Page:Cambridge Modern History Volume 7.djvu/693

1888-9] Harrison elected President. 661 as to whether the President was sincere in his retaliatory message on the fisheries question. In his reply Lord Sackville said : " You are probably aware that any political party which openly favoured the mother-country at the present moment would lose popularity, and that the party in power is fully aware of this fact. The party, however, is, I believe, still desirous of maintaining friendly relations with Great Britain.... All allowances must, therefore, be made for the political situation as regards the Presidential election thus created." The reply was marked "private," but this circumstance did not. lessen the commotion produced by its publication. It was regarded by the government of the United States as an unwarrantable interference in political affairs ; and the situation was aggravated by reports in the press of alleged statements made by Lord Sackville, the authenticity of at least some of which the ambassador afterwards denied. His recall was asked for on the ground that he had become persona non grata ; and, when Lord Salisbury refused to grant it, without opportunity for further investigation, the government of the United States declined to hold further intercourse with Lord Sackville and sent him his passports. The post of minister was permitted by Lord Salisbury to remain vacant till the incoming of the new Administration. It is obviously impossible to say what effect, if any, the Sackville incident had upon the results of the campaign. Whatever effect it may have had was probably adverse to President Cleveland. He was unlikely to gain any votes either by taking action in the matter, or by abstaining from it; while either course was sure to result in the alienation of a certain number. The Republicans, although their popular vote was somewhat less than that of the Democrats, won the Presidency and gained a small majority in both houses of Congress. But, in the House of Representatives, their majority was soon increased by members from four new States Washington, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota all of which, in the first election after their admission, were carried by the Republicans. President Harrison was duly inaugurated March 4, 1889 ; and one of the first subjects upon which he was required to act was a question of foreign affairs which had seriously disturbed the usual good under- standing between the United States and Germany, producing unfavourable impressions which were not easily effaced. Indeed, Prince Bismarck in his Memoirs couples the Samoan incident with those of Schnabele, Boulanger, and the Caroline Islands, as examples of his adherence to the policy of being "easily reconciled in case of friction or untoward events? even in spite of " some personal reluctance." The United States was the first Power to make a treaty with Samoa. The treaties of Germany and Great Britain with Samoa were concluded in the following year ; but the Germans outstripped the other Powers in trade and in planting. The increase of their commercial interests led to friction with the natives; and on December 31, 1885, the German Consul CH. XXI.