The Portland daily press., 1888-11-01
THE LETTER THAT CAME TOO LATE.
II Does Not Alter What the British
Minister Accomplished.
English Journals Condemn Bayard's s
Discourteous Method.

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English Journals Condemn Bayard's
Discourteous Method.
An American Lady AS Mistress OF the
Legation.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 31.-As Lord Sackville
is no longer minister, the first secretary of
the British legation naturally becomes the
official representative of the government of
Great Britain. Mr.. Edwards, the first sec
retary, is absent and will not return for
some time, so Michael Herbert. recently
made second secretary, is now acting as min
lister. Mr.. Herbert recently arrived from
Europe and is to be married to lady of New
York, who will thus become the mistress of
the British legation for time.
AT the British legation, silence Is main
tanned. Lord Sackville refused to see any
one today. Members of the legation said all
was uncertainty as TO his departure.
LONDON, Oct. 31.-The Press Association
announces that Lord Sackville comes to
England Immediately on leave OF absence.
with Els succession to the SackviIle estates
and will not return to Washington.
CIeveland's Ambition.
LONDON, Oct. 31.-The Globe says "The
uncourteous announcement might create
very strained relations between the two
countries, but fortunately, its true character
is recognized on both sides. Lord Sackville
has been subjected to unmannerly treatment
by both Bayard and Cleveland. If the min
lister comes back, it will be simply because
Cleveland's ambition to be elected President
second time scars far above the require
ments of international courtesy and good
will"
The Pail Mall Gazette says: sIf Secretary
Bayard's Iebuke of Lord Sackville fails to
convince Irish voters that President Cleye-
land can be relied upon to check John Bull
as much as any other man, we do not see
what Is left for him to do short of placing
him to the frontier. How silly it all is How
much Americans will despise themselves for
1t when the election fever Is over"
The st. James Gazette says: "As Lord
Sackville is technically in the wrong Eng
land cannot resent the affront which Secre-
tary Bayard has put upon it,"
The Daily News justifes President Cleve-
lands action during the fisheries dispute apd
since but regrets Secretary Bayard's appar-
rent lack Of courtesy toward the British min
iotcI. ~ tninhS odllsDuIy mas SHOWN want
OF judgement He ought to have acted
promptly: No one, it says, except Cleveland
emerges from the quarrel very creditably.
The Post says: "a hundred such letters
might have been written by the American
minister in England and no person or party
would have taken the slightest notice of
them. Left to themselves President Cleye
land and his ministers would doubtless have
treated the matter as it deserved. Political
necessities. however are too strong for pub
lie men in America. Hence the president
was driven TO offer an affront to Lord Sack
yille."
The Post fears a renewal of the fishery
negotiations will be delayed.
The Times says: "lf the interests of the
two greatest communities in the world were
not az stake, the Sackville incident would
merely excite passing sensation of amuse-
ment. A luore ridiculous spectacle has rare
ly been witnessed in any civilized country
than the furried and unmannerly haste with
which America has endeavored to put slight
Oh England before the latter could deal with
the matter one way or the other Secretary
Bayard has had the satisfaction of proving to
the world that he can be as contemptuouslv
disregardful OF the decencies of international
intercourse and the dignity of the nation he
represents as Mr. Blaine himself"
The Standard says: "The text of Secretary
Bayard's letter forbids all further hope that
the object of the United States government
was not TO do an offensive thing in the most
offensive way. The art of composition was
exhausted in straining after coarse effect.
Cleveland has done to our minister what
British craftsmanship would hesitate, save
for grave cause, to do to the representative
OF the smallest state in the world If war
had been declared, the state department
could have done nothing, more obtrusively
The Standard hints as to
whether the affair does not involve the ten
dering to Minister Phelps of his passport.
although it says it would be sorry to lose SO
guest.
Too Late, Mr.. President.
New YORK, Oct. 31.-The Tribune COM
ments as follows on the Sackville incident:
Ten days ago the country learned that the
British minister had undertaken to tell Am
erican citizens how to vote. 1t has taken
the President all that time to find out that
something had to be done about it, At last
he has done what was demanded from the
very first by more astute and devoted Dem
ocratic leader, the editor of the Sun. He
has closed diplomatic relations with the Of
Tending minister. As to the minister, this
is just. AS to the political embarrassments
he has created, it is too late to do any good.
A prompt rebuke administered the instant
Lord Sackyille was discovered meddling in
out eiection miHnt nave caused people IN
their satisfaction with such a maintenance
Of the executive dignity to overlook the fact
that the British minister was electioneering
in Mr.. Cleyeland's interest, because he knew
it was the interest of Great Britain. But
the President waited too long. He did not
discover anything wrong in the matter till
the uproar in the country showed that Che
exposure was hurting him.. Then he got
mad.
The real Importance of the incident lies in
the conclusive proof of the English feeling
and. judgment it furnishes, and that is not
in the least affected by the Presidents tardy
action. From the outset Of this campaign the
Republicans have declared that the Admin
lstration's policy was a British policy,
and that It received warm approval by
!ish, because they knew it to be in their in
terest. Just as soon as Mr.. Cleveland's par
ty found out that this opinion was hurting
them, they denied it denied that they favored |
free trade, and denied that the English were |
on their side. Yet Mr.. Cleveland'S message |
On the tariff was received with an outburst
of English approval. The Mills bill had an |
equally warm welcome in England. Mr.. |
Cleveland's denomination received the unani- |
nous support OF the English press, and his |
retailatlon message was treated with good. |
1atured indifference as a necessity of the |
home canvass. And now the British minis |
,er says in substance to English voters on |
,he Pacific coast who claim to be disturbed |
ly that message that 1t means nothing, and |
that when the PRESIDENTS reelection is reas- |
'ured he VIII again favor English interests.
The revelation of the English minister's |
ceiling and belief is the important point. |
Nothing that can now be done will obscure |
t. Getting mad at 1t after finding that his |
naladroit letter does harm doe5 not change |
he facts nor cause the people to forget them. |
He was awkward enough to let the cat out of |
he bag; and 1t cannot be caught and con- |
'ealed again by waiting ten days to estimate |
ne damage, and finally tell him to 20 home |
Zoo late, Mr.. President, too late.
Not Only Brusque But Brutal.
LONDON. Oct. 3l.-The action of President |
cleveland toward Lord Sackville was known
n London only late last evening, but at all |
he leading clubs it was the one topic of con-
ersation. 1t was bitterly condemned by all
cnglishmen present.
The London Standard, in a semi-official
citorial this morning, speaks Of the action
s not only brusque but brutal. 1t refers to /
he action of the President as deliberately
ffensive, and says:
If the intelligence we publish this morning
rom Washington be substantially accurate
n its verbal details, the American govern
nent has taken summary action of a delib-
rately offensive kind in relation to Lord
Mr.. Bayard has informed the
British ambassador that for reasons already
.nown to the English government his con-
inuance is no longer acceptable and would
onseQuently be detrimental to the relations
Ioped that more precise account of the
erms of the communication Will take from
he hrusQueness-we are tempted to saw
the message.