Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1885-09-24

participation IN appointments and re-
movsls 10 an absolute asarpation, 40 in
termeddlin9 by which the coanterpsise
Of the Government has been impaired
and its perpetaity threatened. 10 that
usurpation, 70 selfish aims, aud TO gath
ering Of spoils and distribution OF
offices, which are its motive force, open
competitions Of merit for appointment,
and suppression Of political assessments
are fatal President Grant approved a
civil service rule to arrest that inter-
meddling. Concede TO the President
and other appointing officers the liberty
which the constitution and the laws
contemplate; allow those who have the
best means of making wise choice
between the spoiis system and the merit
system to be the judges; and / repeat
that the flnal decision il already given
and the contest is already over. Presi-
dent Grant decided that issue and bis
last official declaration to Congress on
the sHbjecs declared it "a source of
modification that Congress had re-
fused an appropriation which be had in
special message requested in aid Of
the continued endorsement of the merit
system, which be declared to have been
beneficial. President Arthur in each
annual message after the civil service
act, reafhrmed that Judgment of toe
Executive Departments judgment
which be declared expressed the views
OF every member Of his Cabinet In
the daily acts Of the present admins
tratIon the same judgment is approved
aud enforced.
IL Is possible that a number Of the
Congressman and politicians of the
dominant party with a considerable
following of Office seekers may, not
vithstaading the vastly Augmented
strength of an enlightened public
opinion, repeat the folly of those OF my
own party in 1874 by resisting the well
matured Judgment and definite policy
OF their own Administration on the re.
form issue. II such il to be the fact
this is not the place for showing Why
suoh an attempt would be far more dis
astrous than the Republican restora-
ton OF the spoils system against the
sdvice of President Grant. Such a
coorse and the conflict il would precipi-
tate would be regardless Of the good re
suits Of the Civil Service ACT or of any
experience in its administration. IL any
party might enter on such a contest
could far better serve the cause of re-
form in the exercise of that full liberty
which IL hardly compatible with the
prophecies Of my present office, and |
have the honor of being With the high
est respect.
Your obedient servant,
DeRMAs b. EATON.
THE PREsDEsT's REPLY.
EXECUTIVE MANSION. WASHINGTON,
September 81, 1885.
Hon. Dorndn b. EafoH-DEAR SIR: I
am in receipt OF your letter rendering
your resi- gnation as member of the
Board Of Civil Service Commissioners.
cannot refrain from expressing nv
sincere regret that you have determined
to withdraw from q position in the
public service where your intelligent
performance of duty has been of in
estimable value to the country. The
friends of civil service reform, and all
those who desire good government, full
ly appreciate your devotion to the cause
in which you early enlisted, and they
have seen With satisfaction that your
zeal and faith have not led you to sup
pose that the reform in which You were
engaged 10 unsuited to the rules which
ordinarily govern progress in human
affairs, or that IL should at once
reach perfection and universal 40
ceptance. You have been willing
patiently to accept gosd results
as they step by step ooald be gained,
holding every advance With unyieldine
steaafastness. The success which thus
far has attended the work Of Civil Ser
vice reform, is largely due 10 the fact
that it's practical friends have proceed
ed upon the theory that real and healthy
progress can only be made as such of
the people who cherish pernicious polit-
ical ideas, long fostered and encouraged
by vicious partisanship. are persuaded
that the change oontem plated ky the
reform offers substantial improvements
and benefits. reasonable liberation
for old prejudices, q graceful reeogni-
ton of every aid, sensible utilization
of every instrumentality that prom
ises assistance, and a constant effort
to demonstrate the adva ntages of the
new order of things are the means by
which this reform movement will in the
future be further advanced, the opposi
ton of the incorrigible spoilsmen be
rendered Intellectual and the cause
placed on a sure foundation. OF course
there should be no surrender of princi-
pie nor backward steps taken and all
laws for the enforcement of the reform
should be riaidly executed, but the ben.
efits which its principles promise will
not be fully realized unless the acqui-
esceuce of the people IL added to the
stern assertion Of q doctrine and the
vigorous execution OF the laws.
/ Ii is q cause OF conpratulatien that
there are 80 many friends Of civil ser
vice reform marshalled on the practical
side of the questio :, and that the num-
Der h not greater Of those who profess
friendliness for the cause and yet mis-
chievously and with supercilous self
righteousness discredit every effort not
in exact accord with their attenuated
ideas, deny With carping criticism the
labor Of those actually in the field Of
reform, and ignoring the conditions
which bound and qualify every strcRRle
for a radical improvement OF the affairs
of government, demand complete and
immediate perfection. The reference
In your letter to the attitude of the
members of my Cabinet TO the merit
system established BY the civil ser
vice Law, besides being entirely
90 rect. exhibits an appreciation Of
honest endeavor in the direction Of
reform and disposition 20 do justice
TO proved sincerity which 10 most
gratifying. II such treatment OF those
upon whom the duty rests Of admins
tering the government according to re-
form methods was the universal rule.
and II the embarrassments and per-
plexities attending such an administra-
ton were fairly regarded by all thoee
protesting to be friendly to soc
methods, avovea enemies Of the cause
would be afforded less encouragement.
l believe in civil service reform and
its application in the msst practicable
form attainable, amepe ether reasons
because 10 opens the doer fer the rich
and posr alike 10 q participation IN
public place holding. and I hope
the time 10 at hand when our
people will zee the advantage Of reliance
for such an opportunity upon merit and
fitness. instead of dependence upoa ca
prics or the selesh interests Of those
Who impadently stand between the pco-
pie and the machinery Of the Govern
ment. In one case the reasonable IN
tellieence and education which Ia freely
furnished or forced upon the youth Of
our land are credentials TO office; In the
other the way is found 10 the favor -
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