Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1888-11-01
SACKVILLE MUST GO.
The British Minister at Washington
Requested to Leave.
A NATIONAL SENSATION.
The EngIishman Completely Nonplussed
by the Presidents Action-How the
News Was Received In Canada.
Sir John Macdonald.

stirred up as it has not been in years 1t is
rare event for a foreign minister TO be re-
quested to leave his post in such abrupt and
unmistakable language as was addressed to
Lord Sackville by President Clevelands di-
rection. The action of the president has Gre
ated a great sensation, and it is safe to say
that not man in the United States was so
thoroughly surprised as was he who received
the communication from the state depart
ment. Lord Sackville was utterly dunn
founded, and has not yet recovered his equa-
nimity.
The newspaper offices have been crowded
ever since the news got out, and everybody
asks the same question: "Well, how viii this
affect the political situation!" and the ques-
tion is always answered according to the po-
litical bias of the person addressed.
Secretary Bayard's letter to the president
concerning the matter was as follows:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, Oct. -, 1888. (
i To the President:
The undersigned has the honor to submit for
/ your consideration the following statement, with
1 q view TO receive your direction thereon:
! On the 4th of September last letter purport-
/ ing to be written by one Charles F. Murchison
| dated at Pomona, Cal, sent from that place
TO the British minister at this capital, in which
the writer solicited an expression of his views in
regard to certain unsettled diplomatic questions
| letween the United States and Great Britain,
stating at the same time that such an exi@A ssion
was sought by him for the purpose of determin-
ing his vote at the approaching presidential elec-
ton He stated that he was a naturalized citizen
of the United States of English birth but that he
still considered England the mother country, and
this fact led him to seek advice from the British
representative I'm this country. He further stated
that the information he sought was not for him.
! sci nj buf m 10 civ NH,
assurances TO many other persons in the same
situation as himself, for the purpose of influence
ing and determining their political action rs citi-
zens of the United States of English BIRTH but
who still regarded their original obligations of
allegiance as paramount. The letter also con-
tanned gross reflections upon the conduct of this
government in respect to questions now in con-
troyersy and unsettled between the United States
and Great Britain, and both directly and indi-
rectly imputed insincerity in such conduct.
To this letter the British minister at once re-
piled from Beverly Mass, under date of the 18th
of September last. In this reply he stated that
"any political party which openly favors the
mother country at the present moment would
lose popularity, and that the party in .power is
fully aware of that fact" and that in respect to
the questions with Canada which have been un-
/ fortunately reopened since the rejection of the
| d1sheries) treaty by the Republican majority in
the senate and by the presidents message, to
which you alude," 'all allowances must there
fore be made for the political situation regards
the presidential election" The minister thus
gave his assent and sanction to the aspersions
and imputations above referred to.
! Thus, under his correspondents assurance of
secrecy, in which the minister concurTed by
marking his answer private he undertook to
advise citizen of the United States how to ex-
ercise the franchise of suffrage in an election
close at hand for the presidency and vice presi-
/ dency of the United States, and through him. as
the letter suggested, to influence the votes of
many Others
Upon this correspondence being made public
the minister received the representatives of the
public press and in frequent interviews with
them, intended for publication, added the inn
pugnments which he had already made of the
good faith OF this government in its public action
and international dealings. Although ample
time and opportunity have been afforded him for
the disavowal, modification or correction of his
statements, to some of which his attention was
called personally by the undersigned, yet no such
disavowal or modification has been made by him
/ through the channels in which his statements
first found publicity.
! The question Is thus presented whether IL is
compatible with the dignity, security and inde-
| pendent sovereignty of the United States to per-
init the representative of a foreign government
IN this country not only to receive and answer
without diSapproval, aud confirm by his repeti-
ton aspersions upon its political action, but also
TO interfere in its domestic affairs by advising
/ No.
ltical course as citizens of the United States.
AS between this country and Great Britain
there can be no controversy as to the complete
severance of the ties of original allegiance bv
naturalization. Disputes on this point were
finally put at rest by the treaty of naturalization
concluded by the two countries on the 18th of
May, 1870. Therefore it will not be commended
nor was such contention ever admitted by MS
that citizens of the United States of British origin
are subject to any claim of the country of their
original allegiance.
The undersigned also has the honor to call at
tention to the provisions of Section 5335 of the
/ Revised Statutes of the United States by which
severe penalties are visited upon the citizen of
/ the United States who, without the authority or
| permission of this government, commences or
carries on any verbal or written correspondence
or intercourse with any foreign government or
any officer or agent thereof, either with an in
tent to influence the action of such government
or its agents in relation to any disputes or con-
| troversies with the United States or with an in
tent ITO defeat the measures of the government
Of the United States" These penalties are made
equally applicable to every citizen of the United
States not duly authorized who s-counsels adj
vises or assists in any such correspondence
with similar unlawful intent. The undersigned
respectfully advises that the attention of the ar
torney general of the United States be directed To
these enactments in order that an investigation
may oe made with view to ascertain whether
| they have not been violated in the present case
| BY the correspondent of the British minister.
I BY your direction the attention OF the British
government has in a spirit of comfy. been called
10 the conduct of its minister as above described
but without result 1t therefore becomes neces-
bsaTy for this government to consider whether. as
the guardian Of its own self respect and Of the
integrity of its institutions it win permit further
intercourse to be held through the present British
minister at this capital 1t is to be observed that
precedenfs are not wanting as to the questions
under consideration. 1t is q settled rule essen,
- - the maintenance Of international sna-a.-