The incident is a painful one, as revealing the subservience
of American politicians to the Irish vote ; but it is an incident of municipal, not of international history. Lord Sackville was undoubtedly indiscreet, and much must be pardoned to a foreign Government charged in the very crisis of an election with subservience to the one Power of which that democracy is jealous. It is difficult to bring conviction home to immense masses of voters by anything but dramatic display ; and Mr. Bayard's action, though discourteous in its abruptness, should be regarded as a grand advertisement, illuminated with lime- light, telling all Americans that the Democrat firm has no connection with the British establishment. That may be very vulgar ; but as it is quite true, there is no necessity to do more than regret it, and pass on. It would be absurd to quarrel with the Union in defence of Lord Sackville's folly in believing that a political letter could, in America, be private ; and short of quarrelling there is nothing to be done. The election depends this time so much upon New York, that it is difficult to decide how the incident will affect it ; but we should fancy that most of the voters feel in their hearts that the whole dispute has been exaggerated by both American parties for a dramatic purpose. The Herald, the usual Democrat mouthpiece, says so, and so does the in- dependent Evening Post.
