Evening star., 1886-11-26
MIR. STONE MUST STAY OUT.
The President Declines to Reinstate
Him I'm the ONCE Of District AtfOr-

Him In the ONCE Of District AtfOr-
ney.
FULL TEXT OF THE PRESIDENTS LETrER-MR.
STONES CASE NOT SIMILAR TO BENToN's-
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WILL NOT BE AL
LOWED TO ABUSE THE ADMINISTRATION.
The letter of Mr.. Stone, the republican district
attorney, to the Attorney General, has been
published. The letter says:
II have read the correspondence between the
President and NJ. E. Benton, United States
attorney, connected with his rest ration TO
office, in which it appears that he was
pended from Office for his apparent neglect Of
official duties in making campaign speeches.
Presumably my suspension was ordered for
the same reason. desire therefore to state the
facts in my case.''
He then proceeds to state that he made but
two speeches, which did not in any way inter-
fere with the proper performance OF his duties.
and requests that his communication may be
referred to the President, closing by saying:
II did not think that making an occasional
campaign speech to my neighbors. while not
neglectiug the duties OF my Office. would be
viniation OF the Presidents order OF July 10Th,
1885,
THE PRESIDENTS LETTER.
The communication was referred by the At
torney General TO the President, who replied as
follows:
EXECUTIvE MANSION, Nov. %, 1856.
Il. H. Garland. 4tforacn General:
DEAR SIR have read tile letter of the 18th
instant written you by William A. Stone.
lately suspended from office district attorney
for the western district OF Pennsylvania, and
The Suhtect-inatter 10 which IL refers has rte
c"lved my careful consideration. shall not
1mpute To the writer any miSchievouS motive
In hls pl;tlIiy erroneous assumption thai ms
case and That OF N. r. Benton, recently sus-
pended and reinstated, rest upon the same state
oi iac.s, but prefer to regard his letter as con-
tanning Tie Gest statement possible upon the
quest StlOu OF MS leins Iat crlent,
1ou remember, of course, that soon after the
present administration was Installed, and 1
think nearly year ana a half ago. 1 considered
with you certain charges which had been pre-
terred against MIR. olCne federal Official.
You remember, TOO. that the action We then
contemplated was Withheld 10y reason OF The
excuses and explanations of his friends. These
excuses ana explanations induced me ID believe
that Mr. Stones retention would insure a Ia'th-
ful performance OF olilclai duty; and that what
ever offensive partisans!ip lie had deemed
justifabie in other circumstances. he wouIi
during LIs continuance in office at his request,
uDGer an administration opposed 10 Hini in
political creed and policy, couteut hiinSeii with
quiet and unob;r,sIve enjoyment OF ms polit-
icai privileges. l certainly supposed tual hls
sense of propriety Wouid cause hIm TO refrain
from pursuing such a partisan course as would
wa..toniy offend and lrTiiaie The friends OF The
administration who insisted that he should not
be retained in office, either because OF his per-
sonal merit, or III adherence 10 the methods
which Ter a long time had prevailed in Inc dis
trlbuiion oI federal offices.
In the light o, u better system, and without
considering his political affiliations, Mr. Stone,
when permitted To remain iii Office, became Il
part of the business organization OF the present
administration, bound by every obligation oi
honor to assist within his sphere in its success
tuI operation. This obligation Involved not only
the proper performance OF Oltciai duty, bui Il
certain good faith and fidelity, which, while
not eXt.ctnS the least sacrifice oI political rim
ciple, forbade active participation ia purely
PARTISAN demons trationS OF pronounced type,
undertaken for the purpose oi advancing pafti-
san interests, and conducted upon the avoweC
theory that the administration OF the govern
meut WIS not entitled 10 The confidence and re-
Spect of the people.
There is no dispute whatever coDcerning tine
fact thai MIR. Stone did join others who were
campa igning the state OF Pennsylvania in OPP
positioi. to the administration. 1t appears, too.
that ,ie was active and prominent. .with ncisy
enthusiastic, in attendance upon AT least TWO
large pubic meetings; that the speeches at such
meetings were largely devoted To abuse aud
Misrepresentation Oh The adm ration; that
he approved all this ana actually addressed the
meetings himself in soInew hat the same strain;
that he attended such meetings away rom his
home ior the purpose OF making such addresses,
and that he was advertised one OF the speak
erS al each said meetings.
Shall accept as true the statement OF Mr..
Stone that the time spent by him in thus
demonstrating his Willingness 10 hold Il pronta-
tle Office at the hands vi the administration
which he eudeayored 10 Gscreait with the
people, and which had kindly overlooked Ills
previous oHcnSes, did not result i'll the neglect
of ordinary official duty. But mis- conduct has
broug hi u light such an unfrienuHnesS toward
the admins ration which ne pretends 10 serve,
and OF which he Is nOInlnally Il part, ana such
consequent lack OF 10y al interest iii its Success,
that the safest and sureSt guaranty OF has
faithful service Is, in my opinion. entirely
wanting. Ills course i'll iISeiI-SJcn Us should
moi have been en,ered upon while maintaining
official relations To the adminiStraIon-as
reneWs and reviVes, with unmistak:ible inter
pretation OF their character and intent, the
charges OF offensive paftlsanship heretofore
made, and, up to this time, held III abcyance.
Mr.. stone and others OF like disposition are
not 10 suppose that party lines are So lar oDlit-
Grated t,at the administration OF ihe govern
ment is TO be trusted, in places high or low, To
those VITO aggressveiy ANA constantly en-
deavor, unfairly, to destroy the confidence of
the people in the party responsible for such ad-
ministraIiun. W nile vicious PARTISAN methods
should not be allowed tor partisan purposes To
degrade or injure the public service, il is my
belief that nothing tends So mucn To discredit
our efforts, in the Interest CT such service, 10
treat iairly and generously the official incum-
bency OF political opponents, as conduct such as
is here disclosed.
The people of this country certainly do not
require the best results administrative ell
deavor to be reached with such agencies as
these.
Upon a full consideration of all have before
me, am constrained to decline the application
OF Mr.. Stone Tor his reinstatement.
Ienclose his letter with Lnis and desire you
to acQuaint MIN with my decision.
Yours truly, GROVER CLEVELAND.
~
DEE ERROR-A