Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-10-26
B0MBsEELLs FALL INTO THE DEMO
CRATIC CAMP.

addressed to Lord Sackville West, British
Minister at Washington. 1t is Youched for
ss genuine, as written by Briton, by the
editor of the Los Angeles Times over his
personal signature. We print also the
letter of response by Minister West,
youched for by himself in an interview
with the San Francisco Examiners Wash
ington correspondent.
Two things are perfectly clear that The
letters make Democrats gnash their teeth
with rage, and that Lord Sackville West
has impertinently interfered with Ameri-
can politics and thus affronted the whole
people.
We invite our readers to peruse the two
letters attentiyely. Take the letter of in
qairy and note what perfect air of sin
cerity prevades it. The writer gives Minister
West the impression that he is perfectly
willing to vote for Mr. Cleveland if he can
be assured by so high an authority as Lord
SackVille that Grover Cleveland is insincere
IN his bluster about the northeast coast
h:heries. Of that he assumes the Minister
can assure him. So too he wishes to be
confirmed by his Lordsbip in his own sus-
picion that Mr.. Cleveland speaks only with
the mouth and not from the heart when
he talks of retaliatory measures. He ex-
presses his qualification that President
Cleveland is sound on the free trade
question" and he lubricates his lines with
delicious bit Of reference to the dynamite
I.,fT T. 4 A. I
would tickle Minister Vests ear, and
winds up the real pith of his letter by as.
surance of his own insincerity in becoming
naturalized citizen.
It is simply amazing that so sagscious
man rs Minister West could commit him
self to answering q letter that is in itself
impertinent, ard c0nfesses that TIE yr:tss
Is insincere in his citizeuship For he tells
the Minister in effect that ne is more at
tached TO the country he has foresworn
than to that to which he has solemnly
given his allegiance. He really offers Min
lister West an insult when he SAYS to him
. lou are at the fountain head of knowl-
edge. You know whether Mr.. Cleyeland's
present policy is temporary, molasses to
catch flies, bait for gudgeons, or whether
he really means to make commercial war
upon Canada. You know whether he really
means free trade; you know whether can
better serve England by voting for Cleve-
land than for Harrison. You perceive that.I
am unconscionable, and though citizen of
the Republic, prefer first to do service TO
England consulting not the interests of nv
adopted country until | ascertain the de-
sires of that have abandoned" In other
words, this letter-writer plainly tells Minister
West that he-and he libels many an other
Englishman by CHASING all with himself
is ready if need be to politically betray his
adopted land if it will conserve British in.
terests, for there appears no expression of q
primal interest in America. That is the
spirit and tone of the letter; it admits of
the fullest Interpretation in that direction,
and indicates a great deal more of insin-
cerity and political meanness than it ex-
presses.
Coming now to the response of the Min
lister, the reader will readily see that it con-
victs him of insensibiity. Such letter as
he received should have met either with
the rebuke born of an honest and indignant
mind, or the contempt of dead silence.
Taatitinvited him toimpertine NEEDLE
IN American politics by advising voters
and thus violate all the diplomatic code of
ethics, was in itself an affront which ap-
pears, however, not to have penetrated the
sensbilities of Minister West
With his correspondents letter before
him, and the full importance of his reply
impressed upon him-for the Minister ad-
mits in the interview referred to that he
expected his response TO be shown to and
to influence others-this trained diplomat
informes the Pomona writer that ne fully
appreciates the difficulty he finds in casting
his vote" He warns him that il is un-
pular to " openly" favor England at this
moment, and that the Democratic party ''is
faiy aware of the fact" But he gives his
correspondent to understand that by voting
fer Mr.. Cleveland he will not offend " the
mother country" He concludes his letter
by referring his correspondent to an article
in the New York Times, a paper owned and
directed by former subject of her Majesty,
and which journal is at this time, as in
1884, supporting Mt. Cleveland.
The sum of the matter is that Minister
West and his correspondent have lifted the
lions skin and exposed the heels of the
ass; that the Minister has impertinently
med5led with the political affairs of the
country to which he is accredited. given
advice in favor of one and against another
political party, and deserves the censure of
q recall. In that conclusion we are for
once in entire accord with our Democratic
contemporary, the San Francisco Examiner,
the wrath and chagrin of which we as fully
appreciate" as does Minister West the stu
alton of the voter at Pomona who needs
advice from foreign Minister how to dis
charge his duty ss citizen.
But while Minister West has affeonted
the people of the United States and has
committed breach of the p.oprieties. the
consequences of which he cannot escape,
be has rendered valuable service to Amer
lean voters; first by indorsipg, as the very
faci of his making response does, all the
P,mona correspondent says of the anxiety
of the English to promote Mr.. Cievelands
election; and secondly. by sffirming what
the English press bas repeatedly alleged,
that the desire of the English people and
Government is the establishment OF free
trade, the opening of the United States as
a free market for England, and the conse-
ouent decline of American industries. Or,
as the Sheffisld Independent puts it, THE
reelection of President Cleveland means
free trade in America. and free trade there
means several years of prosperity in Shelf
field"
CERTAINTY AND THEORY.