New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-26
4 BRITISH ELECTION AGENT.

The British Minister'S offence is aggravated
by the text Of the letter to which he replied
Demoralized Democratic journals affect to re-
| gard it as decoy letter. That would mako nc
difference as to the act Of the British Minister
but the text Of the letter, reprinted on another
page, shows this to lie untrue since it bears
evidence Of good faith The author states the
case with refreshing candor. As naturaized
American of English birth he had been drawn
toward the President because the Administra-
ton had been so favorable and friendly" to
the mother country, and was so sound On the
free-trade question: Before the Retaliation
Message was sent to Congress he and other
naturalized English Americans had decided to
vote for him as " the one above all of American
politicians they considered their own and their
countrys best friend" What he desired was
the British Minister'S opinion respecting the
sincerity Of the Administration In making a
sudden flourish of the retaliation menace !;
whether "Mr. Cleveland's present policy IS
temporary only,n and whether he would be
likely, if elected, "to suspend 1t for one Of
friendship and free trade" II he could be
convinced on this point he would not only him.
would also "assure many Of our countrymen
that they would do England service by voting
for Cleveland and against the Republican sys-
tenn of tariff
Lord Sackville, in his reply went straight
10 the point. He reminded his correspondent
that the party in power was aware that it would
incur the odium of unpopulanty If it. should
openly favor England at the present moment,
and that allowances must be made for the
political situation. He then expressed his per-
sonal belief that the Administration was still
as DESTROYS of settling all questions with Can
ada" and that the President, If reelected,
would manifest spirit Of Cancellation in deal
ing with the question involved in his message"
The British Minister evidently sought to re-
assure this English American citizen and to
secure a vote for Cleveland. Not one vote
only but many, for his correspondent had
promised to make use Of his reply in influencing
the Judgment of other naturalized citizens Of
English birth It was On its face direct at
tempt on the part Of a representative Of for
eign court to interfere in On American political
contest
Secretary Bayard is reported in the Wash
ington dispatches as declining to take any
notice of the British Minister'S indiscretOn.
Apparently he underestimate the gravity of
the offence. If he will consult the admirable
digest of international law compiled by the
legal counsel Of his own Department, Mr.
Wharton, he will find that his predecessors
have uniformly enjoined upon American diplo-
matte agents abroad the necessity for Austen
a., cf.;e Mr
Buchanan, when Secretary of State, wrote to
Mr.. Shields: 1.-THE plain duty of the diplo-
matte agents of the United States Is scrnpu-
lousy to abstain from interfering in the do
mestic politics Of the countries where they re-
side. BY taking any open part in the domestic
affairs Of such aforeign country they must soon
er or later render themselves obnoxious to the
Executive authority, which cannot fail to impair
their influence" Indeed Secretary Bayard
himself Endorsed this view when in the printed
instructions issued in 1885 he declared: cit
is forbidden to diplomatic agents abroad TO
participate in any manner in the political con-
Germs of the country Of their residence; and
they are directed especially to refrain from
public expression Of opinions upon local po-
ltical or other questions arising within their
jurisdiction" That is good law for American
diplomatists abroad. VIII the Secretary say
that it is not good law for British diplomatist
in the United States?
Then there is another point. Secretary
Bayard will ascertain if he searches the archives
Of his Department that in 1910 Mr.. Jackson
he British Minister, was recalled at the re-
quest of President Madison, because he had |
accused leading officials connected with the
State Department Of falsehood, duplicity and |
conduct. In the light of this
precedent, what has Secretary Bayard to say
Lord Sackville's letter? 1t contains
a plain intimation that the rejection of the
treaty and the Presidents reversal Of his fish
cries policy were designed for political effect;
that the Retaliation Message was pure bun
combe and that the Administration in reality
had not swerved from its pro-Brtish policy
This is an affront to the Senate and to the
Administration. The British Minister ought to
have kept out of American politics.