THE GROWTH OF CANADA 283 



chief issue between the parties, and committed 

 the Democrats to the policy of abolishing the 

 protective system. The Republicans, adopt 

 ing formally the defence of protection, strove 

 with energy and much success to attach to 

 their adversaries the odium of devotion to 

 &quot;British free trade.&quot; It was freely asserted 

 that English manufacturers were actively as 

 sisting the Democrats. By a trick that any 

 thing above infantile sagacity would have 

 detected, the British minister at Washington, 

 Sir L. S. Sackville West, was actually induced 

 to write a letter to an unknown correspondent 

 advising him to vote the Democratic ticket as 

 the most advantageous to British interests. 

 At the climax of the campaign the letter was 

 published and was hailed by the Republicans 

 as conclusive proof of their allegations concern 

 ing the relations of the English with the Demo 

 crats. President Cleveland demanded the re 

 call of Sackville West. Lord Salisbury refused. 

 Thereupon the minister received his passports, 

 and his post was left vacant for many months 

 by his government. The Republicans, mean 

 while, triumphed in the elections, and under the 

 presidency of Mr. Harrison entered upon a 

 policy of extreme and aggressive protectionism 



