New-York tribune., 1896-12-29
| VENEZUELA Is SATISFIED.
Continued from First Page.


Pan-Flectric ring in the first Administration oi
Mr.. Cleveland. followed up the consplrators ana
backmailers who we're using their official places
10 promote their private schemes CT aGirah-
dizement. and hunted them down rAtil they
were rendered "innocuous" or dispersed MT
Storrow's ability as patent lawyer, more espe-
cially in the field covered by electrical apph-
ances and devices shOne brilliantly in tho'
DAYS and there is no reason 10 believe that
this ability has deterorated since then MT
Storrow in the role VI an international lawyer
Is something quite different and SO novel =
spectacle as to puzzle many of his friends.
There are in Washington. as is well known
haf-dozen lawyers. perhaps. whose practice J.
to some extent confined to what may pe caiieu
international cases. Foremost among these ~
ex-Secretary Of state John ". Foster who II
turn has been and still is. the legal adviser OF
quite a number of Governments. Th'n tEere u
Calderon Carlisle. who at present Is counsci r'r
the Government Of Spain. w. Hallett Phillips
is another. representing Just now the Cuban
Legation" socalled. But no Government. De-
fore now had even dreamed Of going to Boston
for counsel in m International dispute. unti IN"
authorities in Caracas "discovered Mr.. Sto'row'
How came Mr.. Slorrow 10 abandon his patent
practice? How was he induced to seek laureIs
in new field ~ his time of life? Was he tempt
ed by the prospect Of fee as large as thht cur
rently reported to have been received by General
Foster from the Chinese Government for as
sisting In the peace negotiations win japan
Or was II n spirit of indigna' ion the wrongs
perpetrated by Great Britain that made him fly
to the rescue of an oppressed and practically de
fenceess country?
MIR. sCRUGGSs SERVICES TO VENEZUELA.
Up to the time Of Mr. storrow's appearance
upon the scene as an International lawyer the
interests Of Venezuela had been conhded-and
they still are so far as is known-to the care OF
William l.. Scruggs Mr.. Scruggs had been In
the diplomatic service Of the United States for
a number OF years. his last post being that oi
Minister in Caracas. His experience as diplo-
mat his researches historical student. his
Intimate knowledge Of the question under dis
cussion seemed to combine to make his appoint
rnent as Venezuelan counsel an ideal one II
proved so. In fact: for no one in a position I"
know what has been going on in Washington for
the last three years and half will venture t.
deny that interest in the case OF Venezuela was
awakened only as a result Of Mr.. Scrugsss pa
tiert discreet and untirng efforts. Hut for him
tho President would never have made mention
of the case in his message of ~ i'ut for his
briefs and pamphlets Congress and the country
at large would be- as ignorant OF the merits "t tn
controversy to-day as the average man Is ~ thr
problem involved In the quadrature OF the circle.
The firm and patriotic stand OF the Administra-
ton. the cordial support given TO the latter by
Congress and the almost universal approval
that were evoked in the country. are primarily
due to the work done by Mr. Scruggs. There
cannot be the slightest doubt about II.
MR.. sTORROwS VISIT TO CARACAS.
Various reasons have been assigned to account
for Mr. Storrow's employment by the Venezuelan
authorities. Boiled down and stripped Of all ir-
relevant matter the different stories told come 90
this-that Mr. Storrow. early last year. finding
himself broken down in health. determined to &
South in search of rest and recreation. ON his
way he stopped In Washington.
why not 20 to Venezuelan asked his old
time friend. the Secretary OF State.
Not bad idea" replied Mr. StoTow.
You might combine business with pleasure.
suggested Mr.. Olney
You mean the boundary dspu,e7'
Il don't say that. but viii give you n letter Of
Introduction to our Minister. Mr. Thomas. and
shall request him 10 introduc@ YOU 70 the Nenez-
uelan Minister OF Foreign Affairs. You must d.
the rest
Such a conversation or one very much like II.
Is said to have taken place between the two
friends. Whether true or not. II Is quite certain
that Mr. Storrow turned up In Caracas In du"
course Of time with his letter Of introduction and
that after few weeks OF pleasant stay In the
Venezuelan capital he returned Wonderfully re-
stored in health and with a commission from the
Venezuelan Government as its "counse.' IN his
pocket In return for that commission and it,
accompanying. and. let II be hoped. generous. fee.
he has written 1 brief. largely II not entirely
based upon facts and data carefully and with
painstaking perseverance collected by William
L. Scruggs. and has accompanied Mniste. An
dradc on his recent trip TO Caracas. Speaking. 50
far as Is known only English. II must be assumed
that his oral arguments in favor OF the agree
ment reached by Mr.. Olney and Lord Salisbury
cannot have produced very great impression
upon Senor Crespo and his advisers. however
ably they may have been presented.
vENEZUELA's EXPLANATION.
No one here OF course. blames Mr. Storrow for
accepting employment go conspicuous. and. In
all probability. renuncrative. even though quite
outside his ordinary professional sphere. and no
one OF course dreams OF ascrlbing to Secretary
Olney. In introducing his friend to the notice
of the Venezuelan Government. a motive other
than that Of wishing to aid an old and valued
friend. Still. in some OF its results. the trans
action is open TO legitimate comment and crti-
cism 1t is known for instance. that the Venez-
uelar Government, when asked to explain how
1t came to appiont Mr. Storrow whose fame as
international lawyer had not then pene-
trated beyond the confines OF Boston, as its
counsel. 1t made answer practically to this ef
feet: I'VE couldn't help ourselves. Mr.. Storrow
came to us in such a way that we thought It
wise to employ him-no matter what his quail
ications"
This to say the least. is startling and places
Mr.. Oney, whether he intended It or not, in
the light Of having forced his friend upon an
unwilling and embarrassed Government. 1t Is
plain. also. that he could not have done so but
for his official place. Under these circum
stances his conduct was to say the least in
discreet. 1t accounts. to some extent. too for
the opposition raised in Venezuela To the ratin-
cation Of the agreement. and the hostile atti
tude OF men like Sehor Mlchelena and others
who openly assert that their country has been
"buncoed" by some sharp Yankee lawyers"
In revising or amplifying any judgment Of the
Secretary Of state The Springfield Republi-
can" and others engaged in the interesting task
of shelving the old idol of Mugwumpdom and
setting zip a new one I'm the temple should not
forget to enumerate among the virtues and ac-
complishments OF the idol that Of never
forgetting old friends. even though 1t involves
n temporary turning to the wall of the legend
Public office Is a public trust"
THE GENERAL. ApEITRATTON TpEATy