The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-11-27
Not to be Reinstated.

VIM. A. Stone, during the late campaign,
was removed from the Office of United States
Attorney for the Western District Of Pennsyl-
vania for offensive partisanship. At the
same time NJ. E. Benton, for the same reason,
was suspended from similar Office in Mis-
souri,. Mr.. Benton explained his conduct to
the President and was reinstated. Mr.. Stone
then also made an explanation and applied
for reinstatement, but his request was not
complied with.
Mr.. Stone enormously held that his case
was analogous with Mr.. Benton's. He is
Republican, held the Office when Mr.. Cleve-
land was inaugurated, and upon his own re-
quest and the assurances of his friends against
shortcomings was retained. His letter OF ex-
PLANTATION and request for reinstatement we're
transmitted to the President by Attorney
General Garland, and the extract below en-
bodies nearly the whole of the President
reply, and in which he gives forcible reasons
for his action in declining to accede to Mr..
Stones request:
"You remember. of course, that soon after the
Administration was l0SIdlleQ, anu
hearty year and a half ago. considered with you
certain charges which had been preferred against
Mr. Stone as a Federal official You remember,
too that the action then contemplated was with
held By reason of the excuses and explanations of
his friends These explanations induced me to be-
eve that Mr.. Stones retention would insure faith
full performance of official duty; and that, what
ever offensive parsanship he had deemed Justitia-
bic in other circumstances, he would during his
continuance in office At his request nnder an Ad
policy content himself with quiet and unobtrusiye
enjoyment of his political privileges l certainly
supposed that his sense of propriety would cause
him to refrain from pursuing such partisan course
as would wantonly offend and irrtate the friends OF
the Administration who insisted that he should not
he retained in once either because of his personal
merit or in adherence TO the methods which for o
long time had prevailed in the distribution of Fed
eral offices.
siderng his political Affiliations, Mr.. Stone, when
permitted to remain in ONCE. became part OF the
business organization of the present Administration
bound by every obligation of honor to assist within
his sphere in its successful operation. This otlga-
duty but q certain good faith and fidelity, which
while not exactng the least. sacrifice of political
principle, forbade active participation in purely
partisan demonstrations of a pronounced type, I'M
dertaken for the purpose of advancing partisan in
terests and conducted upon the avowed theory that
the administration of the Government was not en-
titled TO the confidence and respect of the people
There is no dispute whatever concerning the fact
that Mr.. Stone did join Others who were campaign
ing the State Of Pennsylvania in opposition to the
Administration. 1t appears, too that he was active
and prominent with noisy enthusiasm in attendance
upon at least two large public meetings; that the
speeches at such meetings were largely devoted TO
abuse and Misrepresentation of the Administration;
that he approved all this and actually addressed the
meeting himself in somewhat the same strain; that
he attended such meetings away from his home for
the purpose of making such addresses. and that he
was advertised as one of the speakers at each of
said meetings.
/ shall accept as true the statement of Mr.. Stone
that the time spent by him in thus demonstrating
his willingness to hold a profitable Office at the
hands of an Administration which he endeayored
to dscredit with the people, and which had kindly
overlooked his previous offences did not result IN
the neglect of ordinary official duty. But his con-
duct has brought to light such an unirendfness to-
ward the Administration which he pretends to
serve and of which he is nominally part, and
such consequent lack ofloyalty TO rest in its sue
cess that the safest and surest guaranty of his faith
full service is, in my opinion. entirely wanting.
His in itself is such as should not have been
entered upon while maintaining official relations
to the Administration also renews ana reVlves with
unmistakable Interpretation of their character and
intent the charges of offensive partisanship hereto
fore made and up to this time held in allegiance.
Mr. Stone and others of like disposition are not 10
suppose that party lines far obliterated that
the administration of the Government is to be trus
ted in places high low to those who aggressively
and constantly endeavor, unfairly to destroy the
confidence Of the people in the party responsible for
such administration. While vicious partisan meth
DDS should not be allowed for partisan purposes to
degrade or nure the public service 1t is my belief
that nothing tends SO much to discredt efforts
in the interest of such service to treat fairly and
generously the official incumbency of political op
ponents, as conduct such as is here disclosed.
The people of this country certainly do notrequire
the best results of administrative endeavor 10 be
reached with such agencies as these.
Upon full consideration of all have before me-
l am constrained to decline the application OF MT.
Stone for his reinstatement,
The reasoning ofthe President is universally
regarded as conclusive, and his action emil
nently proper.