But I shall make no flattering promises for a Presidential candidate. I came very near doing that once, in good faith, for General Grant, and I have been sick of it ever since. I shall never do it again, whatever my private opinions of a candidate's good qualities may be. I prefer to let the candidate speak for himself.
Having the cause of civil service reform very earnestly at heart, I addressed this letter to Mr. Greeley:
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Here, then, Mr. Greeley stands distinctly pledged to the following practical points: To construct a Cabinet, not of mere clerks, or personal favorites, or political wirepullers, but of statesmen; to abolish the traffic in offices between Congress and the Executive; to select for public position, not political minions or tools, but men of integrity, experience and business capacity; to transform the civil service of the country from a political machine into a business establishment.
These things the President can do himself. The enactment of a law permanently regulating the civil service remains, of course, with Congress.
Well, the program thus laid down means the practical reform of the civil service, as I understand it. As the abandonment of such pledges by him who made them would be inextinguishable disgrace, so their faithful execution will be an invaluable blessing to the country; and, solemnly renouncing the prospect of a reëlection, what other interest or ambition should he have than to leave at the self-imposed close of his official career an honored name behind him?
As for myself, any Administration continuing the abuses which now prevail would, in that respect, have
- ↑ For Schurz's letter of June 26, 1872, and Greeley's answer of July 8, 1872, see ante.
