St. Landry democrat., 1888-11-03
SINGULAR CoRREsPoNDENcE:
The British Minister Answers an Inquiry
MhicE tseas to Much Criticism.

letter has been published and is the cause
of considerable comment upon the action
of Minister West:
BEVERLY. Mass, Sept. l3 1SSS.-Sir: am in
receipt of your Iettef of the 4th instant and
beg to say that fully appreciate the difficulty
which you find yourself in casting your FoIe,
You are probably aware that any political party
which openly favored the E1"ther country at
the present moment would lose popularity and
that the party in power is fully aware OF this
fact The party; however, is, I believe still
desirous of maintaining friendly relations
with Great Britain, and is still as oeS.rJHs OF
settling all questions with Canada which have
been unfortunately reopened since the retrac-
ton of the tteaty by the Republican majority
in the Senate and by the Presidents message,
to which you allude. All allowances muse
therefore be made for the political situation as
regards the Presidential election thus created.
It is, however, impossible to predict the course
which President Cleveland may pursue IN the
matter of retaliation should he be Ie--:eeted;
but there is every reason to believe that, while
upholding tic position he has taken, he Will
manifest spirit of Cancellation IN dealing with
the question involved in his message. inelose5
an article from the New York Times Of August
22 and remain yours faithfully,
L. S. SACKyILLE-W WEST.
THE LETTER TO MINISTER WEST.
WAstiIHGrcN, Oct 2G-The following is
the letter to Minister Fseet which called
forth his much criticised reply
10 the British Minister, Washington, D. e.:
POMONA, Cal, Sept. 4.-Sir: The gravity OF
the political situation here and the duties OF
those voters who are Gi English birth; but still
consider England the mother lane, constitute
the apology I hereby offer for intruding 1of
information. MI Cleveland's message to
Congress on the fishery question Justly ex-
cites our alarm and compels US to seek
a further kisGrletge .het tore finally casting our
votes for him as we had intended 20 do: Many
English citizens have for years reffaiced from
being naturalized, as they thought no good
would accrue from the act. but Mr.. Clevelands
administration has been SO favorable and
friendly towasd ENGLAND, SO kind in not en-
forcing the Retaliatory act pissed hy Congress-
so sound on the free trade question and 50 Hos
tile to the dynamite school of Ireland that by
the hundreds-yes, by he thousands-they have
become naturalized for the express purpose OF
helping tJ eject him again, the one above all
American politicians they co1stdst sheir own ano
the country's best friend. am Que u these
unfortunates with right to vote for President
in November. 1 am unable to understand for
whom 1 shall cast my ballot when but one
month ago I was sure Mr.. Cleveland was the
man. II Cleveland was pursuing new policy
toward Canada temporarily and for the sake OF
obtaining popularity and continuation OF his
Ctffce our years more, but Intends TO cease MS
policy Hheii his reelection IS secured in
November, and again favor English Interests
then I should have no further doubts but sc
forward and vote for him. I know OF no one
better able to direct me, sir, and l most re-
spectfuJly ask your ADVICE II the matter ]
will further add that the two men-Mr. Cleve
land and Mr.. Harrison-are very evenly
matched and few votes may elect either
one. Mr.. Harrison is o high tariff man, a be-
lever on the American side OF oil questions
and t!ndoubtedlR an enemy to British inter
ests generally. This State is etua:lT divided
between the parties and mere handful o.
our naturalized countrymen can turn it either
way. When lit is remembered that small
State (Colorado) defeated MIR. Tilden III 1876
and elected HAYES, the Republican, the i'm
portance of California is at once apparent tc
all. AS you are at the fountain head Of knowl
edge on the question and know whether MIR
Clevelands present policy is temporary only
and whether he will, as soon as he secures an
other four years in the Presidency, suspend il
for one OF friendship and free trade, / ap
ply to you privately and contidentiaiy for in
formation. which shall in turn be treated rs Ell
tirely secret. Such Information would put
me at rest myself, and if favorable to Mr
Cleveland; enable me, on my own responsible
ty, to assure many of our countrymen that they
| would do England a service by voting for CleVe
land and against the Republican system O.
| tariff. AS before observed, we know what tt
do, but look for more light on a mysterious SUD
iect which the sooner it comes will better serve
true Englishmen in casting their votes.
Very respectfully, -".
DISCUSSING THE LETTER.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 26.-Secretary BayarC
made the following statement yesterday il
.Se 4,3,
California, to the British Minister, on the
subject of the pending Presidential elec.
tion, and the British Minister'S reply
eyes, Ihave read both letters. have mo-
seen the British Minister since he went tt
Europe last spring until he called on me
this morning at the Department of State
Lord Sackville has no other Or better
means of knowledge of the intentions o
the President than any other of the 65,
100000 of American people. His persona
opinion is worth no more than tha
of any one of them on the grounc
of knowledge, and much less on the
ground of interest in the subject. While
there must be consensus of opinion as tt
the impropriety of the expression of indi'
vidual views by any one holding the posi-
tion of a foreign envoy, 1t is still to be
hoped that we will be able to settle the is.
sues involved in the pending canvas:
without the Importation of foreign inter
ference or intermeddling in our domestic
affairs. The American people will bt
prompt to resent and repel as impertinen
any such attempts, but they will easily
recognize the political pitfall arranged by
the California letter with its object 81
plainly stamped upon it's face and ad
dressed to the British Minister into which
he has SO surprisingly tumbled. Such
petty schemes to break the fall of despair.
ing politicians will be held in proper
estimation by popular intelligence"
Minister West was shown the interview
with Secretary Bayard last evening anC
asked what he had to say about it, He said
| Nothing. | don't care to criticse it. The
letter sent from California was undoubt.
edly written for the purpose of entrappine
me. In a few days 1 expect to be in G
position to make public the manner ir
which the affair was planned and the
identity of the person cSconcerned in it
The efforts which ajs being directed te
the discovery of theericksters were inset
gated by me and th4 Z shall succeed Ar
making every thing plarAx
Inc leIeef Is VaiIousiy ct&nmehteg611Ga "
and will probably be work " fo, vi II.
politically worth. The New-~Y oEl 81,
calls upon Secretary Bayard to ssrH Lore
Sackville West his passports, and requests
the British Government to recall tits off.
cious Minister. Mr.. Bayard sfEs, how
ever, that Lord Sackville's letter was
evidently not intended for publication
and could not be noticed by this Govern.
ment."
Pickpoekcts Arrested.
ITHACA, N. Y, Oct. 25.-The pickpock,
cts who were following Governor Hill OF
his speaking tour, and who were so sue
cessful at Watertown, left Norwich ant
filched score of pocketbooks here las
night, but met with disaster in the end
One was arrested after breaking Police
man DonoyaI.s thumb and striking ILL,