Evening star., 1895-06-05
COMMENT ON 0LNEY
His Reluctance to Accept His
Present Position.
CRITICISM ON His APPOINTMENT
This Brought Him and the President
Closer Together.
FITNESS TO OSUCCEED GRESHAM

The almost universal comment heard on
the promotion Of Mr.. Olney, now accepted
as certain, is compretended in the scrip
tural phrase: ITO him that hath shall be
given; and to him that hath not shall be
taken, even that that ne hath"
Mr.. Olney's position in public life is
unique With talents of very high order,
and name in itself emitting him to con-
sideratlon, he had not, when called to the
Attorney Generalship, shown any desire
for office. He had come to distinction in
the practice of his profession at home. and
seemed content with that. He was dem
ocrat, and had assisted In the election of
Mr.. Cleveland to the presidency, but with
out the barest thought of profiting himself
by the result. So far, indeed, were his
thoughts from such thing that when in
vited TO become a member OF Mr.. Cleve-
lands cabinet he almost declined outright.
He certainly hestated His income was
large his business well ordered and to his
liking and he had grown into Boston and
Boston into him until separation, though
temporary. seemed impossible. There were
many aspirants for the Attorney General
ship. Democratic leaders of national repu-
tation had heir lightning rods up, hoping
to receive the shock of offsJ But Mr..
Geveisad ,ae kept sahnnss his EYE ste ssady the Bos
his services and finally succeeded. The
man who on personal grounds didn't want
the Office was chosen over twenty others
who,did
Early Criticism.
But 10 sooner was the selection an
nounced than criticism began in that quar-
ter of the democratic camp easily stirred
en- the subject of trus is. 1t was insisted
that as Mr. Olney lad long been the adj
wiser of certain aggregated eastern capital
ha pat he
eral. to execute the antitrust law with ag-
gressiveness ard thoroughness, and that,
therefore, his sppointr ent would be in vio-
lation Of the antitrust promises of the
party. This criticism followed Mr.. Olney
into office, and at one time he was rather
severely .tssailed The effect of 1t all. how
ever. was to bring the President and his
Attorney General the closer together, and
to inspire the President with a very much
higher regard for Mr.. Oney. The criti-
cism of enc became criticism of the other,
and the strong bond of brotherhood was
established.
Those who know Mr. Olney predict for
him agreeable occupancy of the State
Department. He will begin lis new duties
at the excellent advantage, first of under
standing them, and then of being in full
sympathy with tie administrations for
egn policy He vas often in consultation
with the President and Secretary Gresham
when questions of moment ard difficulty
were up, and in this way he has great
deal of valuable informant adjustable to
immediate uses. In temperament and per-
SERIAL address he will fully meet the ey-
actions of the office as the popular idea
conceives thom He has dignity, decision,
application. and he knows the law.
No Change of Policy.
Nobody locks for the slightest change in
the Administrators policy Things are ex-
pected to go on almost as If death had not
knocked at the departments door. Mr.
Oney is not politically ambitious, nor does
he confer much with politicians strictly
called. The idea is that he will address
himself solely to the task of keeping the
administrations record consistent and CO.
herent on the lines already adopted with
regard to foreign affairs, and to round up
the four years with the manifestation of
as little interest as possible in ques tions
outside the confines of the United States.
This one point is noted. VIII it increase
the New England opposition to the admin
istration's foreign policy to have a New
England man at the head of the State De-
partment? Mr.. Olney in the Attorney Cen
erals office consenting to certain acts was
one Individual Mr.. Olney as Secretary of
State extending the consequences of those
acts Will be another, and apparently a more
responsible individual. VIII Senators Frye
and Hale, Lodge and Hore, HawlsY and
Plat, and particularly Chandler, be aS1us-
ed by the change to more vigorous denun-
citation than they have heretofore indulged
INT