The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-05-28

I
trust. AS secretary Of state in the
present administration. Mr.. Gresham
has had to deal with, perhaps, more
vexatious affairs than have fallen to
the share of most secretaries.
The first consideration with him was
absolute fairness. His own country
occupied false position in the matter.
he thought it was his duty TO set
il right, even at a sacrifice of mate
rial interests as it might appear at the
time. This brought him face to face
with the great question of the hour at
that time-the annexation OF Hawaii.
He had decided views on this matter,
even before he came into the cabinet,
and ii was upon his recommendation
that President Cleveland performed al
most his first official act by withdraw
ing from the senate the annexation
treaty negotiated by Secretary Foster.
Then Mr.. Blount was sent to the islands
to make an original investigation, and
upon his report the secretary made his
celebrated recommendation that the
queen be restored. inasmuch as she
had been deposed by action of the off,
GERS of the United States. When con-
gress finally made known it's views, the
secretary accepted them for his gov
ernment, but it cannot be discovered
that he ever changed his views as or
lginally announced, as TO the justice of
the action he proposed.
While Mr.. Gresham was deep in the
Hawaiian negotiations, Secretary Gres-
ham was obliged suddenly to give
immediate attention to the Bering sea
seal fisheries. The arbitration arranged
by his predecessor was in full swing.
He did not believe that the arbitration
would be successful i'm the object aim
ed at by the United States-namely,
the protection of the seals. But re-
gardless of the outcome. he was forced
TO bring the British government to a
renewal of the modus vivendi in order
TO guard against the annihilation of
the seals.
By a clause in the Wilson tariff act
congress had swept away in a line all
the carefully constructed reciprocity
treaties negotiated by the preceding
administration. This caused great an
ger among the nations with which the
United States had such treaties. and
the storm fell upon Secretary Gres-
hams head. His task was to pacify the
European powers, and how skillfully
he did 1t the printed correspondence
and the Austrians by frankly admit
ting that they We're right in claiming
remission of the differential duties
upon beet sugars; that justice seemed
to require this remission, and that he
would do all that could be done to
make reparation. This promise he
faithfully endeavored to redeem to the
last, and thereby he strengthened his
own hands in the vexatious negotia-
tions looking to the removal of the un-
Just and onerous restrictions placed
upon the importation of American cat
tie and meats.
Another legacy from his predecessor
which Mr.. Gresham found very little
TO his liking was the necessity of car
ing for the Samoan king, held impris-
oned on the Sunday island by the Ger
mans. He wanted to repudiate the
whole arrangement by which the Unit
ed States assumed a part of the tri-
partite protectorate over Samoa, and
he worked hard TO this end. Finally he
succeeded IN inducing President Cleve-
land TO recommend to congress that
the United States withdraw from all
further participation in Samoan affairs
Mr.. Gresham did all that a foreign
officer could do properly TO prevent the
of the Japanese war He
lost no opportunity at any stage TO
bring ii to an end, and ultimately,
when peace was restored, IL was
through the good offices of the Amer
lean ministers in China and Japan.
acting under Secretary Gresham's in |
structions.
While he was doing this. Secretary
Gresham was also using his good Of |
fees to prevent a war between Mexico |
and Guatemala, and in this he sue |
ceeded completely, although he was |
obliged to use very strong representa- |
lions to do so.
Almost his last official action before |
he fell mortally i'll was to open cor |
with France. intended to |
secure justice for eX-United States |
Consul Waller, whom he believed to |
have been i'll treated by the French |
.OIIrf rfiaI IN do