Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. III.djvu/301

 GROVER CLEVELAND 251 401 electoral votes, Cleveland received 219, and Elaine 182. In December the executive committee of the Na tional civil service reform league addressed a letter to President-elect Cleveland, commending to his care the interests of civil-service reform. In his reply, dated December 25, he declared that &quot;a prac tical reform in the civil service was demanded&quot;; that to it he was pledged by his &quot;conception of true democratic faith and public duty,&quot; as well as by his past utterances. He added: &quot;There is a class of government positions which are not within the let ter of the civil-service statute, but which are so dis connected with the policy of an administration that the removal therefrom of present incumbents, in my opinion, should not be made during the terms for which they were appointed, solely on partisan grounds, and for the purpose of putting in their places those who are in political accord with the appointing power. But many now holding such positions have forfeited all just claim to retention, because they have used their places for party pur poses in disregard of their duty to the people, and because, instead of being decent public servants, they have proved themselves offensive partisans, and unscrupulous manipulators of local party man agement. The lessons of the past should be un learned, and such officials, as well as their succes sors, should be taught that efficiency, fitness, and