The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-12-02
WASHINGTON.
ABLE CRAFTSMANSHIP OF
PRESIDENT CLEVELAND
--CORRESPONDENCE.


makes public the following correspon Sence:
"'"No7 PITTsBuRG, November Is.
Hon. A. II. Garland, Attorney General.
SIR have read the correspondence between the
president and Hon. NJ. h. Benton, United States
attorney, connected with his restoration to Office
in which it appears he was suspended from ollCe
for his apparent neglect OF Ofclal uuues, III max
ir q campaign speeches. Presumably my susPen
sion WAS ordered for the same reason ueslre
TO state therefore, the facts in my case: maze
but two speeches prior to the receipt OF te orGeI
of suspension, one at Butler, IN al auJoInlng
county, on the evening of October !, and one at
Kitto1iny, a town near Pittsburg, on the evening
of October2 2. did not leave PlttsDurs TOT bulleI
until nearly o'clock on October /, anu returne9
IN the morning of October :, about O'CLOCK.
left Pttsburg for Kttaning, Saturday, OCTOBER !,
about o'clock D. m, and returned tne same hlsnt
upon both Of the above dates. Inc uhlteu otales
courts here we're not in session except snort uhe
on the morning of each day for ORDINARY molohs.
| was in attendance upon the courts during their
settings and did not leave the city on eltner occas
ion till long after the courts had ADJOURNED. On
October 10, the United States district court began
its ssion at Pittsburg for trial of jury cases.
petit ana grand jury being in attendance ETC IN
October until Octo, er IL, was engaged In the
preparation of United States cases for trial, and
from October IS Until October n, the date OF the
receipt of the order of suspension, was engaged
in the trial of these cases, neither during these
periods, from October 20 to October
II, not at any time, dld
in any particular neglect the duties of my Office
These statements may be verified by inquiry OF
any of the officers of our court feel 1t my duty
after reading the correspondence between the
president and Mr. Benton to state the lacts IN JUS
tice to myself and respectfully request that this
communication be referred to the president.
| may also add, did not think that making an &C
casional campaign speech to my neighbors, while
| not neg Getting the duties OF my Office, would be
violation of tie presidents ORDER of July 49, 1885,
WIN. A. STONE.
THE PRESIDENTS REPLY.
\ ,lN..l HI N
| Garland ATTORNEY General-Dear Sir: have read
the letter of the 18th instant, written by you to
VIM. A. Stone, lately suspended from once as as
trict attorney for the western district OF Pennsyi-
vania and the subject mat er to which 1t refers has
received my careful consideration.
| shall not impute to the writer any mlschleVous
motive in his plainly erroneous assumption that
his case and that of NJ, E, Benton, recently sus-
pended and reinstated, rests upon the same facts,
but prefer to regard his letter as containing the
best statement possible upon the question OF his
reinstatement, You remember, OF course, that
SOON after the present administration was IN
stalled and mink nearly a year and half ago, |
considered with you certain charges winch had
been preferred against Mr., StoIe as federal
official, You remember that the action we then
contemplated was withheld by reason or excuses
and explanations of his friends These excuses
and explanations induced me to believe that
Mr., Stone retention would insure the faithful
performance of official duties, aud that whatever
offensive partisaushp be mad dreamed justified in
other circumstances he would, during his contin-
uance in Office, at is request, under an admins
tration opposed to him in political creed and policy
content himself with the quiet and unobtruslve en-
jOyment of his political privileges.
| certainly supposed his sense or proprlety
would cause him to refrain from pursuing such
partisan course rs would only offend anu irritate
the friends of the administration wno insisted he
should not be retained ia office, either because OF
his personal merit, or in the adherence to the
method which for long time had prevailed in tue
distribution of federal Offices. In the light of q
n wit hOut consolidating his DOltlcal
affiliations, Mr.. stone, when permitted to
remain in Office, became part of the business orga-
nization of the present administration and bound
by every obligation of honor to assist within his
sphere in its successful operation This obligation
involved not only the proper performance of official
duty but certain good faith and fidelity which,
while not eXacting the least sacrifice OF political
principle forbade active participation In purely
partisan demonstrations OF pronounced type,
undertaken for the purpose OF advancing partisan
interests and conducted upon the avowed theory
that the administration of the government was not
entitled to the confidence and respect of the people,
There is no dispute whatsoever concerning the
fact that Mr.. Stone did join Others who were cam
paigning 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 large public meetings;
that the speeches at such meetings were largely
devoted to the abuse and misrepresentation
of the administration; that he approved
all this and actually addressed meetings 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 adver-
tsed as one OF the speakers al each OF SAID meet
ings.
shall accept as true the statement of Mr. Stone,
that the time spent by him in thus demonstrating
his willingness to hold profitable office at the
hands of an administration which he enGeavored
to discredt with the people, and which had kindly
overlooked his previous oenses, did not result in
neglect of ordinary official duty, but his conduct
has brought to light such an unfriendness towards
tba duin which he nrptpnda tn and
of which he ls nominally part and snch a COuee-
queut lack of loyal interest in its success
that the safest and sureet guaranty of his faithful
service is, in my opinion, entirely wanting. His
course in itself is such as should not have been
entered upon while maintaining official relations
to the administration 1t also renews and revives,
with the unmistakable Interpretation of their
character and intent the charges of offensive par
tisanship heretofore made and up to this time
| held ii allegiance.
Mr., Stone and others of like disposition are not
to suppose that party lines are far obliterated
that the administration of the government is to be
| trusted in places, high or low, to those who
aggressively and constantly endeavor fairly to
destroy the confidence of the people in the party
responsible for such administration.
| While vicious partisan methods should not be
allowed for partisan purposes to degrade or injure
public service, it is my belief that nothing tends &c
much to discredit efforts in the interest of such
service to treat fairly and generously the official
incumbency of political opponents, as conduct
such as is here described. The people of this
country certainly do require the best results of ad
ministrative endeavor to be reached with such
| agencies as these.
Upon a full consideration of all have set before
you am constrained to decline the application Of
Mr. Stone for his reinstatement | enclose his let
ter with this, and desire you to acquaint him with
my decision. Yours truly,
| GROVER CLEVELAND
GARLAND TO STONE.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE,
WASHINGTON, November "a (
Hon WIN, A. STONE, Pittsburo.-Sir.-I an,