Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-11-01
SINGULAR CORRESPONDENCE.
The British Minister Answers an inquiry
Which Leads to Much Criticism.

WASHINGTON. Oct 9a-The following
letter has been published and is the cause
of considerable comment upon the action
Of Minister West:
BEvERLY, Mass, Sept. Is. 1SSs.-Sir: am IN
receipt of your letter OF the 4th instant and
beg to say that fully appreciate the dificuiy
which you ind yourself in casting your Vote-
You are probably aware that any political party
which openly favored the mother country at
the present moment would lose popularity ana
that the party in power is fully aware OF this
fact The party, however, is, believe, still
desirous Of maintaining friendly relations.
with Great Britain. and is still as deSirous OF
settling all questions with Canada which have
been unfortunately reopened since the retrac-
tion OF the treaty by the Republican majority
in the Senate and by the Presidents message,
TO which you allude. AL allowances must
therefore be made for the political situation as
regards the Presidential elso,ion thus created
1t is however, impossible II predict the course
which President Cleveland may pursue in the
matter OF retaliation should he be reelected;
but there is every reason TO believe that while
upholding the position he has taken. he will
manifest q spirit OF concilistion in dealing with
the question involved in his message. 1 tnclose
an article nom the New York Times OF August
2, and remain yours faithfully.
l. S. SACKvTLLE-WESr.
THE LITTER TO MINISTER WEST.
WASHINGTON, Oct 26.-The following is
the letter to Minister West which called
forth his much criticised reply.
To the British Minister, Washington, D. O.:
POMONA. Cal, Sept 4-Sir: The gravity OF
the political situation here and tho duties or
those voters who are OF English birth, but st:u
consider England the mother land. constitute
the apology I hereby offer for intruding for
information. Mr.. Cleveland's message 70
Congress on the fishery question justly ex-
cites our alarm and compels US to seek
further knowledge before finally casting our
votes for him as we had intended to do. Many
English citizens have for years refrained from
being naturalized, as they thought no good
would accrue from the act but Mr.. Cleveland's
administration has been so favorable and
friendly toward England. so kind in not en-
forcing the Retaliatory act passed by Congress,
so sound on the free trade question and so hos
tile to the dynamite school Of Ireland that by
the hundreds-yes, by the thousands-they have
become naturalized for the express purpose of
helping to elect him again, the one above all
American politicians they consider their own and
their country's best friend. am one OF these
unfortunates with right to vote for President
in November / am unable to understand for
whom / shall cast my ballot when but one
month ago I was sure Mr.. Cleveland was the
man. II Cleveland was pursuing new policy
toward Canada temporarily and for the sake of
obtaining popularity and continuation of his
office our years more, but intends to cease his
policy when his reelection is secured in
November, and again favor English interests,
then / should have no further doubts but go.
forward and vote for him. I know OF no one
better sble to direct me, sir, and I most re-
spectfuly ask your advice in the matter. I
will further add that the two men-Mr. Cleve-
land and Mr.. Harrison-are very evenly
matched and a few votes may elect either
one Mr.. Harrison is a high tariff man, a be-
lever on the American side OF all questions
and undoubtedly an enemy to British inter
ests generally. This State Is equally divided
between the parties and a mere handful OF
our naturalized countrymen can turn it either
way. When tit is remembered that a small
State (Colorado) defeated Mr.. Tilden in 1876
and elected HAYES, the Republican, the i'm
portance Of California Is ut once apparent to-
all. As you are at the fountain head Of knowl-
edge on the question and know whether Mr..
Clevelands present policy Is temporary only
and whether he will as soon as he secures an
other four years in the Presidency, suspend it
for one Of friendship and free trade, ap-
ply 10 you privately and conidentiaily for In
formation. which shall in turn be treated as en-
tirely secret Such information would put
me at rest myself, and if favorable to Mr..
Cleveland, enable me, on my own responsible
ty, to assure many Of our countrymen that they
would do England a service by voting for Cleve-
land and against the Republican system Of
tariff. AS before observed, We know what TO
do, but look for more light on a mysterious sub
ject which the sooner it comes will better serve
true Engshmen in casting their votes.
Very respectfully, --.
DISCUSSING THE LETTER.
WASHINGTON. Oct. 26.-Secretary BayaId
made the following statement yesterday in
regard to the letter Of Mr.. Murchison, of
California, to the British Minister, on the
subject of the pending Presidential cleo
tion, and the British Minister'S reply:
"Yes, Ihave read both letters. have not
seen the British Minister since he went TO
Europe last spring until he called on me
this morning at the Department of State.
Lord Sackville has no other or better
means of knowledge of the intentions of
the President than any other Of the 6j,-
000, 900 of American people. His personal
opinion is worth no more than that
of any one of them on the ground
of knowledge, and much less on the
ground of interest in the subject. While
there must be a consensus Of opinion as to
the impropriety of the expression Of indi-
vidual views by any one holding the posi-
tion Of a foreign envoy, iS is still to be
hoped that we will be able TO settle the is
sues involved in the pending canvass
without the importation OF foreign inter-
ference or intermeddling in our domestic
affairs. The American people will be
prompt to resent and repel as impertinent
any such attempts, but they will easily
recognize the political pitfall arranged by
the California letter with its object so
plainly stamped upon its face and ad-
dressed to the British Minister into which
he has so surprisingly tumbled. Such
petty schemes to break the fall of despair
ing politicians will be held in proper
estimation by popular intelligence"
Minister West was shown the interview
with Secretary Bayard last evening and
asked what he had to say about it. He said:
Nothing. don't care to criticise it. The
letter sent from California was undoubt-
edly written for the purpose Of entrapping
me. In a few days l expect to be in
position to make public the manner in
which the affair was planned and the
identity of the persons concerned in it.
The efforts which are being directed to
the discovery of the tricksters were insti-
gated by me and / think l shall succeed in
making every thing plain"
The letter is variously commented upon
and will probably be worked for all it is
politically worth. The New York Sun
calls upon Secretary Bayard to send Lord
his passports, and requests
the British Government to recall its Off
cious Minister. Mr.. Bsyard says, how
ever, that "Lord Sackville's letter was
evidently not intended for publication,
and could not be noticed by this Govern
ment."
Pickpoekcts Arrested.