San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1885-01-08

effected by the late election should show
them h be insupemble.
But, believing, as We do, that tho reform
ed system can not be held 10 be securely es-
tablished until il has safely passed the or
deal Of such n party change, aud recalling
with satisfaction and confidence your pub
lie expressions favorable 10 tho reform and
your acts ~ Chief Executive OF the State Of
New York, we confidently commend this
cause TO your patriotic care In the exercise
Of the great power with which the Ameri-
can people have intrusted you.
afespoctfully yours,
GEoRoE WILLIAM CURTIS, President.
WILLIAM PoTTs, Secretary.
John jaw, Moorefield Storey,
j. Hall Peasants, w. w. Montgomery,
Everett p. Wheeler, Frederic Cromwell,
Morrill, Wyman, Jr., Carl Schurz,
| Silaa W. Burt A. II. Marlborough,
VIM. Cary Sanger, VIM. W. Aiken,
Executive Committee.
President Cleveland's reply is as
follows:
ALBANY, December 25, 1884.
Hon. Geo. William Curtis, President,
&C.:
DEAR SIR-Your communication
dated December 20, addressed to me
on behalf of the National Civil Service
Reform League, has been received.
That practical reform in the Civil
Service is demanded is abundantly
established by the fact that the
statute referred to has been in Con
gress with the assent of both politi-
cal parties; and by the further fact
that sentiment is generally prevail
ent among patriotic people calling for
fair and honest enforcement ut the
law which has thus been enacted.
1 regard myself pledged to this,
because my conception of true Demo-
cratic faith and public duty requires
that this and all other statutes should
be, in good faith and without evasion,
enforced, and because in many utter
ances made prior to my election as
President, approved by the party to
which I belong, and which have mo
disposition to disclaim, l 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 party
change in the National Executive
may demonstrate that the abuses
which have grown up in the Civil
Service are ineradicable. 1 know
they are deeply rooted, and that the
spoils system has been supposed to
be intimately related to success in
the maintenance of party organiza-
ton, and 1 am not sure that all those
who profess to be friends of this re.
form will stand firmly among its
advocates when they find it obstruct-
ing their way to patronage and place.
But fully approaching the trust COM
mitted to my charge, no such con-
sideration shall cause a relaxation on
nay part of earnest effort to enforce
this law.
There is o class of Government
positions which are not within the
letter of the Civil Service statute, but
which are SO disconnected with the
policy of an Administration that
removal therefrom of the present in
cumbents, in my opinion, should not
be made during the terms for which
they are appointed solely on partisan
grounds, and for the purpose of put
ting in their places those who are in
political accord with the Administra-
tive power
But many now holding such posi-
tons have forfeited all Just claim to
retention, because they have used
their places for party purposes in dis
regard of their duty to the people,
and because, instead of being decent
public servants, they have proved
themselves offensive partisans and
INSCRIPTIONS manipulators of the
local party management.
The lessons of the past should be
unlearned, and such officials, rs 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 unobtrusive
exercise of individual political rights |
is the reasonable measure of their
political service.
If 1 We're addressing none but |
party friends should deem it entirely |
proper to remind them that, though |
the coming administration is to be
Democratic, due regard for the |
peoples interest does not permit |
faithful party work to be always re-
warded by appointment to Office, and
to say to them that while Democrats
may expect all proper consideration,
selections for office not embraced
within the Civil Service rules will be
based upou sufficient inquiry as to
fitness, instituted by those charged
with that duty, rathar than per
sistent Importantly OF self-solicited
recommendation on behalf Of the
candidates for aupoiutment