The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-08
SEATTLE, WEDNESDAY, JAN. =
THE RIGHT MAN THERE.

Poor old Harper's Weekly. which lost a
good part OF It's circulation after its assault
on Mr.. Blaine. In 1874. and the publishers
OF which have never quite recovered from
the setback occasloned by the alienation
OF the greater part Of the Republican
party at that time Is sim enamored OF the
old-woman policy II then adopted, and Bit
terry regrets that Walter q. Gresham is
not In at the head of the state department
10 maintain the dignity OF the country and
quell this outburst OF tngolsm which is
raising such havoc in AL parts OF the
land.
IL Is very fortunate for the times and for
the administration and for the country that
the solution of the Venezuelan question
came as a problem to Mr.. olney instead OF
20 Mr.. Gresham. II viii be a reason for
congratulation in future years that the re-
cent furry came when there was n little
New England grit present 10 give British
diplomats as good as they sent. Had Mr..
Iayard or Nr. Gresham been in charge OF
our diplomatic affairs. matters would have
turned out quite differently. ard the Brit
ish possessions today would probably have
been beyond the SchOmburgk line As II
happened. there was an individual OF diff
ferent fiber looking after these matters.
and the rcsul; has brought forth such a
popular approval as has never been Ait
messed In this country in the last thirty
years.
II ia now well known. a. least 20 those
who have become acquaiuted with the
workings OF the state department since 1898.
that Mr.. Gresham had lttle or nothing
o. say 20 the line OF policy or details in
those foreign matters over which he VAS
supposed 20 have supervision. II Is Just
rs well. perhaps. that IT was 80. Mr.. Gres-
ham had lost any vigorous Independence
that At one time may have belonged % him.
lie was not a Republican. nor a Democrat.
nor Popullst. and yet he had become so
unbalancSi IN his beliefs that ne was will
Ing 20 subscribe 10 many OF The teuets Of
each Of the political organizations. II there
was preferment for himself in doing 80.
Naturally q rau OF these spsnaleSs charac-
terlctlcs was poor representative 20 deal
with aggressive foreign nations. and the
early record Of the state department under
Mr.. Gresham consequently proved TO be
very lamentable failure.
This failure was not altogether Mr. Ores
hams fault lie felt himself 70 be 4 stra7g-
- IN a strange house. VITA every body about
hooking on hisn with sis0lcion. The ssso-
Citations OF Hse~tms ha3 been broken. he
was uncertain what he was or where hs
was. and when actuated 10 lake a step ~
Immediately found himself thwarted by
those aAave or about atm. Il Is fortunate.
Indeed. thar u was rot ieft - 4 man with
these environments 10 deal With TIE Ven
ezuelsn question. I VAS : great thing for
the country that The solution % this very
psrplsN!ng problem happened 20 be allotted
- a very study New England Democrat.
Instead G.; 70 a man wi;aau; party. poll
ey or q future. There IS n1 doubt that NJ.
Gresham had been working On gAe >ooa-
eary question. bat his OH spirit had go0s
nad hts word woC}3 have Amounted 20 lttie
ar nothing. As 81 happened. the question
pane % . man whose backbone haI re-
been broken by qePucal aTe.iiofes. ana sy
sv.utlar chance K VAS a man whc. instead
CT allowing tie ptesl3sat 10 rua him. Ia
reality ran the president The result; Vas
shs first piece y Democratic statesman
ship since March Z iS>5.
Hfugwuula PAPERS, IKE HarFer's weekiy.
have seea their day. 50 far as concerns AIRY
polttcal influence they exert. TAts Is no,
- se deplored. for s. she t2os run tAey
represent ae;A.ag ana uoeoiy. ard ne AZ.
vice they give vii generally be foani 70
l. impractical ana visionary. The Mos-
sln.s may regret tass W. -. Gresham