Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 November 1888 — ENGLAND FOR CLEVELAND. [ARTICLE]

ENGLAND FOR CLEVELAND.

Minister West Caught in a Trap and Endorses Cleveland—Corr. spondence Whl. h 4 xplalns Itself. v “Pomona. Cal., Sept,4.—To the British Minister, Washington, D. C. —Sir: The gravity of the political situation here and the duties of those voters who are ot English birth but still consider England the mother land constitute, the apology I hereby offer for intruding for information. “Mr. Cleveland’s message to Congress on the fishery question justly excites our alarm and compels us tq seek further knowledge before finally casting our him as we had intended to do; Many English citizens have lor years refrained from being naturalized, as they thought no gobd would accrue from the act, but Mr Cleveland’s administration has been so favorable and friendly toward England, so kind in not enforcing the retaliatory act passed by Congress, so sound on the free trade question, and so hostile to the dynamite school of Ireland, that by the hundreds—yes, by the thousands they have become naturalized for the express purpose of helping to elect him over again. The one above all of American politicians they consider their own and their countries’ best friend. “I am one of these unfortunates with a right to vote for President in November. I am unable to understand for whom I shall cast my ballot, when but one month ago I wassUre Mr. Cleveland was the man. If Cleveland was pur suing a new policy toward Canada temporarily only and for the sake of obtaining popularity and continuation of his office four years more, but intends to cease his policy when his re-election is secured in November and again favor England’s interest, then I should have no further doubts, but go forward and vote for him. “I know of no one better able to direct me, sir, and I most respectfully ask your advice in the matter. I will further add that the two men, Mr. Cleveland and Mr. Harrison, are very evenly matched and a few votes may elect either one. Mr. Harrison is a high-tariff man. a believer on the American side of all questions and undoubtedly an enemy to British interests generally. This State is equally divided between the parties, and a mere handful of our naturalized countrymen can turn it either way. When it is remembered that a small State (Colorado) defeated Mr. Tilden in 1876 and elected Mr. Hayes, the Republican, the importance of California is at once apparent to all. “As you are at the fountain-head of knowledge on the question, and know whether Mr Cleveland’s present policy is temporary only, and whether he will as soon as he secures another term of four years in the presidency, suspend it for one of friendship and free trade. I apply to you prjvately and confidentially for information which shall in turn be treated as entirely secret. Such information would put me at rest myself and favorable to Mr. Cleveland enable me on my own responsibility, to assure many of our countrymen that they would do England a service by voting for Cleveland and against the Republican system of tariff. As I before observed, we know not what to do but look for more light on a mysterious subject, which the sooner it comes will better serve true Englishmen in casting their votes. Yours, very respectfully, To this letter Minister West replied as ■follows:

(Private.) Beverly, Mass., Sept. 13,1888. Sir—l am in receipt of your letter of the 4th inst., and beg to say that I fully appreciate the difficulty in which you find yourself in casting your vote. You are probably aware that any politicalparty which openly favored the mother country at the present moment would lose popularity, and that the party in power is full aware of this fact. The party, however, is, 1 believe,still desirous of maintaining friendly relations with Great Britain, and is still as desirous of settling all questions with Canada, which have been unfortunately reopened since the retraction of the treaty by the Republican majority in the Senate, and by the President’s message, to which you allude. All allowances must, therefore, be made for the political situatiofTks regards the Presidential election thus created. It is, however, impossible to 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 upholding the position he has taken, he will manifest a spirit of conciliation in dealing with the question involved in his message. I inclose an article from “The New York Times” of August 22, and remain, - Yours faithfully.

L. S. SAUKVILLE. WET.