Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-11-08
WEST MUST GO.
The British Minister Notified That Ills
Room is Better Than His CoDpany-Sec-
retary Bayard's Letter.


retary Baysrd's Letter.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 3l--By direction OF
the President, the Secretary ofSiate yes
terday informed Lord Sackville that for
causes heretofore made known to her Ma
jesty's Government. his continuance in his
present official position in the United States
was no longer acceptable to this Govern
ment, and would consequently be detri-
mental to the relations between the two
countries. The grounds of this action on
the part of the United States are stated in
the following report of the Secretary OF
State to the President:
DEPARTMENT or STATE, WASHINGTON, Oct.
%, 1855 TO the President: The undersigned
has the honor to submit for your consideration
the following statement, with a view to receive
your direction thereon:
On September last letter purporting 70
be written by one Charles R Murchison. dated
ct Pomona Cal. was sent from that place 70
the British Minister at this capital, in which
the writer solicited IN expression OF his views
In regard TO certain unsettled diplomatic eues-
tons between the United States ard Great
Britain stating at the same time that such
an expression was sought by him for the
purpose Of determining his vote at the ap-
preaching Presidential election. 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 in this country. He fur
ther sta, ed that the information he sought was
not for himself alone, but to enable HIM TO give
certain assurance TO many other persons in the
same situation as himself, for the purpose OF
influencing and determining their political &C
ton as citizens OF the United States OF English
BIRTH but who still regarded their original obli-
H. hal Oft
also contained gross reflections upon the con-
duct OF this Government in respect to ques-
tons ROW IN controversy and unsettled between
the United States and Great Britain. and both
directly ard indirectly imputed insincerity in
such conduct.
To this letter the British Minister at once re-
piled from Beverley, Mass, under date Of Sep
TENDER 10 last. In this reply he stated that
"any political party which openly favors tie
mother country at the present moment would
lose popularity and that the party in power
is fully aware of that fact and that in re
spect to the questions with Canada which
have been unfortunately reopened since the
rejection of the Fisheries treaty by the Repuo-
lican majority III the Senate and by the Pres
ident's message to which you allude, allow
ances must therefore be made for the polit-
ical situation rs regards the Presidential cleo
ton" The Minister thus gave his assent and
above referred to. Thus under his correspond
ent's assurance OF secrecy. in which the Minis
ter concurred by marking his answer private y"
he undertook to advise a citizen OF the United
States how to exercise the franchise OF suffrage
IN an election close at hand for the Presidency
and presidency of the United States. and
through him, as the letter suggested, to intiu-
ence the votes Of many others
Upon this correspondence being made public,
the Minister received the representatives OF
of the public press and in frequent interviews
with them, intended for publication. added TO
the irnpugnments which he had already made
of the good faith of this Government in its
public action and international dealings. AL
though ample time and opportunity have been
afforded him for the disavowal, modification or
correction of his statements, to some OF which
his intention was called personally by the I'M
designed yet no such disavowal or modlfica-
ton has been made by him through the chan
nels in which his statements first found pub
licity.
The question is thus presented whether 1t Is
compatible with the dignity, security and indie
pendent sovereignty of the United States to
permit the representative Of a foreign govern
ment in this country not only TO receive and
answer without disapproval and confirm by his
repetition aspersions upon its political action,
but also to interfere in its domestic affairs by
advising persons formerly his countrymen as
TO their political course as citizens OF the
United States. AS between this coun-
try and Great Britain there can be no
controversy as to complete severance Of the
ties of original allegiance by naturalization
Disputes on this point were finally put ut rest
by the treaty of naturalization conc uded by
the two countries May IL, 1870 Therefore 1t
will not be contended, nor was such contention
ever admitted by us. that citizens OF the United
States of British origin are subject TO any claim
of the country of their original allegiance.
The undersigned also had the honor TO call
the attention to the provisions Of section 1888
of the revised statutes of the United States by
which severe penalties are visited upon citizens
OF the United States who. without the authority
or the permission OF this Government com
mences or carries on any verbal or written cor
respondence or intercourse with any foreign
Government, or any officer or agent thereof,
either with an intent to influence the action OF
such Government or its agents in relation
to and disputes or controversies with the
United States or with an intent to de-
feat the measures of the Government
OF the United States" These penal
ties are made equally applicable to every citt-
zen of the United States not duly authorized
who ''counsels. advises or assists in any such
correspondence" with similar unlawful intent.
The undersigned respectfully advises that the
attention of the Attorney General of the United
that an investigation may be made with view
| to ascertain whether they have not been vio-
| lated in the present case by the correspondent
OF the British Minister.
BY your direction the attention of the British
Government has, in a spirit OF comfy, been
called to the conduct of their Minister, as
| above described, but without result. 1t there.
| fore becomes necessary for this Government
| to consider whether as the guardian OF its
| own self-respect and the integrity Of its in
situations it will permit further intercourse 10
| be held through the present British Minister al
| this capital. 1t is TO be observed that pre-
| cedents ore not wanting as to the question
under consideration. II is a settled rule, es
sential to the maintenance Of international in
| tercourse that diplomatic representative must
| be persona ordtG to the Government to which he
| is accredited. II by his conduct he renders
| himself persona non grdtd an announcement
| of the fact may be made to his Government In
| the present case all the requirements of comfy
| have been fulfilled the facts having been duly
| communicated to her Majesty's Government
with an expression of the opinion Of this Gov
| eminent in regard thereto. Respectfully sub
mitted, T. F. BAYARD
Suspends Publication.
SEDALIA, No., Oct. 31.-The Sedalia
| Democrat suspended publication yester-
| day, and the Office is now in the hands of
its creditors. Mr.. Thompson, the business
manager, and Mr.. McGrath, the owner, are
in the city, and it is said that the friends
Of the paper will make arrangements to
| nov off tho craditorS-af least thOse who