The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-12-01
CAPITAL GOSSIP.


President Cleveland will be able to an
nounce TO the country in his annual mes
sage to congress ten days hence mai sci
Element OF The Venezuelan dispute between
tie United States and Great Britain-a set
| Element which secures precisely what th'
| United States oontended for. to-wit, aroi'
| tration between Venezuela and England
| This settlement as everyone understand;
and as British journals and statesmen con
cede, carries with II tacit recognition o
| the Monroe doctrine by Great Britain. 1t IL
generally admitted that this is one OF the
greatest diplomatic victories OF receh'
times. 1t was exactly year ago that the
| message of the president concerning our re-
ations with England growing out OF the
Venezuelan affair startled the world ana
alarmed the country. To have advanced
in that time from the menace of war, from
a position which was secuted by the ritish
premier as absurd. to complete mastery
OF the situation, with that same premier
acceding to our every demand, is surely a
great triumph for American diplomacy,
American rights and prestige.
The man for whom the credit for this
extraordinary accomplishment is due is
Richard Olney. not President Cleveland
He 1t was who did the work. who supplied
the ability, the boldneEs, the persistency.
An old resident of the National capital, a
man who has had much to do with diplo-
matte 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 rs one of the greatest men
We have ever had in our government"
Though in the nature of things MIR. Cleve-
land 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 he'd more than one opportunity to do.
tho 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.. Oney praised by many republic
cans. but perhaps the best compliment ever
paid him was when the presdentelect said
to me few days ago: II am trying to
find man big and strong enough to fill
Mr.. Olney's shoes"
Those who understand the true inward
ness OF the Venezuelan episode know that
MIR. Cleveland had very little to do with
H. Though it was through his message Il
year ago the country first learned officially
what had been done. as it Is through his
coming message it will learn officially OF
the settlement, these messages are only
proclamatons. 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
1888. Mr. Olney wrote every word OF that
note. Nj Cleveland never saw 1t till II
n him phpp bp 1 wi. nd
mirnton and gave 1t his official approval.
The inside history of the negotiations, If
II could ever be written, would show how
Olney had outmaneuvered Salisbury at
every turn, He even had the temerity to
suggest ways IN which his adversary could
get out of the scrape-suggesti which
soon bore fruit.
II is worth while noting at this point
that Lord Salsburys surrender to Olney
has afforded distinct surprise to the dip
lomatic world. A year ago men skilled in
men who knew Salisburys stub
bornness and resourceful persistency, could
not have dreamed OF his giving way inch
by inch till every point for which he had
contended 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
Hank movement and delay through the arts
0t which his adversary is a recognized past
master, So quick and complete has Sails
hurys surrender been that Mr.. Olncy has
at times paused and asked himself "What
does It mean? Is there something behind
this which we have not perceived? Is IL
possible we are winning too easily?" But
careful search has failed to disclose any
weak point. Salisbury marched up the hill.
with banners flying. with a proud and
superclious smile upon his face. and then
he marched down again. not even dsdain-
ing hints from his rival "a to the easiest
paths OF descent.
This splendid record as a secretary OF
state Mr. Olney has made in year and a
half. Somewhere in the republican party
Major Mckinley may be able to find an
other Olney. No doubt there are among
the successful lawyers OF the country a
number of men who with equal opportunt-
ties might have done what Mr. Olney has
done But where are they to be found,
Who can identify them? And 1t should be
remembered that president scarcely dare
take lawyer without public service and
put him at the head of the State depart
ment. Mr.. Olney had served more than
two years as attorney general before he
OF Justice or other cabinet post President
Mckinley may develop another Olney. but
that is not going to help him out at the
start Senator sherman is too old and feeble
for the work Senator Allison's education
has been altogether in another direction.
ana the Iowa statesman Is unwilling to
leave his high place in the senate. John
Hay is an able and accomplished man, but
his appointment would not be generally
commended. simply because OF his lack OF
prominence In party and public affairs.
senator Lodge is another very able man
VINO has made foreign relations a speciality.
but while he would make very good sec
rotary OF state under a president like Mr..
Reed 1t Is not in the nature OF things that
he would DO satisfactory to President Nc
hlhley Warter Wollman
VARIOUS OCCUPATIONS.
II Is estimated that the silk Industry of |
en- ma employs froPl 100000 TO 5O,00O,OOa !