The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-01-08
Ciyii seryice sseCorm.


The following letter from Presi-
dent elect Cleveland, written in r e
ply TO one addressed him by the
eNational Civil Service Reform
League" meets our unqualified APP
probation:
ALBANY, N. Y, Dec. 25, 1884.
Hon. George William Curtis, Presi
dent, dc.
DEAR SIR:-Your communication
dated December Goth. addressed to
me on behalf OF National Civil Ser
vice Reform League. has been re-
ceived. That practical r form in the
civil service is demanded is abund-
antly established by the fact that the
statute referred to has been passed
in Congress with the assent of both
political parties; and by the furthur
fact that a sentiment is generally
prevalent among patriotic people
calling for a fair and honest enforce
ment of the law which has been thus
enacted.
1 regard myself pledged to this.
because my conception of true dem
ocratic faith and public duty requires
taat 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, approved by
the party to which l belong, and
which l have no disposition to dis
claim, | have in effect promised the
people that this should be done.
| am not unmindful of the fact to
which you refer that many of our
citizens fear that the recent patty
change in the national ex, cutive
may demonstrate that the abuses
which have grown up in the civil
service are ineradicable. l know
they are deeply rooted, and that the
spoil system has been supposed to
be intimately related to Gee in
the maintenance of party olganiza-
ton, and 1 am not sure that all
those who profess to be friends of
this reform will stand firmly among
it's advocates when they find it o.
structing their way to patronage
and place. But fully approaching
the trust committed to my charge,
no such consideration shall cause q
relaxation on my part of an earnest
effort to enforce this law.
There is q class of government
positions which are not within the
letter of the civil service statute, but
which are so disconnected with the
administration that a removal there
from of the present incumbeats, in
my opinion, should not he made
during the terms for which they were
appointed, solely on partizan grounds
and for the purpose Of putting in
their places those who are in politi-
cal accord with the administrative
power.
But many now holding such posi-
tions have forfeited all just claim
to a retention, because they have
used their places for party purposes
in disregard of their duty to the PEG
pie, and because instead OF being
decent public servants, they had
proved themselves offensive parti
zans and INSCRIPTIONS manipulators
of the local party management.
The lessons of the past should be
unlearned, and such officials, as well
as their successors, should be taught
that efficiency, fitness and devotion
to public duty are the conditions of
their continuance in public place,
and that a quiet and unobs.rusive
exercise of individual political rights
is the reasonable measures of their
political service.
If | were addressing none but
party friends | should deem it en-
tirely proper to remind them that,
though the coming administration is
to be democratic, a Cue regard fol
the peoples interest does not per
nit faithful party work to be always
rewarded by appointment to office
and to say to them that, while demo
Gratis may expect all proper consider
alton, solicitors for office not EN-
braced within the civil service rule:
will he based upon sufficient inquiry
as to fitness, instituted by those
charged with that duty, rather thar
upon persistent importantly of self
solicited Recommendation on behal
of the candidate for appointment.
Yours very truly,
Gpourp CJCyrI ANN