited all just claim to their retention
because they have nsed their p.sces for
party purposes in disregard of their duty
to the people, and because inals cad Of be.
ing decent public servants they have
proved themselves offensive partisans
and unscrupulous manipulators of local
party management. Thelessons of the
past should be nnlearned, and such Off.
cials as we'll as their successors should
be taught that efficiency, fitness and de.
votion to public duty are the conditions
OF their e'
Continuance In Public Place,
and that the quiet and unobtrusiye xer'
else OF individual political rights is the
reasonable measure of their party ser.
vico IF warn addroeoin0 nona hci