The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-10-31
The Last Republican Trick.

The republican scheme 10 get from the
British minister at Washington an express
sion favorable to President CLEVELAND was
q pretty campaign trick, but we hardly
think it will make any votes for Ben HAIR
RIsoN. The facts are that letter was writ
ten TO his lordship by California repub-
lican, under an assumed name, who falsely
represented himself as a native of England,
recently naturalized, who had intended TO
vote for CLEVELAND because of the latter's
Friendship for England. but had become
doubtful as to what course he should pur-
cue since the presidents retaliation mes
sage was sent to congress He therefore
asl-od Lord WEsr's oHinion as to the presi-
dents realintention toward England, and a.
10 the kind OF a vote he the writerl should
CT at the com ~ election, Lord WEST
replied, declining to make any suggestions
as To the vote his correspondent should
cast. He said that any political party
which openly favored the mother country
at the present moment would lose pOpu-
larity. and that the party in power is fully
aware of this fact. He thought the party
was DESTROYS of maintaining friendly re-
lations with Great Britain, and OF settling
all questions with Canada amicabIy. He
said it was impossible tn predict what
course President CLEVELAND may pursue
in the matter of retaliation in the event OF
his reelection; but that there was every
reason to believe that, while upholding
the position he has taken, he will mani
fest a spirit OF Cancellation in dealing with
TIE question involved in his message.
This was. of course, not what the repub-
lican schemers hoped to get from Lord
WEST, but they seem to think some capt
tai is to be made out of it, and, as they are
very hard up for campaign ammunition
we presume they will make desperate
effort TO influence some votes by il. If
Lord WEST had advised his correspondent
to vote for CLEVELAND, his letter might
perhaps have been used with some effect
10 make voters believe that the English
government was interested in democratic
success; but as he carefully refrained from
giving any advice, his letter, we think,
will not have any effect. Certainly no
sensible man will be influenced by it.
The trick is chiefly significant as an ev-
idence of republican desperation. The
republican managers know that, as the
matter stands, BENJAMIN HARRISON is
beaten, and that unless voters can be
stampeded by some strategem the &. o. p.
is eternally done for. We have no doubt
other devices viii be resorted TO between
now and election, but we do not believe
they will accomplish their purpose. The
country has its mind made up, and il will
not be induced to change it by any roor-
back sprung on the eve OF election.
or course Lord WEST is an ass, and was
guilty of a gross breach of diplomatic
etiquette in expressing himself, even in
an evasive and non-committal way, upon
a matter OF domestic politics. The
Eng ish press SAYS he has made fool of
himself. and that the personality Of the
next PRESIDENT is OF no possible concern to
the people of Great Britain. The sensible
American view is expressed by Secy. BAY
ARD when he says: 1T is still to be hoped
that we will be able 10 settle the issue in
volved in the pending canvass without the
importation OF foreign interference or
intermeddling in our domestic affairs"