The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-09
THE MAN WHO DARED.
To Secretary Of State Richard Oluey Be.
longs the Credit for Settling
Venezuelan Controversy.

| Walter Wellman, in Times Herald.
| 1t Is probable President Cleveland
will be able to announce to the coun-
try in his annual message to congress
final settlement of the Venezuelan dis
pute between the United States and
Great Britain-a settlement which se-
cures precisely what the United States
contended for. to wit, arbitration be-
tween Venezuela and England. This
settlement, as everyone understands
and as British journals and statesmen
concede, carries with It tacit recogni-
| tion of the Monroe doctrine by Great
Britain. 1t is generally admitted that
this is one of the greatest diplomatic
victories of recent times. 1t was exact
ly year ago that the message of the
president concerning our relations with
| England growing out of the NeneZue-
Ian affair startled the world and alarm
ed the country. To have advanced in
| that time from the menace of war,
| from a position which was secuted by
| the British premier as absurd, to COM
plete mastery of the situation, with
| that same premier acceding to our
every demand, is surely a great tri-
umph for American diplomacy, Ameri-
| can rights and prestige.
The man for whom the credit for this
IS
| Richard Olney, not President Cleve-
| land. He it was who did the work.
who supplied the ability, the boldness,
the persistency. An old resident of the
| national capital, a man who has had
much to do with diplomatic matters.
| said to me a few days ago: "Olney is
the greatest secretary of state we have
had within my recollection. He will go
| into history as one of the greatest men
Though in the nature of things Mr..
Cleveland is the man who generally
gets most of the credit for this Monroe
doctrine achievement, and though the
president has never done anything to
| assist the country in giving its praise
to the right man, as he has had more
than one opportunity to do, the truth has
at last dawned upon the people of the
United States. Wherever one goes he
Is asked questions about Mr.. Olney;
everywhere one hears praises for that
sturdy, shrewd, skillful official have
heard Mr. Olney praised by many Re
publicans. but perhaps the best compli-
ment ever paid him was when the
president-elect said to me a few days
ago: Il am trying to find man big
and strong enough to fill Mr.. Olne"'s
shoes"
Those who understand the true in
wardness of the Venezuelan episode
know that Mr.. Cleveland had very little
to do with 1t. Though it was through
his message year ago the country
first learned officially what had been
done. as it is through his coming mes
sage it will learn officially Of the settle
ment these messages are only procla-
nations. The great document of the
controversy, and one of the greatest
state papers of our history, was the
note of Mr.. Olney to Lord Salisbury,
dated August, 1895. Mr.. Olney wrote
every word of that note Mr.. Cleve-
land never saw it till it was sent to
him, when he read it with admiration
and gave 1t his Official approval. The
inside history of the negotiations, if 1t
could ever be written, would show how
Olney had Out-manoeuvered Salisbury
at every turn. lie even had the temer-
ity to suggest ways in which his ad-
versary could get out of the scrape-
suggestions which soon bore fruit.
1t is worth while noting at this point
that Lord Salisbury's surrender to OIL
ney has afforded a distinct surprise to
the diplomatic world. A year ago men
skilled in diplomacy, men who knew
Salisbury's stubbornness and resource
of his giving way inch by inch till
every point for which he had contend
ed was finally abandoned. In truth.
Mr.. Olney himself has been surprised
at his own success. He had expected
much more stubborn resistance, had
counted upon flank movement and de-
lay through the arts of which his ad-
versary is a recognized past master.
So quick and complete has Salisbury's
surrender been that Mr.. Olney has at
times paused and asked himself: What
does it mean? Is there something be-
hind this which we have not per
ceived? Is it possible we are winning
too easily?" But careful search has
failed to disclose any weak point. Sal
isbury marched uD the HILL with ban
ners flying, with proud and SUPER
cilious smile upon his face, and then
he marched down again. not even dis
daining hints from his rival as to the
easiest paths of descent.
This splendid record as secretary of
state Mr. Olney has made in a year and
half Somewhere In the Republican
party Major Mckinley may be able to