The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-11-25
BENTON RE-INSTATED.

The President Re-instates District AS1oT
noy Benton and at the Same Time Gives
His Views on "Orsnsive Partisanship'
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1S.-The correspond
ence relating to the suspension OF ID. 4.
Benton, United States District Attorney for
the Western district of Missouri, has been
made public. Mr.. Benton, in q letter to
the Attorney General, stated that previous
to his suspension he had cancelled all en-.
gagements to make political speeches tnat
interfered with his official duties, which
letter was handed to the President, who
wrote to Mr.. Benton as follows:
THE PRESIDENTS LETTER.
To Hon. N. Z. Benton:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, ID. G.,
Nov. lo.-Dear Sir: Your letter or the lOth IN
slant ddreSsed to the Attorney General mas
been submitted 10 me and carefully con-
sidered- lts frank tone and all / know or
your character convince me that the truth IS
therein related touching the matters which
issued the warning to ofhceholders to which
you refer as order / expected to be much
harassed by all manner of loose and frivolous
tales. originating in malicious feeling or dis
appointment and a deliberate design on the
part of political enemies to annoy and en-
barrass concerning indulgence by appointees
under the present adm iDistration in the per
nioious activity in politics against which my
warning was directed. l hoped, however,
that by careful consideration OF the
spirit as well as the language in such
warning those in good faith intending
TO respect II might not be in doubt
as to the meaning and would themselves
apply il TO conditions and circumstances
which it was impossible for me to specify. i
did not intend to condemn the making of a
political speech by Federal official to his
neigh bOrs and friends for any time and place
where it was merely incidental. if the speech
itself was decent ana fair. But i do not
think that such an official can enter "a q
business into pOlit cal campaign and con-
senting to long list of engagements TO ad-
dress political meetings widely separated and
of daily recurrence NIL such an engagement
without neglecting his duty if he holds an
office worth having, nor without taking with
hun in the canvass his official power and in
fiuence. Therefore this course is con-
dsmned.
NO EXACT LIMITS SET.
The number of speeches that can be prop
erly made can not be specified, nor the time
when, the place where. or the circum-
their character be prescribed. But q cor
rect line of conduct can be determined on
without difficulty, believe. in the light of a
desire to follow in the spirit of admoDitiOn
given bJ divOrcing the conduct of citizen
from the use of official influence in political
campaigns. illustrating at all times the truth
that official duty is paramount to partisan
service. maintaining the dignity of Office
holding, avO ding any pretense of control
over the political action of others by reason
of official place and teaching the lesson TO
slowed or held under a pledge of active
partisan service.
A printed list taken from a newspaper and
submitted to me contained engagements to
speak, made by your consent, daily for quite
a long period, and not unfrequentiy twice
day, in different parts of the State of Missouri,
and / was led to believe that many OF the
days specified a court, at which you had
duties to perform, was in session, This
seemed to me to present a case OF fragrant.
defiant neglect of official duty and proprl ETY.,
and, even with the explanation given, your
course spears TO be thOughtless and at least
subject to criticism.
REINsTATED IN HIS OFFICE.
But the statement in your letter showing
that you did not permit campaign engage
ments to interfere With the performance Of
official duty, your satisfactory discharge of
such duty during your term, and belief in
the truth of your allegation that you honest
ly supposed that you might properly do all
that was actually done. have induced me to
rescind the order Suspending you from office
and to re-instate you to the same. Yours
very truly, GROVER CLEVELAND.