Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-11-02
THE LORD saCKyILLE-MURCHIso EPI-


L ne icbleF py LoTu oaSn'A-AS '0'1i
British minister at Washington, to his
mythical correspondent IN Caufornla, mas
created great sensation throughout the
United States and England and much
very much-has been written and said
upon tho subject. To keep the true facts
before its readers the DEMCozAT will re-
view them in brief.
On September 18th Lord Sackville-
West the British minister, while at his
summer homo at Beverly, Mass, re
ceived letter purporting to be from
Charles Murchison,a resident of Pomona,
Los Angeles county, California, who
claimed 20 be en- American citizen of Brit
ish extraction, asking him fo- advice
on how he native of England should
vote in The comi0g presidential election.
To this the British minister replied III
private letter sdvising Narchison to caat
his vote for Eresideat Cleveland, stating:
"The pRtty, however, j., | believe, still
desirous of main aiming friendly relations
with Great Britain, aud is still as desir-
Qua of settling all qr9s.ions with Canada
Il il, however, Impossible to
predict the course Which President Cteve-
land may pursue in the mater OF re ALA
tion should he b. elected, but there Is
every reason to believe that, while up
holding the position he has taken, he will
manifest a spirit Of c5ncili ltion in deal
81 Al
message"
Onc view Of tho matter is that Lord
Sackville wrote in all good faith
believing he was writing to an
honest inquirer and that his letter
would be kept a secret. Not so with the
other party-whotver he was. The letter
was published a few days since in the
Los Angeles Times and then the plot
was discovered and condemnation was
heaped layishly upon Lord t5ackyille from
all quarters and sources. 1t i3 perfectly
plain that ii was a scheme concocted by
republican bassos as 4 desperate effort to
ALLEVIATE tho Irish vote from Cleveland
ana turn ii over to Harrison. The most
rigid inquiry on the part OF Lord Sack
vile and others has proven that
no such person as Charles Murchison re-
sides in Los Angeles county California.
1t is charged at Los Angeles that Chas. |
i. Lummus formerly city editor of the |
Los Angeles Times, ths paper in which |
the letter first was published aud who i,
in Mexico, wrote tho letter and that |
Quay and other prominent republicans |
had known about it, While al Washing |
ton and other political centers il is |
openly charged that the plot was CON
oeiyed and executed by Chairman Qusy |
end james G.. Blaine, This seems plaus- |
liable as tho whole scheme was gotten up |
by the republicans tor political capital.
Another viow taken of Mr.. Vests mo
tiyes ia thai he is friendly to the republi- |
can party nnd prefers to zee it sucoessful |
in the coming election and sought to lend |
his innusnce TO that parry. The Wash
nRton Star states that there has never |
been any oordiality between Mr.. West aud |
the secretary of state, rnd that the presi-
dent has mover seen Mr.. West, except on
formal official occasions, nor has Mr.
Wost had any social relations with any
one connected with this administration
In important Official matters the depart
ment has dealt with other representatives
OF the Britiak government. The Star
also says MIR. West hag been friendly
to tho republican party - crtainly
socially and presumably politically.
There has been nothing in common
between him and anyone nonn ected with
this administration. lie has been given
no more thar the coidest formal recogni-
ttcn, and has been almoat ignored.
There is reason TO believe, especially
aince Mr.. CievelanG's retaliation message
that no regards Mr.. CIeveland's admins
tlation with groat antagouism. He is not
fool enough to have written that letter
ignoranty."
Whatever Mr. Vests motives we're,
whether he was q knowing and willing
tool or q mere dupe, acting ignorant of
same. England as well as Ame:ioa is in
oonsed, and feels that her good faith has
been outraged.
President Cleveland and Secretary Bay
ard, and the cabinet as we'll, took imme-
diato action in the matter and tho Eug-
lish government through Minister Phelps
was given 10 uuderstaud that q change
in her representative at Wash
iugton was desirable and
was due to the good will and diplom-
aoy OF both countries. Mr.. West will be
called home soon. That he is ruined
diplomatioally thsre can be no doubt
The English papers have scared him
numerically for his stupid
blunder, if buuder it was. As to
the eGsot politically it seems to be
the universal opinion, especially among
leading Irieh representatives, that there
will be ao votes changed by it, Mr.. West
claims TO feel very badly over
the occurrence aud iadeed he may.
Col. II. q. Otis editor of The
Los Angeles Times owns that he WAS in
the secret from tbs first, He did not
writs the lettor but knows who did and |
the name will be made public vhss the |
necessities require it. 1t is certainly to |
have thought it necessary to resort to
fraud to tho extent of involving England
in manner SO unpleasant to toth coun-