The evening times., 1895-10-24

The probable retirement OF Secretary
Olney from the Cabinet continues to be an
absorbing topic of discussion in official
circles. The story of differences of opinion
regarding foreign policy that have arisen
Del ween the President and his Secretary of
| state, as told exclusively in The Times,
| is accepted with practical unanimity as q
| conservative statement Of the situation.
There has never been any question but
| that the views OF Secretary Olney re-
| garding the attitude To be assumed by the
| United States in regard to the pending
| boundary dispute BET Great Britain
| and Venezuela have widely differed from
| those held by the President.
| The latter has from The first insisted
| that tue Venezuelan question should be
handled by the State Department. ON pre-
c.seiy the same IIies as was the coutro-
versy between England and Nicaragua.
which resulted in the occupation or Corinto.
TOOK A CONTRARY COURSE.
But this suggestion has not in any sense
been carried into effect. An aggressive
policy has on the contrary been inaugural-
ell, from which the United States must
eventually rccedc or prepare to meet
force with force. This phase OF the con-
tingcncy, 1t now appears, was never con-
teDIpi;lted by the president, ana in tins
particular Respect tue Secretary of state
has acted upon his own responsibility.
Those few i'll Official circles who insist
that tie relations betw cen Mr. Cleveland
and Air. Omcy are or the most pleasant
and harmonious character certainly do
not vatoh the shadows that inuIcate conf-
ing events.
They seem to ignore the statement
which is in every ones mouth that The
TWO chief officials of the Government had
" hat is alleged to have been a prolonged
and heated conference in the Executive
Mansion last Monday.
From this consultation, 1t is declared.
Secretary Olncy emerged with his lace
flushed with anger, his teeth clinched. beads
of perspiration standing on lis forehead,
and giving every outward indication OF
laboring under great mental excitement.
1t reminded the few casual spectators
OF Those good old days preceding the res
ignation uf James G. Blaine, when he left
the presence OF President Harrison with
his face ashen, his hands shaking with
nervousness and banging his silk hat against
the wall as he passed down stairs.
LEFT IN A HURRY.
AT the very moment Mr.. Olney left the
Executive Mansion the final arrangements
for the visit of the 7 resident and his Cabi
net TO Atlanta were being completed, and
the impression prevailed that the Secre-
tary of State would remain in the city as [.
the only representative of the Government. /
Instead of this he hastily collected n few /!
personal effects necessary for journey !
and the same evening took a train for I
Boston. This incident might be construed /
TO Indicate harmony and friendly personal
rela aions. but the average observer would |
interpret 1t as family row OF very re- {
spectacle dimensions.
Since the entrance of Secretary O!ney into
public life there has never been a shadow
of doubt but that he possesses in an equal
degree with Mr.. Cleveland firmness, strength
OF character. the courage of his convictions
and stability of backbone. He even rep
resents in a greater degree than the Presi-
lent that principle of Americanism which
made Mr. Blaine the most popular man of
his time.
Should Mr.. Olney be forced to retire from
he Cabinet because OF advocating a vigor
pus foreign policy, defending the Monroe
doctrine and protecting the property in
crests of American citizens abroad, he
would SO cDdear himself to the public as to
become prominent candidate before the
fcxt national convention OF the Democratic
,arty. Mr.. Olney's ideas of diplomacy are
popular with the masses