The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-28

when peace was restored it was through
the good Offices of the American Min
listers in China and Japan, act
ing under Mr.. Gresham's instruc-
tlons, that the peace negotiations
were initiated. All this was done in a
manner that made clear to the world that
the United States was acting absolutely
without self-interest and from motives of
humanity, notwithstanding the tempta-
tons held out by some of the great Euro
pean powers to act jointly with them from
less worthy motives than might have
brought self return.
And while he was doing this Secretary
Gresham was also using his good Offices to
prevent war between Mexico and Guate
mala, both full of fighting and difficult OF
restraint, and in this he succeeded COM
pletely, although he was obliged to use
very strong representations to do so.
While the amount of money involved
was Insignificant in the case of the claims
of the United States citizens against
Venezuela, Secretary Gresham managed
through joint commission to secure
Judicial enunciation of a doctrine that is
OF the greatest Importance to the civilized
world, namely, that the Government OF
that country is responsible for the abuse
or i'll treatment, for financial redress of
foreigners, committed by insurgents.
But the Americanism of the Secretary
was shown in its brightest light in three
incidents that occurred during his admin
istration, and the fact that in two of the
three he had to contend with great powers
indicates that he made no distinction
her, fhat - al
own country The first of these
cases, while attracting little attention
at the time, was really of great
importance, for it amounted to a de-
claration to Europe that the United States
would not permit private claims to be col
lected from American republics where our
citizens had pecuniary interests. This was
the case at San Domingo, when the French
warship, which had come there to enforce
the collection of private claim, was with
drawn after a very strong hint from Secre-
tary Gresham, conveyed through Embas-
sador Eustis, that the United States would
regard such a course as an unfriendly
manifestation.
Again in Bluefelds, when the British
marines occupied the bluffs they were
promptly withdrawn when Secretary
Gresham called upon Great Britain for an
explanation of their landing and securing
disclaimer of any wrong purpose.
And again, when the Spanish Govern
ment undertook to stop an American
steamer by cannon shot, Mr.. Gresham
called for and secured a very prompt
apology.
Almost the last official act done before
he fell MORALLY i'll was to open CORE
spondence with France intended to secure
justice for ex-United States Consul Waller,
whom he believed to have been i'll treated
by the summary French court-martial in
Madagascar and in whose interest he mott
fed ambassador Eustis to interfere.
The Secretary was a hard worker. He
was thorough in all things and insisted
upon reading up every aspect of a case
which came before him. This involved
long hours in study and it is now clear
that Secretary Gresham was brought to
his last illness by the great exertions he
was obliged to put forth to discharge his
official duties to his own satisfaction.
During his career on the bench Judge
Gresham heard and decided many note
worthy cases. His greatest decision was
in the Wabash case, when he went be-
meath technicalities and placed all the
lines of the system under receiver, thus
giving Jay Gould direct blow.
Mr.. Gresham was devoted to his wife and
children. This side of his life the pu bic
knew nothing of, but it furnishes the best
key to his nature and character.