The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-11-03
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.


(From our Regular Correspondent)
WASHINGTON, Oct. 29th, 1885,
The first great sensation of the CAM
paign has come in the shape of a let
ter from Lord Sackville-West, the
British Minister to the United States,
advising an American citizen to vote
| for Cleveland because he is the friend
of England and believes in free trade,
The letter then goes on to say that
Cleveland's celebrated Canadian re-
taliati0n message was only a bit of
clap-trap intended to influence the
Irish vote also, that the rejection of
the fisheries treaty by the Republican
Senate was for the same purpose.
When confronted with the letter
Lord Sackvlle at once acknoW lodged
it, and to add insult to insult, reiter-
ated the sentiments expressed there
in, and added Let more of the same
sort. Of course Lord Sackvihe want
ed to help the Democratic party to
win, and in writing the letter was in
all probability only carrying out the
instructions of the English Foreign
Office in London, but the publication
of the letter has brought about an
effect directly contrary to that IN
tended by the author. The voters of
this country will naturally yesfst tire
dictation of the British minister as to
who they shall vote for,
But aside from considerations, the
studied insult to the President,
House and Senate, and through them
! to the whole American people, has
raised storm of virtuous indigna-
ton that in any other country on
earth would have caused the British
minister to have been mobbed.
Nothing else is talked of in the ho-
tells, stores, government departments
and family circles of Washington.
What has Cleveland done to resent
| this outrageous insult to himself and
to the whole country? Virtually
nothing. The letter was made pub
lie on Tuesday, and up to Friday the
administration had taken no action
whatever, but on that day the facts
were cabed to the American minis
! ter in London, and he was directed
to lay them before the English For
eign Office. Think of such child's
play When every manly and pa
triotic American was expecting that
Lord Sackville would have his pass
port sent to him, and that a peremp-
tory demand would be made upon
the English Government for his i'm
mediate recall, the administration
lays the facts before the English For
eign Office, and leaves that Office to
take such action as it may see fit.
The action that Office will take will
probably be to transfer Lord Sack
vile TO a higher diplomatic position
in the diplomatic corps ; meanwhile
the United States will become the
laughing stock of the entire world on
account of the coWardice of Cieve-
land. Here was the opportunity to
have carried into effect the "jingo-
ism" which the administration Sena-
tors were continually talking about
during the consideration of the fish
cries treaty by the Senate. Nothing
has so striHingly shown the incapac-
ity of the Democratic party to govern
this country as this episode. A man
who has shown himself to be q cow
ard will never be elected President of
the United States, and Cleveland's
timid action in this case is likely to
make more votes for Harrison than
the British ministers letter. In WASH
ington Cleveland's chances of being
elected. if he ever had any, are now
considered to be gone glim mering.
Few prominent politicians of either
party are seen in Washington these
days. They are all on the stump,
consequently there is very little po-
litical news originating here just
now, but in another week Washing
ton will again become the political
headquarters of the Nation.
Senator Morgan came to the city
last week for the express purpose of
having himself interviewed, so that
he could tell the people what thor
oughly intense American Grover
Cleveland is. In view of the action,
or rather want of action of Cleveland
in the British minister's case, the
words Of the Alabama Senator proved
but empty sounds. When robust ac-
ton is wanted words will not suffice
to satisfy the people.