New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-27
A La WYER ON THE LETTER.
INTERNATIONAL ASPECT OF THE CASE.
DEMOCRATS ANGRY WITH MR.. BAYARD - THE
sEcRETARY's UNFITNEss DEMONSTRATED.
fnr rpIrnRAP APH To THE TRIKrrNE.1

tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE Tribune
Washington, Oct. o6-One Of the ablest lawyers in
country, a who has had nearly half century's
experience in public fe who has consulted upon
questions of international law frequently than
other in the legal profess and who, because Of
his profound knowledge of matters relating to the law
OF nations has held confidential relations with every
Administration since he entered upon practice was
seen by Tribune correspondent to-day and asked his
opinion in reference the letter of Lord sackville
which has now become historic
al do not care to be quoted personality was the
reply for am a Democrat and do not to incur
the enmlty of the party with which have acted for
forty years. but II you will keep my name out OF
print will give you my views
The promise was given and the lawyer continued
"supposing that the gentleman who wrote to the
British Minister had been a Democrat, and had
honestly desired the Minister'S views, do not see
that there anything very improper in his seeking
| the information and although 1t was an unwse and
impolitic communication do not think that in itself
the letter Of the Minister was such breach OF duty
call for severe apprehension But the letter to
| Mr. West was probably written by some one who
wanted to fasten upon the Democratic party and the
present Administration proof OF the charge that the
State Department and the President had catered TO
British interests during the last four years If that
was the object It has succeeded admirably, for Lord
sackve's letter shows conclusively that 1t IS the
desire of the English Government that Mr.. Cleveland
| should be reelected"
"Then you believe that the Administration has
| catered 10 British interests?" querIed the cor
| respondent
al certainly do Why the charge has been made
and never denied that Secretary Bayard told the
Prime Minister of Canada Sir Charles Tupper, that he
had better accept the Departments views Of the hsh-
cries matter for II he did the party In power would
surely reduce the tariff. l have no doubt that II Sir
Charles were questioned in regard to that he would
N tariff rcdu
Mr. Bayad 1t was very imprudsnt in Lord Sack
VILE to admit in HIS interview, published In The IT'D
une that he understood that the Presidents Retalia
ton message solely for political effect, and yet
| have no doubt that such an impression was con-
veyed to him by the State Department, possibly by
| Mr.. Bayard himself"
/ "what will be the result Of this afar3'
aPoltcaly think 1t will fatally iniure Mr.. Cleve-
| lands chances for reelection
II is curious to note the Indignation Of the Demo
Gratis connected with the Administration at what they
now call the unwaTanable interference of Lord SACK
| vlle and Secretary Bayard has completely changed
front from his first uterances the subject, which
were telegraphed from Georgetown Del Then he SAID
| that as the letter of Lord Sackville was marked
" privates no official notice could be taken OF IT,
| The same view taken in Administration circles
here at first but when the full effect Of the Br1nsh
Minister'S opinions both in his letter and In his inter-
view with The Tribune correspondent came TO be ap-
| lightly brushed aside
As soon as Mr. Bayard returned 10 the city yester-
day he was made acquainted with the serious damage
to Mr. Clevcands prospects which the British Minis
ters letter had done and was given to understand thst
some device must be found 10 check the current OF
public opinion which was setting so strongly IN taVor
| of General Harrison. Accordingly last night the
Secretary OF State furnished interview which was
published this morning asserting that Lord sacKviie
| had no means of knowing Mr.. Clevelands motives IN
sending his Retaliation message and that his opinion Is
of no more value than that of any one else AT the
same time Lord sackville asserts that he was en-
trapped into writing the letter. and that he hopes to
be soon I'm position make public all the particulars
This is evidently an afterthOught on the part OF the
! British Minister. for when converslng with Inc IT'D
une CORES pondent he certainly thought that the letter
was written to him good faith and he asserted that
he answered It in equally good faith.
There is a disposition on the part OF some Demo-
cratic officials to lay the blame for this trouble upon
Secretary Bayard, who, they assert, has shown his
| utter unitness for the position he holds In every
| way Privately some of the highest department
officials admit that their party is defeated, and wish
that Lord sackvillc had been at the bottom OF the
British Channel before he had ever written that letter
| The influence exerted by Lord Sackvillc upon Mr.
| Bayad. and his ability to mould TIE secretary at
all times according to his WILL is illustrated by the
| following incident, which has never been mentioned
in print before, and which will furnish ample food
|
BayaId is a fit person to be entrusted with the duties
| Of the high Office he holds In 1885 Ernest A,
Hathaway British subject, was arrested somewhere
| out West as a vagrant, and identified by United
| states Sergeant OF the Army as deserter suoSe
| auently It turned out that the Sergeant had been
| mistaken Hathaway remained prisoner about a
| month As soon as released he demanded-as was
ight-compensation for his arrest and imprisonment
He presented his claim through the British Minister
aud "a day was what he demanded secretary
Bavard at once acceded to the demand and the war
Department transmitted vouchers and money to Lord
Sackve A few days aiterward the money was rc-
turned by the British Minister, together with new
demand for $500. Would not any other secretary
besides Mr. Bayad have expressed his astonishment
al such an extraordinary course the part OF foreign
Minister MIR Bayard apparently thought It quite a
justiiablc proceeding, and al once cohseheu 10 'ho
Voucbcrs we're once more prepared and transmitted
TO the British Legation. Now at last it might have
settled But Lord sackville knew his man. En-.
couraged by the ready acquioseence on the part OF
Mr. Bayard to his demand, which he had Inc Inc resss q
from ri day to $500 in lump sum, he once more
returned the money, and thl; time demanded $1,000
| The matter rests at this point but IL IS TO be pre-
sumed that Mr.. Bayard Will soon inform Lord sac
Of his eanes to nSy pay ToHo ana ndesa teeh ,e bs
| fMe thai time the clever Brill h Minister has not
| made a request OF his Government To be transieffc
TO- some other post for 1t Is likely that his recall
| VIM be- demanded by this Administration.
| Another Cabinet meeting was held al the Whlte
uo,se T9day. and Lord sachylllcs letter and the
| complication. grOwing oui Oi were again ascusseu
| int the meeting was followed by no de.eiopmcn,s
| Al the STATE Department II was said that MI. Bayar'
Rad uut taken any further acton and had no state
| ment 10 make In addition 10 the one given out yes
| teriay.
HAS THE LETTER BEEN USED BY DEMOCRATS
The letter of Lord sackvle continues to be source
| of much comment among people In this city III was
said Yesterday by person we'll Informed OF what Is
going on in Democratic circles that the existence vi
the letter has been known for time by the Demo
cratic managers ard that It has been quietly crcuiaed
| among Rnglishmcn IN this country TO innuence thch
to vote for Cleveland The country has taken up inc
matter and applications for several hundred thousand
copies hayo already been received by the various NC
| publican committees. As fast as possible theSo rc
| quests are being filed From every quarter come
/ - Rdiish Minister