Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-11-02
A BIRTHS h Lord Comes to Grief
FROM A FAILURE TO OBSERVE THE MON
ROE DOCTRINE.

A BIRTHS h Lord Comes to Grief
FROM A FAILURE To OBSERVE THE MON
ROE DOCTRINE.
The exciting topic Of the times has
been, the past few days. letter writ
ten to the British Minister at Wash
ington, from Pomona, California
signed "Charles F. Murchison," in
which the opinion Of the foreign rep
resentative is asked on certain diplo-
matte questions now existing between
the two countries, as affected by the
pending political canvas. The writer
of the letter claims to be naturalized
citizen Of the United States of English
birth, still entertaining warm SYM
pathy for the mother country. So ap-
parent is the fact, that the letter was
simply decoy written in the interest
of the Republican party, upon the as
sumption that the British Minister
might possibly fall into the trap, and
SO ingeniously worded are the ques-
tons submitted as to almost preclude
any other reply than that which the
querist evidently sought, that it is a
surprise diplomat of forty years
experience should not have detected
at once its spurious character. But
he did not, and under the correspond
ent's assurance, that his reply would
be treated as strictly confidential, he
unbosoms himself. In his reply dated
Beverly, Mass, September 14th, six
weeks ago it will be observed, he wrote
ANY political party which openly favored
the mother country at the present moment
would lose popularity. and the party power il
fully aware of this fact
And that in respect to the questions
with Canada, which have been unfortunately
opened since the rejection OF the treaty by the
Republican majority in the Senate, and by the
Presidents message 70 which you allude. all al
lowances must be made for the political situa
The Republican campaigners have
eagerly seized upon this private ex-
preston OF opinion of the British rep
resentative as a means of influencing
the Irish vote in the coming contest.
In fact the whole plan was evidently
concocted for that purpose, its success
being of course, only dependent upon
whether the British Minister was prop.
erly loaded, and if so whether he could
be touched off at the proper moment.
1t seems they did not count in this
instance their host. Lord Sackville
Immediately wrote 10 his distressed
compatriot and wrote just az the quer.
les indicated he was expected to write,
and the letter and reply were immed-
lately forwarded to the disappointed
statesman, Mr.. Blaine, to fire them of
at an Irish-American meeting, last
week, to complete the plot.
There is, however, an element in
this carefully planned scheme, that i,
wholly wanting, and that is wooden
men to be Influenced by it. Irishmer
do not have much cause for love of the
mother country and their hatred o.
anything English is justified by the ty
ranny expressions they have endured
but the shrewdness OF Irish character
will detect the cheat that is being I'M
posed upon them, and they will lei
the Sackville letter pass for just wha
it is worth, the expression of one wri
ting in his individual capacity, his Owl
opinion of current events. If this in
sident has any other effect i will be t.
excite contempt for its originators
aiders and abettors, that will form {
veritable boomerang in the hands o
the unskilled manipulation, resultin.
in wounds to the thrower.
The Secretary of State last Tuesday
by direction Of the President, informed
Lord Sackville that for causes hereto
fore made known 10 Her Majesty
government, continuance in his pre-
cent official position in the United
States is no longer acceptable to thil
government, and would consequently
be detrimental to the relations be
tween the two countries. This actor
will be applauded by every true Amer
lean. A diplomat who go far forgetl
the dignity of his position as to write
private letters on public matters, and
one whose apparent imbecility makes
him the ready dupe Of designing poll
ticians, is q not a fit representative o
first-class power, and none Others
should be received or tolerated At the
national capital.