Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-09-24
GUSH AND CANNON.
THE CONTENTS OF TWO REMARk.
ABLE DOCUMENTS.
Civil Service Commissioner Eaton and
President Cleveland Organize II Mutual
Admiration society - Eaton Satisfied
with the President, and Vice Versa.
From Morning Editionl

President Cleveland Organize n Mutual
Admiration Society - Eaton Satisfied
with the President, and Vice Versa.
From Morning EditiOn1
WASHINGTON, Sept 23.-The letter to the
president in which Dormau B. Ea'op, chair
man OF the civil service commission, resigned
his position, was tonight given to the public,
together with President Clevelsud's an
swer, which Mr.. Eaton received today.
Mr.. E4tons letter is very volumnous, and
goes into the subject Of civil service r, form at
great length,
The writer starts out by saying it was not
his original intention to remain member OF
the commission longer than ayear, but that he
was several times dissuaded from resigung
by his friends who urged that bis resignation
would be distorted by the enem es of reform
as an admission of the probable failure OF the
civil service law. When the administration
became democratic he had refrained
from rendering his resignation on
account of the crisis in civil service
reform which the change in the
he was certain that the president intended
CARRYING out his well-k1own IDEAS in regard
to civil service reform. The time had now
| arrived when he was convinced the president
Intended continual prosecution OF those
ideas. In closing, Mr.. Elton said:
do not refer to these facts, So decisive o..
the perpetuity of the merit system with the
vain conceit that if they were other se,
remaining a commissioner would avail any
thing, but wish TO lesye no doubt of my
absolute faith in the continual triumph OF a
reform policy, and not friend OF reform the
least rason for thinking ought to remain in
my office. Indeed, the triumph OF that poll
| cy is now absolute, and the contest already y
over in that part OF the government to which
alone all legi innate authority and response
biity tor appointments and removals rest
aud In which alone the thorough information
needed for correct judgement AS to the
utility Of the new system exists. In other
words, were it not tor the interference by
congressman ald politicians with the con.
stitutional functions and the intended liberty
| of the president and Of the other officer:
having the appointing power, there would
now be no opposition -.worthy Of notice to q
merit system Of office. Those who oppose il
will, with few exceptions, be thos,
only whose participation in appointments ant
removals Is an absolute usurpatior
aud iptermedding. by which the c0uule-
poise Of the government has been i'm pa red
and its perpetuity is being Threatened 7,
that usurpatiOn, to the selfish aims OF thos,
who promote it, TO the gathering OF the spoil
and the distribution of Offices which are il
motive force, open competitions Of merit TO
appointment and the supp ession OF politCa
assessments are faal. President Grant 40
proved Of civil service rules to arrest tha
intermedlng. Presid mt Grant decided tha
issue and his last official declaration to con
gress on the subject declared it source O
mOrtfca ion that congress had refused a,
appropriation he had in II special me ssag
requested in aid Of the continued enforcement
Of the IN ri, sysem, which he declared t. hav
been beneficial. President Arthur, ia each IN
nUal message sfer the passage of the civi
service act, reat'rmed that judgment OF tn
executive department, p jndk which b.
declared expressed the view Of every mem
Der OF his cabinet. In the daily acts OF tn
present administration the same julgiue mt i
approved and enforced. 1t is possible tha
snurnber Of congressmen and politicians of tn
dominant party, with a considerable follow
ing OF Office seekers, may, Notwithstanding,
the vastly augmented strength of Az enlight
ened public opinion, repeat the folly of thos
Of my own party in 1874, by resisting th
well-matured judgment and the defnit
policy Of their own adm! nis,ration Oh the rp
form issue. If such is TO be the fact this /
not the place for showing why such an at
tempt would be lar more dlsas'rou
th,n the republican restoration of the spoil
system against the advice of President Gran,
Such course and the conflict it would pre
ciptste would be regardless of the good r,
suits OF the civil service act orjany eAperienc
in its administration. If in any party ma
have any such contest could far better serv
the cause OF reform in the exercise of that fu
liberty which is hardly compatible with tn
proprieties Of my present office.
The letter ia dated July 2S last. In bis re
ply, which is dated September II, Mr. Cleve
land says: 81 cannot refrain from express
ing my siIcere regret that you have deter
mined to withdraw from the po.ition in th
public service where your Intelligent per
formance of dnty has heen OF inestimab'
value to the country. The friends of civi
service reform and all those Tho desire goo
government fully appreciate your devotion
for the cause in which you early enlisted.
| ~
the work OF civil service reform is largel,
due to The fact that its practical 'riend
have proceeded upon the theory that res
and healthy progress can only be made a
such Of the people who cherish pei niciou
political ideas, long fostered and encourage,
by vicious partisa nship, are persuaded tha
the change contemplated by the reform OF
fers substantial Improvements and benefits
There should be no surrender OF principl
nor backward step, and all laws { r the en-
forcement Of the reform should be rigidll
executed, but the benefits which its pfinci
pies promise will not be fully realized unles
the acGuiescence OF the people is added to tn
stern assertion OF the doctrine and the ,igor
Gus execution OF the laws. II is source o
congratulation that there are 80 many friend
OF civil service reform marshalled on th,
practical side Of the question, and that th
number is not greater OF those who prof, q
iriendliness for the cause and yet mischieve
ously and with supercilious self-righteousnes
discredit every effort not in exac
accord with their atteDuated ideas
decry with their carping criticism
the labor OF those actually in the field OF re-
form. and, ignoring the conditions which
qualify every struggle for radical improve
ment in the affairs of government, demand I
complete and imm adiate perfection.
81 believe In civil service reform aud its sp
plication In the most practicable form attain
able, among olh,r reasons because II OPEN