The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1888-11-01
The British Ministers Faux Pas.


The whole country is excited over letter
written by the British Minister at Washing
ton on American politics, and the CORES
pondence is given herewith, matter of gen.
eral interest without any of the assertions,
denials or explanations which are given by
politicions and party journals.
THE LETTER.
The following is the letter tn Minister West
which called for the much criticised reply:
POMONA, Cal, Sept. IA, 18SS.-To the
British Minister, Washington, d. C.-Sir:
The gravity of the political situation here
and tho duty of those voters who are of En-
glish birth, but still consider England the
mother land, constitute the apology hereby
offer for intruding for information. Mr..
Cleveland's message to congress on the fishery
question justly excites our alarm and com
pels us to seek further knowledge before final
ly casting our votes for him as we had in
tended to do. Many English citizens have
for years refrained from being naturalized,
as they thought no good would accrue
from the act, but Mr.. Cleveland's 8
administration has been SO favorable and
friendly toward England, SO kind in not en-
forcing the retaliatory act passed by con-
gress, so sound on the free trade question
and SO hostile to the dynamite school OF
Ireland that Englishmen by the hundreds
yes, by the thousands-they have become
naturalized for the express purpose OF help
ing to elect him again. The one. above all
American-politicians they consider their own
and their countrys hest friend
am one of these unfortunates with right
to vote for President in November. / am un-
able to understand for whom shall east my
ballot, when but one month ago l was sure
MIR. Cleveland was the man. If Cleveland
was pursuing new policy toward
Canada temporarily only and for the sake
of obtaining popularity and continue
tion of his office four years more, but intends
to cease his policy when his reelection is Sc
cured in November and again to vor Engiand's 8
interest then l should have no further doubts
but go forward and vote for him. l know of
no one better able to direct me, sir, and
most respectively ask your advice in the mat
ter. | will further add that the two men-Mr
Cleveland and Mr.. Harrison-are very evenly
matched and a few votes may elect either one.
Mr.. Harrison is high tariff man, a believer
on the American side of all questions and un-
doubtedly an enemy to British interests gen.
orally.
This state is equally divided between the
parties, and mere handful of our natural
lied countrymen can turn it either way.
When it is remembered that a small state
Uolorado) defeated Mr.. Tilden in 1876 and
elected Hayes, the Republican, the impor-
tance of California is at once apparent to ALL
AS you are at the fountain head of knowledge
on the question. and know whether Mr.. Cleve-
lands present policy is temporary only and
whether he will as soon as he secures another
term of four years in the presidency, suspend
it for one of friendship and free trade,
apply to you privately and confiden-
tally for information which shall in
turn be treated Us entirely secret. Such in.
formation would put me at rest myself,
and if favorable to Mr.. Cleveland enabled ME,
on my own responsibility, to assure many
of our countrymen that they would do Eng
land service by voting for Cleveland and
against the Republican system of tariff AS
| before observed, We know not what to do,
but look for more light on mysterious sub
ject. The sooner this information comes the
better will it serve true Englshmen in cast
ing their votes. Yours very respectfully.
L. MURCHIsoN
THE REPLY.
The following is a copy of the letter which
Minister Sackville West wrote in answer to
the above:
Private-Sir: am in receipt of your letter
of the 4th inst, and beg to say that l fully
appreciate the difficulty in which you find
yourself in casting your vote. You are prob
ably aware that any political party which
openly favored the mother country at the
present moment would lose popularity, and
that the party in power is fully aware of this
fact. The party, however, is | believe, still
desirous of maintaining friendly relation with
uretc Drltaln, ana IS sun ueslfOuS OF settllng
all questions with Canada, which have been
unfortunately reopened since the reject
tion of the treaty by the Republican
majority in the Senate and by the Presi-
dents message, to which you alude All al
lowances must therefore be made for the
political situation as regards the presiden-
tial election, thus created. 1t is, however,
impossible to predict the course which Presl.
dent Cleveland may pursue in the matter OF
retaliation should he be elected but there is
every reason to believe that, while upholding
the position he has taken, he will manifest
spirit of Cancellation in dealing with the ques.
tion involved in his message. ! enclose an
article from the New York Times of Aug. %,
and remain, yours faithfully,
l.. S. SACKvILLE WEST.
Beverley, Mass, Sept. 13, 1888.