Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1886-11-27
A STRAIGHTFORWARD LETTER,
Cleveland's Review of Attorney Stones
Case-An Important Movement
milwaukee Rioters.
CLEvELAND'S LETTER.

In Which He Tolls Mr.. stone some Yer,
| Plain Truths.
| WASHINGTON, November 24,-Presiden1
Cleveland makes public the followine CORE
spondence:
PtsrsnuRG, Nov. "a, 1886.
Hon. A. H. Garland, Attorney General:
SIR: have read the Correspondence be
tween the President and Hon. NJ. E. Ben
| ton, United States Attorney, connected
| with his restoration to the office, in which
1t appears he was suspended from Office TO,
| his apparent neglect of official duties in
making campaign speeches. Presumably
my suspension was ordered for the same
reason. l desire, therefore, to state the
facts. made but two speeches prior to
the receipt of the order OF suspension-one
at Butler, in an adjoining county, on the
evening of October l, and one at Kittan.
age, town near Pittsburg, on the evening
OF October 2. I did not leave Pittsburg for
Butler until nearly4 o'clock October and
returned on the morning of the second
about o'clock. | left Pittsburg for Kit.
tanage Saturday, October 2, about D. m.
and returned the same night. Upon both
the above dates the United States Courts
here were not in session, except a short
time in the morning of each day for Ordi-
nary motions. I was in attendance upon
the courts during their sittings and did not
leave the city upon either occasion until
long after the courts had adjourned.
On October Is the United States District
Court began it's session at Pittsburg
for the trial OF jury causes the petit and
grand jury being in attendance. From
October I'd until October 18th 1 was en-
gagged in the preparation of causes for trial.
date of the receipt of suspension, was en-
gagged in the trial of these clauses. Neither
during this period, from October I'd to Oc-
tober 9th, nor at any other time, did
in any particular neglect the duties of my
office. These statements may be verified
by inquiry OF any officer Of our courts. I
feel it my duty, after reading the CORE.
respondence between the President and
Mr.. Benton, to state these facts in justice
to myself. and respectfully request that
this communication be referred to the
President. I may also add t'at did not
think that the making of an occasional
campaign speech to my neighbors, while
not neglecting the duties OF my office,
would be a violation of the Presidents or
der OF July 10, 1886. Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
VIM. A. STONE.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, 1886.
Hon. A. H. Garland, Attorney General:
Dear SlR-I have read the letter of the
18th inst; written to you by Mr.. A. Stone,
lately suspended from office as District
Attorney of the Western District of Penn
sylvania, and the subject matter to which
it refers has received careful consideration.
l shall not impute to the writer any mis-
chievous motive in his plainly erroneous
assumption that his case and Mr.. BentOn's
recently suspended and reinstated, rest
upon the same state of facts, but prefer
to regard his letter as containing the best
statement possible upon the question OF
his reinstatement.
You remember the course that soon after
the present administration installed
and I think nearly year and q hall ago,
considered with ynn certain charges
which had been preferred against Mr.. o.ono
as a federal official. You remember, too,
that the action we then contemplated was
withheld by reasons OF the excuses and ex-
plantations of his friends. These ex-
cuses and explanations induced me
to believe that Mr.. Stones reten,
nerformance of official duty, and that
whatever offensive partisanship he had
deemed iustifable in other circumstances
he would during his continuance in office at
his request under an administration op'
posed to him in political creed and policy,
content himself with an unObtrusive en-
ioyment OF his political privileges.l certain
iy supposed that his sense of proprlety
would cause him to refrain from pur.
suing such O partisan course as woulc
wantonly offend and irritate the friends o.
the administration, who insisted that NJ
should not be retained in either once
either because OF his personal merit or II
his adherence to methods which Tor Ions
time had prevailed in the distribution
| federal offices. 81,
In the light OF a better system and with
out considering his political affiliations
Mr.. Stone, when permitted to remain IN OF
| fee became a part of the business organlza
tion of the present administration ant
bound by every obligation OF honor to as
sist within it's sphere in it's successful op
eration. This obligation involved not on
lv the p.oper performance OF official dut!
hut certain good faith and fidelity, which
| while not exacting, the least sacrifice o
principle forbade active participation II
nartisan demonstrations and UNDERTAKES
for the purpose OF advancing partisan 10
terests, and conducted on the avowed 1he
ory that the administration OF the 0o'
lernmant was not entitled to confidence AM
respect. There is no dispute whatever cor 20;
cerninc the fact that Mr.. Stone did Joi
others who were campaigning the State
onnosition to che administration. IL al
nears to me that he was active and prom
nent with the noisy enthusiasts in attene
ance upon at least two large meeting'
His sneech was largely devoted to abut
and MISREPRESENTATION of the admlnlstri
tion. That he approved all this. ana &C
nallv addressed meetings himself in som
what the same strain; that he attende
snch meetings away from his home ior tt
nurnoses OF making such addresse
and was advertised as one OF u
sneakers at each OF SAID NEE
incs. I shall accept as tr'
the statement of Mr.. Stone that tne 'ia
spent by him in thus demonstrating y
willingness to hold a prottabte once a' "
hands of an administrator "h'cn no
\ deavored to discredit with the people az
/ which had lust overlooked his previous
fenses did not rest in the neglect OF orc
narv official duties, but his conduct M
brought to light such an uniriendhne
toward the administration which ne p,
tends to serve and of which he is nominal
mart. and such a consequent lack OF 10y
interest in it's success, that the saiest al
surest guaranty OF his faithful service Is,
NV opinion, entirely wanting. his cou1
in itself is such as should not have De
entered upon while maintaining ONO
relations to the administration.
r. also renews and revives with unh
\ taxable Interpretation Of their charac'
and interest of charges OF offensive ?,
tisanship heretofore made ana up 10 "
time held in allegiance. MI. stone d d
- others of like disposition, are not 20 81
nose that party lines are so lar ooliIer"t
that the administration cl
government is to be trusted -,
s'Iaces. high or low, to those W
aceressively and constantly endeavor, .
Unfairly, to- destroy the confidence &, OF t.
neople in the party responsible lor su
administration. While vicious partls
methods should not lie allowed ior pal
san purpose to degrade or injur%s % the pn. ,a1
service. it is my belief that nothing 80 lel
90 much to discredit our Efforts IN sne
!, terest OF such service as to trea1 Ia, Ia,
,. and and generously the official inenmoe1 Dannt e,
T of noiitical opponents as the conduct 81 ;.
re. os ia here disclosed. The people ol T.
NE NE conntry 90 do not require the bfst result, e
" ] the administrative endeavor to De reaci