Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-11-09
rnirInr Clerolnnn on REGARD.

likely to lie pursued by President C'eye-
land, fr,,m the attacks Of his own party,
or portion thereof. lie proceeds to re
produce Mr.. Cleveland's Pxpirssion on
civil service measures, before aud since
the election, aud follows thcse with com.
mpnts which is liberal To nn opponent.
The frat quotation from Mr.. Cleveland
reads Nh fullows, and was written in answer
to letters addressed to both Cleveland and
Foiger after they had received the nomi-
nation for Governor from their respective
parties;
81 have no hesitaiions in saying that I
July approve OF the principles embodied
IN the Pendetun hill relating to thus snh.
Icct, and that should I've glad To mid IN
any practical legislation which would give
them place in the management nf the
aff,irs OF the State and ui municipalities,
so far us they can he made applicable
thereto. l believe that the interest OF the
people demand that 4 reform in the ma
tional and state administrative service
should speedily become an accomplished
fact, and that the public should receive
honest and faithful service at the hands of
well fitted and competent servants. When
contests between puities are waged for the
purpose oil securing places for professional
politicians, OF high or low degree. whose
only recommendation for appointment ia
their supposed ability TO do partisan ser-
vice, the people are apt to be defrauded
by the displacement Of tried and faithful
servants, well able to perform the duties
for which they are paid with the peoples
nipney, and the substitution of those who
are unfit and incompetent. In tins way
the interest OF the party may be snbserv-
ed, but The interests Of the people are neg
lected and betrayed. This pernicious
System gives rise 10 an Office holding class
who in their partisan zeal, based npon the
hope of personal advantage, arrogate to
themselves an undue aud niischievous In
reference with the will OF the people In
political action /; this breeds the use OF dis
honests and repreliensible methods, which
frequently result in the servants OF the peo
pie debating To their master. Ii places
IN the public service are worth seeking,
they should be The reward OF merit and
well-doing, and the opportunity to secure
them on that basis should he open 10 all.
Those holding ihese places should be as
sured that their tenure pepends upon their
efficiency and fidelity TO their trusts, and
they should not be allowed TO Use them
for partisan purposes. The money they
earn they should receive aud be allowed
to retain. and no part OF it slonld be ex-
acted from them by way of political as
sessmenis. II seems to me that very much
or all Of what we desire in the direction
OF civil service reform is included in the
doctrine that the concerns OF the State and
IL, Il L. N.1 I,a
principles, and az nearly as possible in the
same manner that's prudent citizen con-
ducts his private affairs. II this principle
is kept constantly in mind, believe the
details OF plan by which its adoption
may be secured will. without much diff
Guilty, be suggested"
Itls a significant and important fact,
that during his career as Governor lie has
done nothing that was not in accord with
the foregoing sentiments in his letter.
Mr.. Cleveland is reliably reported as
having said TO some prominent Democrats
who called upon him in August lost:
"Gentlemen, if am elected, shall obey
the spirit Of the civil service reform bill,
and | have right TO do so il il the law
VI tnt iuNti anu u u lh " DUu law Iel lntUl
repeal il but 30 long az it is the law
shall obey it, and am glad It ia n law for
think il is right, and besides, IL would
be a misfortune TO the country TO change
all the civil service officers. intend TO
bethe President of the people Of the United
States, Just rs have been Governor OF the
people Of New York, and both parties will
he disappointed In ME in that particular
Ian oI,a1l t,a r.. IL nI,ay t,a Inv al
the land, and am going TO do il and lei
the politicians howl"
The editor of the Washington Sunday
Capital publishes the result of an interview
with Governor Cleveland, from which
The following ia an extract:
Il remarked 10 the Governor that his
election had been followed by something
like panic among the minor employees o.
the Government at Washington, who are
supposed to hold their places IN accord
ance with the new civil service regulations
and inquired of him whether il might
not be worth while for him TO indicate il
some way, IL that were his purpose, tla
the spirit OF the civil service regulation
wonld be adhered 10 after the 4th of Marcl
next, To this The Governor briskly re-
piled:
II think hove said enough on tha
subject. 1t is in my letter. 1t ia IN th'
platform. There ia no use trying to bea
brains into peoples heads. Let them at
tend 10 their own business-let them mind
their own husineaE.," he said, repeating
the words in decided manner, and witt
a gesture of the head that indicated NOR,
than the tone in which he spoke"
liera are three important utleratces h,
| Mr.. Cleveland. one before lie was elected
Governor, one before he became President
elect, and one since, and il is still NOR,
important TO remember that as Governo
no official act has been in opposition t,
any Of these expressions.
II is not ventnring mere surmise
therefore, TO say II is probable that MI
Cleveland will not only endesvor to con
duct his administration upon the princi
ples OF Civil Service Reform, bnt that h
will be found 10 have such strength q
character and Ruch a determined constanc
to his own opinions in this respect that h
will disregard whatever clamor the spoil
wing oi the Democratic party may max
against such a policy.
He and those 10 whom he will look fc
counsel will probably aim TO sirengthe
the party by disregsrding the red shil
blood stained and clamorous elements {
it, and by purifying and strengthening 1
Terscly he will probably realize that III
support OF the best elements Of the part
Is preferable to the support oi the wrong
and il lie succeeds in securing the forme
lie can we'll afford to ignore the latter.
So little is known Of Mr.. Cleveland tn,
this is at best but conjecture, but it
founded upon both his words and his act
Should he, however. act otherwise, an
yield 10 The clamOr Of The ruflian elemei
represented by Hendricks, no much I'll
worse iUr him and for The Nation, hOwevt
much II may ripen the expectation Of
speedy return to power Of the Republica