New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-11-20
THE SACEVTLLE INCIDENT.
MUICHTsoN's RELATED EXPLANATION RE-
CALLS THE CIRCUMSTANCES LEADING TO
THE BRITISH MINI TER'S DIS
MTSSAL, N 1888.

MISSAL IN ISSS.
Washington. Nov 10 lSpccIan.-It Is n cw'olS
thing that after the lapse Of more than four years
the man who has all this time been believed 10 he
the author Of the letter 10 Lord SackvlIe when got
the latter into such serious trouble, should now
come 10 tho front with the assertion that he never
wrote any letter whatever to the British Minister
at Washington In the early autumn Of 1883.
NJ y. Murchison is the man who has Just entered
n plea OF mot guilty I'm this famous case why
h" has not done 50 before Is by no means Clear
He alleges that the coupling Of bis name with that
OF Lord sackvillc has been the cause OF serions
embarrassment and annoyance 10 him, and yet Tor
four years he has constantly kept bis mouth shut
regarding the matter. The only suggestion he can
offer is that hts name was signed n the letter 10
the British Minister by accident or design, but ne
has no theory IN account FOR II. Murchlson denies
that he IN California and says that Ut the
time the letter was written he was on his farm In
Glcngnrry County, in The Province Of Ontario.
The mystery regarding Lord sachvlle's unknown
correspondent does not seem kcly to he cleared
up: but the publication Of Murchlsons statement
makes this an appropriate time for recalling the
circumstances connected with an Incident that at
tracted a deal Of attention In hc campaign OF
1855 Tho "sackvlls Incdent' has become historic.
In October OF that yenr n sensation was caused
throughout the country ny The publication o. a
letter written by Lord sscAvlllc on September 10
To one Murchlson In California. a total stranger to
hin who had represented himself ss naturaized
Enalishman. and had written 10 Che Minister asking
his advice as 10 the best course 10 BE- pursued IN
the pending election. In his reply 10 his unknown
correspondent Lord SackvlIe said:
You are probably aware that any political party
which openly favored the mother country at the
present moment would lose popularity. and that the
party In power + fully aware OF this fact. The
party. however Is believe sti DESTROYS OF main
tanning friendly relations with Great Britain. and Is
sun desirous Of settling Ali questions with Canada.
All allowances must. theretorc be made FOR
the political situation regards the Presidential
election thus created"
Tho publcnton q, THIS letter Instantly
followed by The demand In a number OF newspapers
I'm different parts Of the country that the indIscrec.
Minlst,~ should b. dismissed. Diplomatic CORE.
Spondence on the subec, followed and on october
30 Mr.. EayaTd tie Secretary Of state, by direction
q President Cleveland Informed Lord sncsvlnc that
for c1re heretofore made known 10 Her Majesty S
Government. ais continuance IN his present Orirlal
position IN o., United states l. no longer acceptable
detrimental 10 The relations between the Two
COuntr,>
In a public Statement, mndc al the time secretary
Bnyari said that the Minister'S original offence had
been aggravated by reason Of interviews which he
had svon 10 ,paper correspondents immediately
after the spoudruce between him and MurchsOn
was publl- ed. Mr. Bayard also said
In" question Is thus presented whether II Is
compatible With the dignity security and Independent
sentative OF foreign government In this country
not only receive and answer without diSapprovnl,
and confirm by his rrpcliulnr. a>p"r,iOns upon us
political action. but also 10 Interfere I'm it, domestic
affairs by advising persons formerly his countrymcn
to their political course as citizens OF the United
States
ncctlon With the matter II would seem that trap
VAS laid for the uususpeciine minister