Evening star., 1896-01-14
Their Part in the Assertion Of the
Monroe Doctrine.
CLAIMS OF FRIENDS OF THE FORMER
What He Would Have Done Had
He Not Passed Away.
TERN ERS' FEAR

MI. OlneyS part in the assertion of the
Monroe doctrine, and the full extent CT the
Presidents interest in his premier, are sub
jects just now OF prime interest III political
circles. The friends of the late Judge Gres-
ham are offering some particulars under
the one head, and democrats generally
some suggestions under the other.
What Judge Grcsham's Friends Claim
Had judge Gresnam lived would the al
ministration's note to Lord Salisbury in the
Venezuelan contention have been :,s stiff
as that prepared by Mr. Olney? Every bit
and grain, Judge Gresham's friends reciy.
AMI they refer to the popular comment
las. spring When the question first bees arle
active. 1t was announced then that the ad-
ministration would assert itself in the case
of the Venezuelan boundary line. The Cor
into matter was in evidence. and The popu-
lar idea was that this government should in
terpoSe to prevent the landing of British
troops on Nicaraguan soil The admin stra-
ticn refused to take such action, and gave as
it's reason construction of the controversy
between Great Britain and Nicaragua,
which, in its Judgment, forbade the inter-
ference of the United States. but just
watt the friends of the administration said
to it's critics. "Thcre is case coming on
which will afford opportunity for the
assertion of the Monroe doctrine, and the
administration will do the true American
IT.
Venezuelan matter but the Administrations
credit about the handling of foreign cues
tionS was at such a low ebb at that time but
little attention was paid to the assurance.
Hawaii, Samoa, Cuba, Corlnto, made
string of such blundering and confusion. the
average man found it difficult to believe that
anything Stanchly American could come out
of the administration.
Came Too Late.
This very good thing did come out of the
administration, but unfortunately for Judge
Gresham, not until after he had passed
from the scene. But his friends assert that
he would have carried himself in the prem
ises quite as we'll as Mr.. Olney has done,
and they most positively object to the di-
vision of the credit of the performance
which denies share to his memory. He
died at a most unfortunate time for his
reputation Except iii the matter of his
dispatch in the Alliance affair-and that
the President did not appear to appreciate
he had not scored at all. His position in
the cabinet could not have been comfort
able to him. Some of the warmest of his
friends always regretted seeing him there.
They regarded him as wholly out of place.
both by reason of his temperament and his
so recent republican affiliations. But for
all this, they continued to believe in him,
and to wish for him some turn in the tide
before the end of his term which would
lift, in measure, the cloud that was hang
ing over him. The Venezuelan affair was
tion's attitude had been agreed upon with
him in the council but before he could go
upon the public record death struck him
down.
Cleveland's High Opinion of Olney.
Are the third termers jealous of Mr.. Oh
ney? Does his growing reputation threaten
the success of their scheme? Or is it not
likely that Mr.. Olney is the coming man,
with Mr.. ClevelauIs knowledge and con-
sent?
Cleveland and Olney.
Men who cannot bring themselves to be-
lieye that Mr.. Cleveland is count ting on a
third term as President see several things
in support of the suggestion that he would
be glad to be succeeded in office by his
premier. Foremost Of all is the fact that
Mr.. Olney is Mr.. Cleveland's cwn discovery
and he took him for Attorney General over
the protests of many CT his advisers. Mr.
Cleveland likes to assert himself in this
way. He does it, too, about small places as
well as great places. The politicians have
had no experience SO memorable with him
as that of his putting aside all of their rec
concentrations for ofice and picking out
some man of his own entirely outside of
their range of vision. Mr.. Olney was abso-
lutely unknown in political circles when his
selection for the Attorney Generalship was
announced. The office was desired by a num-
ber of men prominent in the democratic
party, and the friends Of some of them were
imprudent enough openly to urge their ap-
pointnent
But the President not on1E ignored these
recommendations, but went so far on the
other tack that he drafted his man. Mr..
Olney was not struck with the proposition.
He much preferred his law practice, which
vas large and lucrative, to the responsible
ties Of a field in which he had had no ex-
perience. But the President insisted, and
Mr. Olney yielded. The appointment was
criticised in some quarters. 1t was assert
ed that the President ought to have kept
known dc
ney's corporation practice was quoted as
disqualifying him for entering upon a
vigorous prosecution of the antitrust laws.
Have Worked Together.
Neither the President nor Mr. Olney re-
piled to this criticism. They worked to-
gether most satisfactorily, and upon the
death of Judge Gresham the man who had
been averse to coming into the cabinet at
all was put at the head of the cabinet Mr..
Clevelands interest IN Mr.. Olney, there
fore, goes beyond the interest that would
attach simply to a strong and capable man
demonstrating marked aptitude for office
1t includes the pride of discovery; and. al
together, if Mr.. Cleveland Is to have a
legatee, Mr.. Olney would appear to be in
line for whatever the President may have
to bestow.
Grand Jury Instructed.