The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-10-26
MINISTER VESTS LETTER
THE SUSPICIOUS EPISTLE WHICH
DREW IT FORTH.

Bayard and Senator Morgan Tell
What Lord Sackville's Opinion is
Really Worth.
WASHINGTON, Oct 25.-The New York
Tribune of Monday published as special
from Los Angeles, Cal, a letter published
i'll tho Los Angeles Times of the Sunday
previous purporting to be from British Min
ister West now Lord Sackville) to a former
British subject, now a Laturalized citizen of
the United States, who had asked the min
ister's advice as to how he should vote in
the coming presidential election. The
Tribune of Tuesday republiShed the letter
at the head of its editorial columns. The
New York Herald this morning published
a letter from a Californian which brought
out the letter first published. 1t is as fol-
lows:
POMONA, CAL, Sept. 4, 1888.
To the British Minister, Washington:
SIR-The gravity of the political situation
here, and the duties of those voters who are of
English birth, but still consider England their
motherand constitute the apology | hereby
offer to intruding for information. Mr.. Cleve-
lands message to congress on the fishery queS-
ton justly eXcites our alarm and cOmpels
us to seek further knowledge before finally cast
ing ourvotes for him as we had intended to do
Many English citizens have for years refrained
from being naturalizedas they thought no good
would accrue from the act but President Ceve-
lands administration 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
hundreds-yes, by thousands-they have be-
come naturalized for the express purpose of
helping To elect him over again-the one above
all of the American politicians they consider
their owu and their country's best friend, lam
one of these unfortunates with right
n n fOr ha ppasiIAnf n he | IN
unable to understand for whom | shall cast
my ballot, when but one month ago was sure
President Clev Gland was the man. If President
Cleveland was pursuing new policy toward
Canada temporarily only, and for the sake of
obtaining popularity and continuation of his
office four years more, but intends to cease his
policy when his reelection is secured in Novem-
ber, and again favors Engand's interest then
should have no further doubts, but 60 forward
and vote for him. know of no one better able
TO direct me, sir, and most respectfully ask
your advice in the matter. ! will further add
that the two men, Cleveland and Harli-
son, are very evenly matched, and
few votes may elect either one
Harrison is high tariff man, a believer
on the American side of all questions, and un-
doubtedly an enemy to British interests gener-
ally. This state is equally divided between the
parties and the mere handful OF our naturalized
countrymen can turn it either way. When it
is remembered that a small state lColorado)
defeated Tiden in 1876 and elected
Hayes, republican, the Importance of
California is at once apparent to all. AS you
are at the fountain head of knowledge on the
question, and know whether President Cleve-
| lands present policy is temporary only, and
whether he VIII as soon as he secures another
term of four years in the presidency, suspend
it for one of friendship and free trade I
apply to you privately and confidentially
for Information which shall in turn be treated
as entirely secret. Such information would put
me at rest myself, and, it favorable to President
Cleveland, enable me, on my own responsibility,
to assure many of our cOuntrymen that they
would do England a service by voting for Presi
dent Cleveland and against the republican sys-
tenn of tariff. AS / before observed, we know
not what to do, but look for more light on the
mysterious subject which the sooner it comes
will better serve true Englishmen in casting
their votes. Yours very respectfully,
LORD sACKvILLE'S REPLY.
The minister's reply was as follows:
(PriUdte)
SIR-I am in receipt of your letter of Sept 4,
and beg to say that fully appreciate the diff
Guilty in which you find yourself in casting your
vote You are probably aware that any politi-
cal party which openly favored the mother
country at the present moment would lose pop
ularity, and that the party in power Is fully
aware of this fact. The party. however, is,
believe, still desiTous of main
tanning friendly relations with Great
Britain, and is still as desirous of settling all
questions with Canada which have been unfor-
tunately re opened since the retraction of the
treaty by the republican majority in the Senate
and by the Presidents message, to which you
allude All allowances must, therefore, be
made for the political situation as regards the
presidential election thus created. 1t is, how
ever, impossible to predict the course which
President Cleveland may pursue in the matter
of retaliation should he be elected, but
there is every reason TO believe that, while up
holding the position he has taken, he will mani
fest spirit of cancellation in dealing with the
question involved in his message. ] enclose an
article from the New York Times of Aug. %,
and remain yours faithfully
ASsrrxyV
Beverly, Mass. Sept. 10, 1888.
ACKNOWLEDGES ITS GENUINENEss.
Minister West has acknowledged the gen
uineness Of his letter The Tribune, in its
first publication, said the name of the Cali
fornian had been withheld under pledges,
but it has since been stated as "Murchison.n
Secretary Bayard, who returned to Wash
lngton last night, made the following state
ment to-day to a representative of the Asso-
ciated Press in regard to the correspond
ence:
"Yes, have read both letters. / have
not seen the British minister since he went
to 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 tho intentions Of the Presi-
dent than any one of the 65,000.00O of the
American people.
HIS OPINION NOT VALUABLE.
"His personal opinion is worth no more
than that of any one of them on the ground
of knowledge, and much less on the ground
Of interest in the subject While there
must be a consensus OF opinion as to the
impropriety OF the expression of individual
views by any one holding the position Of
foreign envoy, it is still to be
hoped that we will be able
to settle the issues involved IN
the pending canvass without the importa-
ton of foreign interference or intermed-
ding in our domestic affairs. The Ameri-
can people will be prompt to resent and re-
pei as impertinent any such attempts, but
they will easily recognize the political pit
fall arranged by the California letter, with
its object so plainly stamped upon its face
and addressed 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 esti-
nation by popular intelligence"
SENATOR MoRGAN's VIEWS.
The Euentng Star publishes this evening
q 2-column article, quoting as accurately as
possible from memory of an hours talk
utterances of Senator Morgan upon this
correspondence and upon the general SUBJ
ject Of the foreign policy of the administra-
tion. Iu regard TO the West -Murchison
correspondence, Senator Morgan is quoted
as saying: minister West has probably as
much knowledge as TO the Presidents dis
position In this matter as you have, or has
any other private citizen. He has no more.
The only thing be has 10 base an opinion on
"a what fha vyh yhoia world has tho pra sfdantJa