The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-09-24

SOURCE OF CONGRATULATIONS.
It is source Of congratulation that
there are so many friends Of Civil Service
reform marshaled on the practical side Of
the question, and that the number is moi
greater oil tho,e protesting iriendliness fol
the cause, and yet mischievously and with
Bupercilious seli.righteousness discredlt
every effort not in exact accord with their
attenuated ideas, decry with harping crit
iciBms the labor OF those actually in the
field Of reform, and ignoring conditions
which bound and qualify every struggle
for radical improvement In the affairs OF
thegovernmentand demand complete and
immediate perfection.
The reference In your letter to the attt-
tude Of the members of my cabinet to the
merit system established by the Civil Scr
vice law, besides being entirely correct
exhibits an appreciation OF the honest en-
deavor in the direction OF reform and
disposition to do justice to prove sin
l6erity. which Is most gratifying. II such
treatment OF those upon whom the duty
rests OF administering the government
according TO reform methods was the uni
versal rule, anditthe embarraRsments and
perplexities attending such IA admins.
tration were fairly regarded by all those
protesting to be friendly to such methods,
the avowed enemies Of the cause would be
afforded less encouragement.
DELIEvEs IN CIVIL SERVICE.
| believe in Civil Service reform and its
application in tho most practical form OBJ
tainable. Among other reasons, because
1t opens the door for rich and poor alike
TO participation in public place holding,
and l hope tho time is at hand when all
our people will see the advantage OF q re-
lance Tor such an opportunity upon
merit and fitness instead OF depend
epce upon caprice or the selfish
interest OF those who impudently stand
between the people aud the machinery OF
their government. In the one case rea-
aonable intelligence and education which
Is freely furnished or forced upon tho
youth Of our land are the credentials to
office; the other way is found in favor
secured by participation in partisan work,
often uniting a person morally, II not
mentally and physically for the responsi-
bilities and duties Of public employment.
THE PARTY IN POWER.
You will agree with me, I think, that
the support which has been given to the
present administration, in its efforts to
preserve and advance this reform by the
party restored to power after an exclusion
for many years from participation in
places attached to the public service, con-
frouted with new system precluding the
redistribution OF such places in its inter-
eft, called upon to surrender advantages
which perverted partisauship had taught
American people belonged to success,
and perturbed with the suspicion always
raised in such an emergency, that their
rights in the conduct OF this reform had
not been scrupulously regarded, should
receive due acknowledgment and should
confirm our belief that there Is senti-
ment among the people better than the
desire to hold office, and patriotic i'm
pulse upon which may safely rest the in
tegrity OF our institution and strength,
and the perpetuity OF our governmeat. l
have determined TO request you
to retain your present position
until November 1st next, at which
time your resignation may become
operative. I desire to express my entire
confidence in your attachment to the
cause Of Civil Service reform and your
ability to render it efficient aid, and in
dulge the hope and expectation that, not
withstanding the acceptance OF your resig-
nation, your interest in the object for
which you have labored 80 assiduously
will continue beyond the final term which
you surrender.
Yours very truly,
e- GROVER CLEVELAND.