The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-05-31

OF the cabinet he was forming Judge
Gresham assumed the duties of secretary
of state on March 7, 1898.
Near the close of Arthur's term, on the
death of Secretary Folger, he was ap.
pointed secretary OF the treasury, posi-.
ton he held until October, 1884. Presl.
dent Arthur, who had taken him from the
bench, had the satisfaction of restoring
him to the bench at the close of his sery.
Ice by appointing him TO succeed Judge
Drummond. In 1888 Judge Gresham was
made prominent candidate for the Re-
publican nomination for the presidency at
the Chicago convention. His liberal views
on the tariff created against him the an
tagonism of the extreme protectionists at
Chicago.
During his short term as postmaster
general Gresham accomplished much
Letter postage TO Canada was reduced
and the postal convention with Mexico
was signed. Another important service
he rendered to the country was the re-
establishment of the fast mails. As sec.
rotary of state in the present administra-
ton Gresham had come to deal with per-
haps more vexatious, intricate and deli
cate diplomatic affairs than had fallen to
the share of most secretaries of state. His
treatment OF these was marked by the
strong individuality which was part of
the man.
Perhaps from his long judicial expert
ence he was disposed to view every ques-
ton from the standpoint of exact and
equal Justice. To him it made little diff
ference how any line of action promised
to affect his own country; he could and
did disabuse his mind of any personal
feeling in dealing with an internationa al
question, and the first consideration with
him was always absolute fairness; If his
own country occupied a false position in
the matter he thought 1t was his duty to
set 1t right, even at a sacrifice of material
interests as it might appear at the time.
Secretary Gresham found much to dis
satisfy him with the state of our foreign
relations when he assumed Office the last
time, and in his characteristic fashion he
set to work to shape these to meet his own
ideas without delay Such course was
certain to subject him to bitter criticism,
and he fully realized this in advance, but
was in no respect deferred from doing
what he thought was right. This brought
him face to face with the great question
of the hour at that time, the annexation
of Hawaii.
He had decided views upon this matter
even before he came into tho cabinet and
1t was upon his recommendation that
Cleveland performed almost his first Of
fetal action by withdrawing from the
senate, where it was pending, the annex
alton treaty negotiated by Secretary Fos-
ter Then Blount was sent to the Island
Republic to make an original investiga-
ton. and upon his report the secretary
made his now celebrated recommendation
that the queen be restored, inasmuch as
she had been deposed by the action of the
officers of the United States.
When congress finally made known its
views the secretary accepted them for his
government but it cannot be discovered
from any subsequent utterance of his
that he ever changed his view as origin
ally announced as to the justice of the
action he had proposed. While he was
deep in the Hawaiian negotiations Gresh-
am was obliged suddenly to give imme-
diate attention to tho Boring sea seal
fisheries. The arbitration arranged by
his predecessor was in full swing. Here
was another matter with which he was
not In harmony.
He did not believe that the arbitration
would be successful in the object aimed
az Ny WIG OniVeu oua1es-naneiy, 1ne pro-
lection of the seals; but regardless of the
outcome he was forced to bring the Brit
ish government to renewal of the modus
vivendi or quick action to carry out the
award when it was announced, in order
to guard against the humiliation of the
seals. The British were unwilling to do
the first of these things, and it was only
by an exhibition of all of the strength of
his character that he succeeded in hurry
ing through the British parliament an act
to give effect to the arbitration and then
securing the adoption of regulations to
keep off the poachers.