Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-31
IT'S POLITICAL EFFECT.
Bearing OF the SackviIle Sensation on
the Campaign.
THE QUESTION DEMOCRATS ARE CONSIDERING
WILL THE PRESIDENTS ACTION couNrERAc1
THE EFFECT OF THE WEST IErrKR-wAs SEQ
RErARY BAYARD ALSO TRAPPED?

The question with the democrats now is
whether or not the Presidents vigorous action
in dismissing the British minister will counter
act the political effect Of the Lord Sackville
letter. They think it will. and hope that il
may do even more; that it will cast discredit
upon all the talk about the Administration be-
ing under British influences The most con-
sentative look upon the whole business as most
unfortunate, both from partisan and a national
standpoint. Looking at it as partissns they viii
not cease to regret that Secretary Bayard was
SO slow to comprehend the gravity of Lord
Sackville's offense. The final announcement
that Lord Sackville has been notified by this
Government rather than by his own that il
would be best for him to take his departure is
a great relief to the democratic managers.
Second only to their fear of the political effect
Of the letter itself was their apprehension lest
the British government should promptly take
sides with the Administration and degrade Lord
Sackville for endsngering Mr.. Cleveland's posi-
ton. For the British government 70 have
promptly recalled their laundering diplomat
might have satisfied the wounded dignity OF
the country, but it would not have gone far
toward relieving Mr.. Clevelands position. His
opponents would in all probability have at
once charged that the British were ready even
to discredit their own representative to serve
the democratic party.
LORD sALIsBURys COURSE.
The fact of Lord Salisbury appearing 70 sus-
tain Lord Sackville, by ignoring the very broad
intimation from Mr.. Bayard that his recall
would be acceptable to this country, helps the
party somewhat by giving an opportunity for
aggressive action. great many democrats
feel that there was some pretty bad laundering
| in the first instance, and they are especially
glad to get out Of the tangle gracefully
The British government may take offense at
| the action, but if it will put even a better
face on the political side of II. Still. if there
had been no election pending, it is pretty gen.
orally felt that national self-respect would have
demanded the same resentment OF a similar
attempt at medding in our affairs. The DEM
ocrats congratulate themselves that the only
dignified and proper thing to be done was at
the same time the most polite. The danger
| all along was that anything they might do in
the matter might result in putting them in
even worse position than at first.
DID SECRETARY BAYARD FALL INTO SNARE?
1t is a matter of remark now that Mr.. Bayard
was just as cleverly trapped as Minister
West. The letter to which the minister's was a
reply was withheld from publication until after
the answer had been published and commented
on. The reply looks very different when stand
ing alone. from what it does when read in con-
nection with the one that called it forth. Read
alone il might well at first glance be taken for
letter sent in confidence to a friend; especi-
ally as it bears the mark private" In this
way it was published for the express purpose,
some believe, of calling forth some mild ex-
preston upon il by Mr.. Bayard so that when
the two letters should be read together it
would appear that the Secretary had failed Of
the proper feeling in the matter. This scheme
was entirely successful in getting declaration
from Mr.. Bayard that the Department could
not notice private letter, and also in having
the gravity of the minister's offense ignored by
the democratic press generally. Then when
MIR. Murchison's" letter, the reply. and Mr.
Bayard's interview appeared printed together,
it put quite
DIFFERENT ASPECT UPON THE CASE
and made it necessary for Mr.. Bayard to
change his attidue as he best could. The MUIR
Gibson letter showed beyond dispute that it was
written to the British minister in his official
capacity. and therefore that the reply must
necessarily be official. 1t is generally conceded
now that such letter. written even in private
| capacity, would be violation of propriety but
when placed in an official light the gravity of
| the offense could not be overlooked.