New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-26
MORGAN COMES IN HOT HASTE.
THE PRESIDENT DEMORALIZED BY THE
SACKVILLE LETTER
THE ALABAMA SENATOR SEES Mr.. CLEVELAND.
THEN TALKS TO THE woRLD-RoUGH Lam,
GUAGE FOR THE MINISTER TO swALr
ley TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUNR.1

lBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.1
Washington, Oct. 25.-Lord sackville's letter has
had a demorallzng effect upon the President. That
tho British Minister, Of all people in the world,
should prove himself to be second Buchard, was
among the last things expected by Mr. Cleveland.
Early Tuesday morning Senator Morgan Of Alabama,
was sent for lie IS the senior Democratic member
Of the Senate Committee Foreign Relations, and
as such the task fell TO him Of defending the Bayard-
Chamberlain treaty. With what bad grace and worse
success he performed that duty is now a matter OF
record. To do It he had to dlsavow his former
declarations on this question and to go back on his
convictions frequently and openly expressed In
debate in former years Since then he has had the
melancholy satisfaction of being considered the Prcsl-
dents mouthpece and confidential adviser In all
diplomatic matters.
When word reached Mr.. Morgan that the President
wished to him he was out Of town. somewhere in
Virginia. II is said 1t was frghtfll day, the rain
pouring in torrents; but obedent to the summons
the Alabama Senator posted through mud and slush
at night and carly yesterday morning presented HIM
self at the White House. The result OF the confer
ence Is night found In two-column Interview with
a reporter OF "Tbe Starr That 1t represents as
nearly as possible what the President is desrous OF
making people believe is his attitude upon the ques-
ton cannot be doubted. Great stress, of course, Is
laid by Mr. Morgan upon the Presidents as we'll as
his own Indignation upon finding the sincerity OF
the Retaliation Message questioned. Mr. Morgan is
quoted, for instance, as saying:
Minister West has probably much knowledge as to
the Presidents disposition this matter you have or
as has any other private citizen He has no more The
only thing he has opinion is what the whole
world has-the Presidents message. Not only has Mr..
West no private information but as know to be fsct
M Cleveland private Views on the subject that
conflict with clear utterances OF his message When
MI West attempts to the Presidents attitude
differently advise American citizen as to tho
disposition political franchise he is guilty OF unwa
with the affairs OF this country his
deductions are nothing and his conclusions are
absolutely do not that he does not believe In
them himself. / say merely that he does not know MI
Cleveland and is deceiving himself
And then Mr. Morgan branches out in a historical
survey of the Fisheries question which contains
nothing that IS either new or does not constitute the
old defence of tho Bayard- Chamberlain Treaty set
I'M by him on the floor of the Senate Referring
once more to the Retaliation message Mr. Morgan
says:
l know the motives that inspired that message, and
nv admiration for the (he PresidenD expands with
the knowledge. declare solemnly there thought
Of gaining party advantage by It, II was inspired by
the highest motives that enter statesman's heart
Mr.. West whoever else attributes other motives to
him, does Mr.. Cleveland gross injustice. In this
message he EXPIRE sed just what In his
mind and IL in perfect accord with his attitude from
first 10 last did doubt for moment that Con.
gress would grant to him the power he asked for. and
he expected to exercise 1t at say with full
knowledge that had the bill that passed the House
promptly been adopted the Also the procla
nation requiring duties be collected goods in transit
70 and from Canada through the United States would
have been issued II the bill should after election
any time during his Administration he would enforce
it at
Mr. Morgan also spoke OF the action of Lord Sack
vile only indelcate but highly improper, and
termed his attempt to define Mr. Clevelands attitude
the height Of mpudence that man with regard
for propreiy would be guilty Of He said that Lord
sackvlo on no such terms with the President,
or with the Department, to enable him to judge
OF their vcws-and In the breath Senator Morgan
declared that he did not think there should be any
official notice taken OF the Minister'S uterances, and
be believed that the President thought too
This indeed, is the most extraordinary declaration
on the part Of the Administration mouthpiece, vocing
the opinion of Mr.. Cleveland. On the hand, It
represents the President highly indignant and out
ragged at the conduct Of Lord Sackvllle, and the
other 1t asserts that official notice ought to be
taken of the matter. 1t remains to be seen how Lord
sackve himself will regard the whole question.
Though he has shown himself indscfeet in this one
Instance and apparently Indifferent as to results, he
Is known to be sufficiently sensitive not to pass with
out notice such comments as Senator Morgan and the
President speaking through him, sees fit to make upon
his conduct
There is one rather ludcrous feature TO this whole
business and that is the spectacle of the British
Minister advising American citizens Of English birth
10 vote for an Administration whose postal service be
80 mIstrusted that about year ago he employed, and
stl continues employ, special messenger TO carry
the European mail OF the Legation semi weekly TO
New York to be there put on board the outgoing
steamer In explaining this the Minister said at the
time that II was done a matter of convenience, but
IL is we'll known that this special service was resorted
10 because Of that the postal service of the Ad
minstrstlon might prove leaky'
The breach OF dccorum Of which Lord sackville has
been guilty has been compared with the offence COM
mted by Mr. Catacazy, the Russian Minister, IN 1871,
and which resulted In the recall Of the latter at the
,eo,s, NJ our Government. Lord sackvillc's offence
seems 10 be neither greater less in It's gravity than
that Of Mr. Cstacazy, and II the President were as
patriotic and as earnest in upholdng the dignity of
The country a. General Grant, he
would at once direct Secretary Bsyard TO inform