The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-10-29
THE EFFECT or SACKVILlES LETTER.
A Democratic Lawyer Thinks His
LordshIp Told the Truth.
CIeveland's Chances of Reelection
Growing Beautifully Less.
Phelps and Salisbury Discussing the
Minister'S Recall.

ldWy III Ll6 COuHbIf. u mdu WHO mas mad |
nearly half century's experience in public |
life, who has been consulted upon questions |
of international law more frequently than |
any other in the legal profession, and who, |
because of his profound knowledge of mat |
ters relating to the law of nations, has held |
confidential relations with every administra- |
tion since he entered upon practice. was
seen by correspondent today and asked |
his opinion in reference 10 the letter of Lord
Sackville, which has now become historic.
81 do not care to be quoted personally"
was the reply, "for am Democrat, and do
not care to incur the enmity of the party
with which l have acted for forty years, but
If you will keep my name out of print
will give you my views"
The promise was given, and the lawyer con
tinued 'Supposing that the gentleman
who wrote to the British Minister had been
a Democrat. and had honestly desired the
Minister'S views, do not see that there was
anything very improper in his seeking the
information, aud although 1t was an unwise
and impolitlc communication, do not think
that in itself the letter of the Minister was
such breach of duty as to call for severe
apprehension. But the letter to Mr.. West
was probably written by some one who
wanted to fasten upon the Democratic party
and the present administration proof of the
charge that the State Department and the
President had catered to British interests
during the last four years. If that was the
object 1t has succeeded admirably, for Lord
Sackville,s letter shows conclusively that it
is the desire of the English government that
Mr.. Cleveland should be reelected"
Then you believe that the administration
has catered to British interests ?" queried
the correspondent.
made and never denied that Secretary Bay
ard told the Prime Minister of Canada, Sir
Charles Tupper that he had better accept
the departments views of the fisheries mat
ter, for If he did the party in power would
surely reduce the tariff. / have no doubt
that II Sir Charles were questioned in regard
to that he would confirm the agreement as
TO tariff reduction made by Mr.. Bayard 1t
was very imprudent in Lord Sackville to ad
NIT in his Interview published in the Tribune
that he understood that the Presidents re-
taliation message was solely for political eff
feet, and yet have no doubt that such an
impression was conveyed to him by the State
Department, possibly by Mr. Bayard him.
What will be the result of this AFFAIR.""
Politically, l think it will fatally injure
Mr.. Cleveland's chances for reelection"
A Death Blow.
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 27-Lord Sackville's
letter is still agitating the Irish and English
residents of this city. In most instances,
when asked for their opinion, they are very
reticent. They think it is a great mistake
for any foreigner to NEEDLE with American
politics. The Rev. Hugh Lane, pastor of
St Therese's Roman Catholic church at
Broad and Catharine streets, said:
Young man, that letter kills the Demo-
cratic party. Lord Sackville's name needs
an addition. He should be called Lord Bur-
chard Sackville. That letter means a great
Republican victory. Instead of helping the
Democrats to victory it will help to snow
them under. The best thing the Republican
party could do in acknowledgment of the
service of Lord Sackyille for it, would be to
solicit a contribution and buy him an i'm
mense gold-headed cane, with the words
Americas preserver' engraved upon 1t. His
Honor, the Lord, objects to the way Ameri-
| can politics are carried on Why they arenot
as corrupt as his own English system. In
answering the letter he showed no diplomacy
| 1t Is just like him. went across the ocean
in the same boat with him, and by mistake
spoke to him several times. did not repeat
it Often'
The Democratic Hunt for an Author.
LOUISVILLE, KY, Oct. 2S.-The Courier
Journals Omaha correspondent telegraphs
that Patrick Egan, ex-President of the Irish
National League is the author of the Murchi-
son letter to Minister West The informa-
tion of the correspondent comes from o
prominent Republican of Omaha, who saws
the scheme was arranged last August and
was prematurely sprung. The original in
tention was to make 1t public next Wednes-
| day.
Sackville's Recall Probable.
LONDON, Oct. 27.-Lord Salisbury remain
| ed at Hatfield House, his country residence,
| today. He received several cable dispatches
| from Lord Sackville, the British Minister at
Washington, admitting the facts in connec-
| tion with the Murchison letter, and saying
that he regretted them. A number of des-
| patches from Secretary of State Bayard
were forwarded to Lord Salisbury, in which
| the Secretary of State urged that in view of
| the coming national election in the United
| States, il was imperatively necessary that
| there should be change in the British rep
resentatiye at Washington, in order to calm
| the popular excitement.
Mr.. Phelps, the American Minister and
| Mrs. Phelps, visited Hatfield House this af-
| ternO0n, and will be the guests of Lord Sails
| bury until Monday. Mr.. Phelps and Lord
Salisbury held a long. consultation in the
| library. MIR. Phelps enlarged upon the ne
| cessity of prompt action on the part of the
| British government, in order to repair the
| evil. Mr.. Phelps made special point by
| treating Murchison as British subject enti-
| tied to advice, despite the fact that he stated
| in his letter that he was naturalized citizen
| OF the United States. Lord Sackville had
| dsregarded and violated the understanding
| OF September, 1871, when Mr.. Fisk, then
Secretary OF State, obtained from the En-
| gllsh government recognition of the Amer
ican doctrine of naturalization. Lord Sails
bury admitted that this was a most serious
point of view of Lord Sackvilles conduct
The matter Is more annoying to Lord Sails
bury, inasmuch as Lord Sackyille's appoint
ment originally was attributed to the influ-
| ence OF his sister, who was the second wife
| OF the. late Marquis of Salisbury, and who
has since been married to the present Earl
| of Derby.
private conference with Minister Phelps
at Hatneid House, in regard to the Sack
The Opinions of London Papers.
LONDON, Oct. 2S.-The News says: "Lord
Sackvlle has done nothing of which an hon.
est man need be ashamed; but there ere
blunders which are worse than crimes
| e'he Daily Telegraph says: Nothing can
excuse the incontinence of Lord Sackville's
pen, except his transparent good faith and
candor. He cannot, however, after such
betise. be allowed to embroil two nations. :"
The Standard says: sit would be incor-
rect to say the American government has al
| ready asked for the recall of Lord Sackville,
| but it has taken step little short Of that
| extreme m. aSure. IL does not follow that
expulsion will be resorted to either at all or
at once. The matter, however, is delicate
one, and it would be best, for Sackville to re-
sign to avoid further unpleasantness."
The Chronicle says The singular folly of
Sackville could hardly be matched for indis-
cretion but it is manifestly impossible for
the government to yield to pressure such as
| New York paper declares will be applied
| When the excitement is calmed it may be
found necessary to transfer Sackville"
The Times says, "It seems certain that the
American government has taken step that
will render it impossible for Sackville to re-
main at Washington. We are not prepared
to censure Sackville. A British minister,
whether at Washington or elsewhere, must
be an English gentleman and he may be for
given if he is not up to the dirty tricks of
American politicians. II the Americans
were not in the thick of a political struggle
it would be impossible that some of them
should not enter a protest against the undg-
ness shown by both parties"