The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-10-11
THE sACKNILLE-WEST AFFAIR
COMES TO THE FRONT

/
The country recollects very clearly the
incident of Mr.. Bayard, as Secretary Of
state in Mr. CleveIand's FIRST admlnistra-
ton, during the presidential contest IN
the fall of lSSs. requesting the British
Government TO recall its Minister 10 this
country. Sir Lionel Sackvillc-West. now
Lord Sackville. as persona non grata.
The cause of the request was the publ
cation of private letter written by Min
lister West, which made several trivial
comments upon the approaching presi-
dental election. 1t afterwards turned out
that the Minister had been made the vic
tim of a job. His own letter was IN
answer to forged letter written TO ia
veigle him into the expression Of some
such opinions There was a painful feel
ing at the time. amongst just and con-
servative men, that the English Minister
had been treated unfairly, and that a
very trivial incident had been magnifed
into one that would apparently destroy
this genileman's future. 1t should be
said, however, that although his Govern
ment recalled him it did not desert him.
and he is still in the diplomatic service
either on the active or the retired list
Lord Sackville has within the past few
days published a pamphlet IN England
of some ffty-hve pages entitled. "My
Mission TO the United States, 'Sl-'S9," and
labeled For Private Circulation ONLY"
There are only one hundred copies of IT,
which the author ha. sent 10 his friends.
The substance of this pamphlet has been
cabled to this country. and it makes
highly interesting reading, indeed.
When he came to this country Mr..
Arthur was President and Mr. Blaine
Secretary of State Mr.. Blaine received
him most cordially, but he soon found
out his thickness Speaking Of the APP
proach Of the presidential election IN
which Mr.. Blaine was the candidate of
the Republican party against Mr.. Cleve-
land, as candidate of the Democratic
party, he says:
1T was at that time that Mr.. Blaine
spoke to me in the most condemnatory
tones of the conduct of her Majesty
Government in dealing with the lrsh
question. They had created such hos
tile feeling in the United States that ne
felt convinced If the population was poll
ed. the result would be an almost unani-
nous expression of hatred toward Eng
land This language clearly indicated his
intention to trade upon this hostility to
England in order 10 gain the Irish vote
for his election
Lord Sackville will find no difficulty
in inducing Americans 10 believe eiat
Mr.. Blaine proposed TO resort TO tnis
course lie notes Alr Blaine's defea;
with not greatly rcpressed eXaltation.
and says ne looked hopefully to the new
Democratic administration and --r.
Ravard. The latter. he says, deprecated
to him "thc influence which the Irish
party had obtained in the constituent es,
and expressed himself as determined not
TO allow his action TO be dictated by
it," Lord Sackville then reviews at length
the negotiations over the Boring Sea
question. and asserts that neither Eng
land nor the Dominion could got Justice
because the Government dared not inter
fere with the Alaska Fur Company.
which corporation Vas rich and inhuen-
tlal in both houses Of Congress
This is a statement Ct tremendous IN
terest and importance TO the people of
the United States and when we recall
the way in which the Sugar Trust CON
trolled the Senate when the tariff bill
was before it. the average citizen has no
great difficulty in believing it.
Lord Sacky.lle quotes "a conversation
with Mr. Bayard, in which he made a
minute at the time. in which the latter
said. 1.-THE IRISH vote has now become
great factor in American politics, and he
might tel me that tie word British
rreCxed to any political or commercial
question was sufficient TO create enmity
towtrd England
We continue with the account Of this
pamphlet just rs it Is caolcd 10 this
county. Speaking Of Mr.. Cleveland
prior 10 his second nomination., nc says:
ct was necessary for him 20 show him
self more ant-Engi-sh than his oppo-
nents." lie then Quotes the Murchis1n
letter and his reply which ne refers -
as "incautious" both o. which. 10 his
amazement, were published in the New
York Tribune. organ of the Republican
party. on october p. 1855. He learned
from private sources that no such person
as Murchison existed.
The excitement over the Sackville Incl
dent as IL was called became farcical.
He was cericaturcd. He saw Mr. Gayard
four days before election. and the Sccre-
,ary cordially accepted my expression
Of regret at what had occurred. When,
however. | saw Mr.. BayGrj the follow
a h.. hn1
serious. Great interests depended upon
the re election of Mr.. Cleveland, and he