New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-31
THE MN IND HIS MESSAGR

The British Minister'S indscretion was a
startling SURPRISE but the credulity of the Dem
ocratic political managers is even more amaz-
ing. They take it for granted that the dis
astrOus effects of his intervention in American
politics can be counteracted by his dismissal
under circumstances more or less ignominious.
This is puerle folly. Yet the Administration
has acted upon the contemplate assumption
that it could redeem its character in this way
by display of temper. After the cole fit, of
which Secretary Bayards earliest interviews
were disOrdered symptoms, hot fit has been
brought on by the infammatOry talk Of General
Collins and Mr.. OReilly. The Administration
has pulled itself together and sent his pass
ports to Lord Sackvile. 1t dismisses the Brit
ish election agent who tried to serve the Presi-
dent by telling the truth about him and his
Administration. The Minister goes in disgrace.
His eectioneering message remains behind.
That cannot be recalled.
Let us reduce this question to its simplest
terms. The President a year ago recommend
ed policy by which foreign imrnrtauons would
be largely increased. Mr.. Mills accepted this
idea when. in introducing his tariff bill, he
declared eve should lay taxes to obtain
revenue, but not restrict importations." The
Republican party from the beginning to the
end of this canvass has held that the policy of
displacing American with foreign manufact-
ures in the homo market Is what England
wants. This view has been confirmed without
reserve or eGuivocation by the British press.
From the Scotch Highlands to Lands End, jour
nails while disagreeing about everything else
have united in proclaiming this to be the policy
which England urgently desires Americans to
adopt. While the evidence of English sympathy
with Cleveland was indsputable and over
whelming, the Democratic press sought to break
its force by frantic cries of forged extracts"
and by systematic mendacty. Notwthstand-
ing the energy of these displays of partisan
Misrepresentation and downright lying, the
President found it necessary after the rejection
of the treaty to make desperate effort to re-
trieve his fatal reputation as the candidate
whose election was favored by England. The
Retaliation Message was Immediately pro-
nounced by Republicans a political trick, a
campaign device for diverting public atten-
ton from his English tariff policy. This inn
putation was bitterly resented by the Demo-
cratic pross, which affirmed that the President S
sincerity was not to be questioned, and that it
was vile campaign lie TO assert that he was
in any sense an English candidate standing for
foreign rather than American interests
At this juncture the British Minister appeared
upon the scene. AS the recognized representa-
tive Of his Government in the United States, he
declared that the President should be supported
by naturalized Americans of British descent in
the interest Of the mother country and, more
over, that the Retaliation Message was po-
ltical manoeuvre and Of trivial consequence.
His opinion should be and is decisive respect
ing these matters in controversy. 1t demon
strates that the Republicans have been telling