The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1888-11-01
British Interference.

Some days ago The Los Angeles
Times published letter purporting
to have been written by British
Minister Sackville West, in reply to
citizen of California of English birth
asking his advice as to how he should
vote at the coming election. The
letter was such an impertinent inter
ference with the politics of this
country that great doubts were enter.
tanned of its genuineness. The New
York Sun, remarking upon it, said
eff this letter is an audacious forgery
Lord Sackville should denounce it as
such without an hours delay. If il
is genuine, Mr.. Bayard should SEND
him him his passports before to.
morrow night" But Lord Sackville
has dispelled all doubt about the
genuineness of the letter by acknowl.
edge that he wrote it. That it is q
violation of all correct and we'll est.
ablished precedents in diplomatic
intercourse is plainly evident, and
notwithstanding the guaranty with
which The Times accompanied it,
it seemed incredible that British
minister would be so indiscreet as
thus to undertake to interfere and
take part in our political canvass.
But the minister not only acknowl-
edges the authorship, but attempts
to justify his action in the premises.
Inasmuch as frequent illusions have
been made in our columns to this un-
blushing breach of the proprieties OF
the diplomatic relation, we copy the
letter in full as follows:
To an american Citizen:
privately
BEVERLY, Mass, Sept. IS, 1888
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 probably aware
that any political party which openly
favored the mother country at the
present moment would lose popular
ity, and that the party in power is
fully aware af the fact. The party,
however, is, believe, still DESTROYS
of maintaining friendly relations
with Great Brititian, and is still as
desirious of settling all questions
with Canada, which have unfortunat-
ly re-opened since the retraction of
the treaty by the republican majority
in the senate, and by the president S
message, to which you allude. All
allowances must, therefore, be made
for the political situation as regards
the presidential election thus created.
1t is, however, impossible to predict
the course which President Cleveland
may pursue in the matter of retalia-
ton, should he be elected; but there
is every reason to believe that, while
unfolding the position he has taken,
he will manifest spirit of concilia-
ton in dealing with the question in
volved in his message. | enclose an
article from The New York Times
of August ~, and remain, yours
faithfully.
L.. S. SAcKvILLE WEST.
From The New York Times, Aug. 22.1
There is this further consideration
in favor of supporting the admins
tration on this issue. 1t will leave
the question still open for friendly
means of settlement of some kind,
while a support Of the senate's posi-
ton would close all avenues of fu-
and bring upon the
country the disastrous consequences
of retaliation, hostility and possible
war. 1t would put an end to all
prospect Of improving the CONNER
cial relations of the United States
and Canada This is one of the
questions which the people should
keep in mind in casting their votes
next November.
The interest of the British free
traders in the reelection of Mr..
Cleveland has been notorious
ever since the PRONUNCIATION of his
unique message of December last,
and this letter goes to strengthen
the shameless, brazen-faced impud-
ence Of the foreign free trade po1iti-
clans. No one can further deny that
Mr.. Cleveland is the choice of
British free traders, and that they
have the effrontery to advise Ameri-
can citizens to vote for their man.
This is one long step in advance
of all former interferences in our
elections, and it deserves the indig-