The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-10-10

LOS ANGELES, Cal, Oct. 9-The pub
LEGATION by Lord Sackville West of
pamphlet in which he sets forth his de-
Tense and explanation Of letter written
by him during the presidential campaign
of 1883, in answer to a letter from an
alleged Englishman, residing at Pomona,
Cal, asking his advice as to the proper
channel in which 10 cast his vote, has
revived in the public memory The story
Of how the "N1urchison letter" was writ
ten and published, and how it brought a
reply that convulsed the country, startled
Europe and flashed its way around the
civilized globe. The letter, which was
first made public by the Los Angeles
Times was dated Pomona, Cal Septem-
Der 4, 1888. was addressed to "the British
minister at Washington, d. c." and was
signed Charles F. Murchison." The
writer stated that "the gravity Of the
political situation and the duties of tn
voters who are of English birth and who
consider England the mother country,
was the reason Tor intruding for informa-
ton" Mr.. Cleveland's message to con-
gress on the fishery question was men
toned as exciting alarm which compelled
the writer aud others to seek further
knowledge before casting their votes for
him. The writer also said that many
English citizens had for years Tefrdinsd
from being naturalZed but M - w.
lands administration had been so favor
able and friendly toward England tno [
thousands mad become naturaliZed for the
purpose of electing him over again. He
continued by saying that if Mr.. Cleve-
land was pursuing new policy toward
Canada temporarily only and for the
continuation of his office four years more,
and intended to cease his policy when his
reelection was secured, and again favcr
Englands interests. he. would then have
no further doubts and would vote for
MIN. The object of the writer was TO
ascertain through the agency of an UNI
official letter direct from the British min
lister the real attitude of the British gov
eminent toward the two great political
parties in the United States, to elicit Il
response which when made public should
authoritativeIy settle the disputed CUES
ton as TO where the sympathy of tine
government and people lay in the cleo
toral conflict then impending.
'Murchison' stated in his letter to
Lord SackVill2 that he desired the min
ister's advice on the subject of voting
not only for the benefit of himself, but
for the information Of others.
Lord Sacnville's reply was dated Bey-
erly, Mass, September u, 1889, and is as
Il fully appreciate the difficulty in
which you find Youself in casting youl
vote. You are probably aware that any
mother country at the present moment
would lose popularity and that the party
in power is fully aware of this fact. That
party, however, is, 1 believe, still desi-
rous of maintaining friendly relations
with Great Britain and is still DESTROYS
of settling all the questions with Canada
which have been unfortunately reOpened
since the rejection of the treaty by the
Republican majority in the senate, ara
the presidents message to which you al
lude. All allowance must therefore be
made for the political situation as re-
CARDS the presidential election thus ere
ated. 1t is, however. plainly impossible
10 predict the course which president
Cleveland may pursue in the matter OF
retaliation should he be elected but there
is every reason to believe that while up
holding the position he has taken, he
would manifest Il spirit of Cancellation il
dealing with the question involved IN hi:
(SigneO L. S. sACKVlLLE WEST.
The identity of Murchison was no
made public until January II, 1889
was then made known that his real name
was George Csgoodby, a well-to-do an
reputable citizen of Pomona, who was o
| Scotch-English parentage, but was born
| in the United States
! The letter sent to PreSident-elect Har
rison by Harrison Gray Otis and Judg
| w. F. Fitzgerald was simply an eXhaus
| tive history of how the famous lette
! came to he written, and was sent hin
! in the interest of historic truth.