Democratic Sentinel, Volume 12, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 January 1889 — THE LOAVES AND FISHES [ARTICLE]

THE LOAVES AND FISHES

MURCHISON’S LETTER DICTATED BY A HIGH OFFICIAL IN CALIFORNIA. Lieutenant Governor Sheldon, of Loa Anreleii. Conceives the Seheme, and, Aoeoraing to Hon. Clarkson. Is Entitled to the Credit—How It. Was Done. [lndianapolis (Ind.) special. Col. Clarkson, of the National Republican Committee, when recently here, told Gen. Harrison tho true story of the Murchison letter, and it has just become public. According to Mr. Clarkson, the man who should get the loaves and flshos for tho Murchison stroke is Lieut. Gov. Sheldon, of Los Angelos, Cal. When Mr. Cleveland's fisheries message was made public tho thought occurred to Sheldon that the document’s effect could be neutralized by some sort of coup d’etat The scheme that first suggested itself to Sheldon was to wring from President Cleveland a confession that the message was absolute buncombe. “I believo I can demonstrate that the President has deliberately planned to speculate on tho affairs of the people. in a matter, too. where the gravest of apprehensions lie." said Sheldon to a friend after ho hail given tire subject some thought. Sheldon had so much confidence in tho gullibility of un Englishman that he believed Minister West would walk Into almost any sort of trap. Thoro are about Loa Angeles a number of Englishmen who belong to tho Society of St. George, a Britannic order which is supposed to preserve the spark of loyalty to the Queen wherever the subject may be. “Aro you acquainted with Minister West?" inquired Sheldon of a follow of St. George ono day. “I have such an acquaintance as a citizen, of a nation generally has with their statesmen. Why V” tho man replied. “I would like to obtain his candid views and some honest information about a mutter.” Sholdon responded. “I can write him a letter that will get an answer." said the Englishman. Sheldon then dictated tho subjoot matter of tho letter, leaving to the follow of St. Georgo to form tho sentenoes. The draft of a letter without signature was presently, given to Sheldon, who signed to It tho name* “Murchison” and directed how tho ouswer! should be mailed to him. The answer came surprisingly quick from Minister West. It must have been answered by tho return' mail. Sholdon held the letter for a duy or two until he could fully roullze his sucoess.i and then he sent conies of the letter to . tho Republican National Committee. The character of the letter wus such that the Na- f tional Committeo could hardly believe its eyes. Telegrams were sent to Los Angtelos to obtain suoh verification of the oopies os would establish the good faith of Sholdon, and Inquiries at Washington satisfied tho committee that the matter was not a “fake.” While the investigations were going on, Gen. Harrison was advised “to expootsomething good” in a day or two. This tullsmanlc message was understood when the Murchison letter appeared. As soon as the letters were given out Gen. Harrison' obtained the history of their writing, which has since been supplemented by u statement sent direct to the Presldont-eleotfrom Gov. Sheldon. In addition to the precaution as to secrecy which West had taken! in tho form of his lettor, ho hud written', over tho top ot tho 11 ret ptigo tho word “private." Neither West nor any other member of the Sooiety of St. Georgo dared make his defense public, because to charge that the West lettor was written to a member of the order would expose the* Minister to tho impeachment of being a liar—an exposure Sheldon could have clinched by coming boforo the public as tho author of the first and tho recipient of the second lettor. Thus whilo the Democrats had a good defense und Minister West an oxhoncrutlon, neithor was available. Sheldon had Innocently, perhaps, fencod In tlieir last avenue of escape by placing himself between West and the man who molded the form of Murchison's letter. It is pretty well understood that Sholdon maintained a discreet silence for partisan purposes and that the fellow-member of St. George's, for obvious reasons, kept his mouth shut. The conduct of President Cleveland in the episode—his hesitation at first, then his relentless rigor toward West—has been improperly uscribed to misconception on his part of the injury in the letter, which misconception, it has been claimed, was removed by telegrams to him from New York. Mr. Cleveland's conduct was entirely of hie own architecture. When tho letter was made public West explained to him in confidence that the letters were communications which the fellowship of a secret order licensed. Cleveland, perceiving that tho British Minister's mail might have been robbed or that ho might have otherwise been outrageously imposed upon, felt ns sorry for the Minister as he did for himself. Tho President thought that it was only fair that West should be given time to work out his defense. Both waited for the story of the letter to come out. but it did not come. After West had failed to produce evidence in his vindication the President had but one conclusion—that the Minister was a liar as well as a dunce, and that his account of how ho had written the letter was simply a knavish effort to impoßeupon the administration. When that conclusion was reached Minister West became “Mr.” West with a vengeance. When Cleveland had concluded that West was a liar Lord Salisbury, to whom the Minister had made his defense, retained faith in the protestations offered. The Premier, as well as West. Is a member of the Society of St. Georgo, and of course could see the force of the defense, which was,not open to Cleveland. .. -