The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-27
MIR. STONE TALKS.
The Pennsylvania District Attorney Criticises
Some Points of MIR. Cleveland's Letter.

Pittsburg Dispatch.
When the letter was shown to Colonel Stone,
last evening. he said: ~ have no desire to reply
IN the strain the Presidents letter.
have no desire to pettifog the case. 1t is the
first intimation have ever heard made that
any charges were preferred against me, or
that any of my friends ever interfered in my
behalf, either directly or indirectly. / suppose.
perhaps he refers to the campaign speeches
made in the campaign of 1884, but in those
speeches l never said a disrespectful word OF
Mr.. Cleveland, a single word at which any
offense could have been taken. Possibly some
of my friends may have requested that be re-
tanned under this administration. If they did.
it was without my request | never requested
any one to ask that be retained, and l repeat
again, distinctly, that I never before this mo-
menr ever heard that any charges had been pre-
ferred against me.
I'm reply to the allegation that there is no dis
pute that addressed meetings in somewhat that
same strain, namely, abuse of the administration,
l say, there is dispute. l deny the Presidents
allegation, and challenge him to prove it. And
allow me to add, parenthetically, that at none of
those meetings was either noisy or unduly en-
thusiastic; neither did anyone at either Of those
meetings to my knowledge or within my hear
ing abuse or misrepresent the administration.
I'm reply to the statement that he accepts as
true the statement of Mr. Stone, that the time
spent by him in thus demonstrating his willing
ness to hold profitable Office at the hands of an
with the people and which had kindly overlooked
his previous offenses. did not result in neglect of
ordinary official duty, submit that that part
OF the Presidents letter is neither proper nor
just Interpretation of my letter. l submit
that my letter to the Attorney general was re-
spectful and sincere.
I'm reply to the allegation that / and others
are not to suppose that party lines so far OBJ
liberated, ETC., as stated in the letter, l have
only to say that this strikes me as departure
by the President from his previous utterances
and evidence that the Democrats have at last
achieved the victory over the mugwumps for
which they have so long and assiduously Ia
bored.
I'm reply to the last paragraph of his letter.
that upon full consideration of all that he has
before him he is constrained to deny the appi-
cation of Mr. Stone for his reinstatement
submit that my letter to the Attorney general
does not contain an application for reinstate-
ment, but is simply and only denial and con-
tradiction of the charge that l neglecte my
official duty.
Il shall make no further reply to this letter
I recognize it as a refusal to reinstate me simply
because l am a Republican. Personally, l was
not anxious TO be renstated. / was con tendrg
for fair treatment only, and submit to the peo-
pie whether | have obtained that. If in order
to hold an Office under this or any other admin
istration would be compelled to refrain from
expressing my opinion publicly upon political
questions they may take the office / do not
want it. have been educated as Republican
and free speech is one of the earliest rights that
party taught me, and if of1ceholdng is incom-
patible with that don't care to hold Office"