Daily Kennebec journal., 1897-01-18
"A Bright Future for Secretary
Of State 0lney.
Has Fortune and Position--carlis'e
Must Make New Start.
E x-Covernor John D. Long and Patrick Collins
Of Massachusetts.

here concerning tho future OF tho D0mC
cratic party. The men who arc In position
| to have the hest information and judgment
| agree that the party Is likely to come tc
some understanding before the next con
| eressional elections are on, which will OBJ
| vinto tho gold and silver war within the
ranks. just how this is to be done they dc
not appear to know. But that the leaders
| of the party are confident harmony will be
brought about in some way is apparent
| from their conversation. This opinion is
| expressed by Democrats who supported
Palmer and Buchner as well as those who
favored Bryan and Scwall SO 1t Is easy tn
see that there Is at least u desire for peace
between the active men of the two factions.
Whether or not pence can be actually
brought about is another question.
There Is also considerable gossip in Dem
ocratic circles to the effect that Secretary
Olney may be tho Democratic nominee for
president in 1900 This is looking q long
way ahead but the gossip is OF interest in
that it shows the hold Olney has obtained
upon the respect of the public men of the
day. 1t cannot be said with truth that Mr.
Olney is exactly popular. He has not popu-
lar ways He is plain, blunt, cold blood
ed man, who goes straight at his business
apparently caring little for the conse-
quences as to his popularity among tho
people. But there is great admiration for
the doughty secretary of state who has
brought Lord Salisbury to terms, even
among those senator's and representatives
who are not lovers of the administration.
and who were not satisfied with the man
ner in which Mr.. OlDey arrogated to tho
executive the exclusive right 20 recognize
the Independence Of foreign power.
Olney's Future.
Those who think Ulney likely to he a cen
tral figure in the Democratic politics of tho
future point TO his great achievements in
securing from Great Britain recognition OF
the Monroe doctrine, the general treaty OF
arbitration. and his influence in settling
the Chicago strike in 1894. They say tho
secretary has in this way won the adinira-
ton of the masses, who are always in IA
vor OF vigorous foreign policy, and that
he has at the same time gained the conf
dence OF the substantial men of the coun-
try, for they know him TO be firm without
being jingo. Mr.. Olney himself cannot
be said TO be ambitious While he would
doubtless be glad to accept the Democratic
nomination for president IN 1900, especial
ly II 1t should be accompanied by fair
chance of election, he is too well balanced
to permit an ambition of this sort to OBJ
tain possession of him. He realizes that AZ
corporation lawyer he is not likely ever
to become very popular man and is quito
well content to go back to his law practice
which. understand, nets him abou: $780,
600 year.
Mr.. Olney's case is a good example OF
the wisdom of making ones way in tho
world, of achieving independence, before
going into politics or public life. Mr. Oh
ney' future Is assured. He has nothing to
worry about II his income has been $40,
600 or $6O, 0O0.a year in the past, it may
easily double that for years to come, for no
has gained tremendous personal and pro-
fessional prestige by his success in tho
state department. If he cares a little later
on to become candidate for office or to
engage in party politics as leader, he will
be free and independent.
Outlook For Secretary Carlisle.
There are members of tho cabinet who
have not this comforting assurance on tho
eve of their retirement. Secretary Carlisle.
for instance, has his way to make in pro.
fessional life. He has had no practice for
on. OF course he will not lack for clients.
and some very good offers arc already
awaiting him, but it is not like having
made ones success and yon ones finan-
cial independence early in life. Postmas-
ter General Wilson, too, has given the best
of his life to public service, ard he will In
all probability go back to college work,
which engaged his attention in earlier
years. 1t is said he has already accepted
an invitation to become president of a Vir-
ginia college. He is scholarly man, much
admired and beloved by his associates for
his gentle character and winning ways. |
In college life lie will be at his best. Sec
retary Herbert is another retiring cabinet
minister who will have to find some means !
of gaining u livelihood. He is poor, too, |
but man of great ability, and one so
highly respected that he will not have any
difficulty IN making his way in private life |
1t has become all axiom among public |
men. among those who have had expert |
ence, that it is wisest to get money before !!
seeking honors. If one doesn't believe in |
the force of this, he has only to come to |
Washington ard try it. Men are handicap
ped If they try to rise in public life without I
a reasonable amount of money behind |
them. They cannot accept cabinet appoint
ments without sacrifices such as q poor
man ought not to make.
Tive Massachusetts Men.
know n numLsr of men who drew out
of public life in Washington deliberately
for the purpose of acquiring financial in
dependence before re-entering It, One of
these is Ex-Governor Long of Massachu.
setts, recently much talked of for a place in !
the Mckinley cabinet. He was some years
ago strong man in the house and in his
state. But he was poor, and, perceiving
the disadvantage which he was laboring
under, he left congress and devoted himself
to building up his private fortune, with
the intention of some day coming back to
Washington as public man. Whether he
has reached the point where he is willing
to becomes member of the cabinet remains
to be seen.
Another instance Of the same sort Is
found In the case of ex-Congressman Pat
rick Collins, also of Massachusetts and now
the American consul general Mt London
MIR. Collins was in high favor with his
party and with Mr. Cleveland. He could
have been in the cabinet had he wished,
but he preferred to 90 to London. where