The Iola register., 1888-11-02
SINGULAR CORRESPONDENCE
The British Minister Answers an Inquiry
Which L Aaxls IN, HG,.ula "a icIs


The British Minister Answers an Inquiry
Which Leads to Much Criticism.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 25.-The following
letter has been published and is the cause
Of considerable comment upon the action
Of Minister West:
BKvRRLY, Mass. Sept. la, fs8s.-Sir: am in
receipt Of your letter Of the 4th instant and
beg to say that fully appreciate the difficulty
which you find yourself In casting your vote.
You are probably aware that any political party
which openly favored the mother country ut
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 desirous Of
settling all questions with Canada which have
beer unfortunately reopened since the retrac-
ton Of the treaty by the RepuS lcen majority
in the Senate and by the Presidents message.
to which you allude. All allowances must
therefore be made for the politieal situation as
regards the Presidential election thus created.
1t is however, impossible tn predict the course
which President Cleveland may pursue In the
matter OF retaliation should he be reelected:
but there is every reason to believe that while
upholding the position he has taken he will
manifest spirit of conciiation in dealing with
the question involved in his message inclose
an article from the New York Times of August
q, and remain yours faithfully.
L. S. SACKvILLE-WEsT.
THE LETTER TO MINISTER WEST.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 26.-The following is
the letter to Minister West which called
forth his much criticised reply.
To the British Minister, Washington, d. g.:
POMONA. Cal, Sept 4-Sir: The gravity Of
the political situation here and the duties OF
those voters who are Of English birth. but still
consider England the mother land constitute
the apology I hereby offer for intruding for
Information. Mr.. Clevelands message to
Congress on the fishery question justly ex-
cites our alarm and compefs us to seek
q further knowledge before finally casting our
votes for him as we had intended to do. Many
English citizens have for years rcfrsned from
being naturalized, as they thought no good
would accrue from the act but Mr.. Clevelands
has been so favorable and
friendly toward England. so kind in not en-
forcing the Retaliatory act passed by Congress,
so sound on the free trade question and so hos
tile to the dynamite school Of ireland that by
the hundreds-yes, by the thousands-they have
become naturaliZed for the express purpose Of
helping to elect him again, the one above all
American politicians they consider their own and
their countrys best friend. ] am ons of these
unfortunates with q right to vote for President
in November. / am unable to understand for
month ago l was sure Mr. Cleveland was the
man. II Cleveland was pursuing q new policy
toward Canada temporarily and for the sake of
obtaining popularity and continuation of his
office our years more, but intends to cease his
policy when his reelection is secured in
November, and again favor English interests,
then 1 should have no further doubts but go
forward and vote for him. / know of no one
better able to direct me, sir, and I most re-
lv as xdy in fhn MAJ star r
will further add that the two men-Mr. Cleve-
land and Mr.. Harrison--are very evenly
and a few votes may elect either
one. Mr.. Harrison Is a high tariff man, be-
lever on the American side of all questions
and undoubtedly an enemy to British inter-
ests generally. This State Is equally divided
between the parties and a mere handful of
our naturalized countrymen can turn it either
way. When rit Is remembered that q small
State (Colorado) defeated Mr. Tilden in 1875
and elected HAYES, the Republican, the i'm
portance Of California is at once apparent to
all. As you are at the fountain head of knowl-
edge on the question and know whether MIR.
Cleveland's 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, i ap-
ply tc you privately and confidentia ly for in
formation. which shall in turn be treated as en-
irely secret. Such information would put
ne at rest myself, and, if favorable to Mr..
enable me, on my own responsible
y, to assure many of our countrymen that they
would do England service by voting for Cleve-
and and against the Republican system Of
arir. As i before observed, we know what to
10. but look for more light on mysterious sub
ect which the sooner It comes will better serve
rue Engishmen in casting their votes.
Very respectfully -.
DISCUSSING THE LETTER.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 26.-Secretary BayaId
made the following statement yesterday in
'egard to the letter of Mr.. Murchison, of
to the British Minister, on the
ubject of the pending Presidential cleo
ion, and the British Minister'S reply:
Yes, Ihave read both letters. have not
cen the British Minister since he went to
Europe last spring until he called on me
his morning at the Department of State.
ord Sackville has no other or better
neans Of knowledge Of the intentions Ut
he President than any other of the 65,-
10000 Of American people. His personal
pinion is worth no more than that
any one of them on the ground
( knowledge, and much less on the
round of interest in the subject. While
here must be a consensus Of opinion as to
he improperly Of the expression of indi-
idual views by any one holding the posi-
ion of a foreign envoy, k is still to be
oped that we will be able to settle the is
ues involved in the pending canvass
'ithout the importation OF foreign inter-
arence or intermeddling in our domestic
fairs. The American people will be
rompt to resent and repel as impertinent
ny such attempts, but they will easily
ecognize the political pitfall arranged by
be California letter with its object so
lainly stamped upon its face and adj
ressed to the British Minister into which
g has so surprisingly tumbled. Such
city schemes to break the fall Of despair
lg politicians will be held in proper
,timation by popular intelligence"
Minister West was shown the interview
18th Secretary Bayard last evening and
sked what he had to say about it. Hesaid:
Nothing. / don't care to criticise it. The
tier sent from California was undoubt-
lily written for the purpose of entrapping
Ie. In a few days l expect to be in
osition to make public the manner in
mich the affair was planned and the
entity of the persons concerned in it.
he efforts which are being directed to
le discovery Of the tricksters were insti-
ated by me and / think shall succeed in
aking every thing plain"
The letter is variously commented upon
i'd will probably be worked for all it is
worth. The New York Sun
Ills upon Secretary Bayard to send Lord
ackville- West his passports, and requests
10 British Government to recall its Off
Gus Minister. Mr.. Bayard says, how
rer, that '.Lord SackviIle's letter was
int daA for lieot
Id could not be noticed by this Govern
ent."
Pickpoekcts Arrested.
ITHACA, n. Y, Oct. 2j.-The pickpock-
a who were following Governor Hill on