New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-13
PRICE THREE CENTS.
TRADITIONS SET AT NAUGHT
HOW THE ARBITRATION TREATY CAME
TO BE PUBLISHED.
SECRETARY oLNEY EMPHASIZES Ills CONTEMPT
FOR THE SENATE BY GIVING 1T TO rHn
CORRESPONDENT ov~A LONDON PAPER
AND HIS OWN ORGAN ~ BOSTON.

CORRESPONDENT Or~A LONDON PAPER
AND HIS OWN ORGAN IN BOSTON
[Br TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBuNEI
Washington, Jan. 12.-There is an element o.
irresistible humor in he prompt publication OF
the Arbitration Treaty which only those can
fully appreciate who have noted the anxious
care of former Secretaries OF State and the MEM
bers OF the "deliberative branch" Of Congress to
keep the American public ignorant OF things
that most vitality concern them. The Senate
has not quite succeeded yeti probably never
within looking with philosophic calm or In
spirit of resignation upon what seems like
premature and wholly indefensiple publication
OF a secret document. for occasionally the shock
its sensibilites receive when treaty finds its
way into public print before official promulga-
ton Is strong enough to rouse II into setting on
foot solemn investigation The last OF these
Investigations was the result Of the publication
in The Tribune of an extradtion treaty with
Great Britain. as indeed. similar investigation
some years before had been the outcome OF the
appearance in the columns Of The Tribune OF the
more important treaty which submitted the Ala
hama claims to arbitration and created the
Geneva Tribunal.
Neither investigation led to any practical re-
suits. Of course. In the one case the correspond
ent Of The Tribune suffered for a short period
the discomfors OF Congr .-sional imprisonment;
in the other. instigated by Mr.. Dolph. OF Oregon.
eighty more full grown men swore each other
and solemnly declared that never-no. never-had
any one of them breathed to a living soul. much
less parted with. anything in any way connected
with the executive sessions Of the Senate.
THRILLING WITH SENATORIAL COURTESY"
Secretary Olney punctures much Of this mys-
terry. using plaine- tenn for the present. with
much unconcern as he would display In TAX
ing fish from the hook. He has already ex-
pressed his contempt for Congress by inform
ing it that the Executive branch Of the Gov
eminent will snap its fingers at any resolution
the two houses may pass, even though by
two-thrds vote, touching the recognition OF
Cuban independence. He now emphasizes that
contempt by treading under foot the tenderest
traditions Of the Senate. and ignoring the much
priced privilege of closing its doors on the pub
lie and surrounding its deliberations with awe
inspiring mystery. No Secretary of State be-
fore him has ventured to trife with that delicate
thing known courtesy to the Senate. NO
member of the Cabinet-certainly not Mr.. Cleve-
lands-has ever hazarded taking so independent
a step as publishing treaty or any document
Of importance without first obtaining permits
sion to do so at the White House. In respect to
this matter. Mr. Cleveland seems 10 inspire In
Congress. What the Senate will do when IT re-
covers from the shock cannot or course, DC
surmised. 1t will be something terrible. 10
doubt.
But Mr. Olney is original as we'll az cour-
ageous No such original conception, certainly.
entered the brain of any of his predecessors--
and some Of them might reasonably be consld-
cred dstinguished-as that Of choosing an Eng
lish newspaper as the proper vehicle OF commune
eating to the American public what he desires 70
say. or what he thinks 1t Is entitled to know In
tl,o of on ral
method has possibly something 10 recommend
1t to Mr. Oney. 1t may-even be assumed that
it has decided advantages. or Mr.. Olney would
not be likely to employ II. gentleman indeed.
OF Mr. Olneys quick intuition. judging from
many of his official acts. is apt to keep constantly
in mind and give practio al illustrations Of the
proposition laid down by the late
Preston Il. Plumb in a moment OF grim humor:
Public office Is a private snap
FURNISHED TO THE CHRONICLE"
Whatever the motives Of Mr. Olney. or the al
Of the method devised by him for COM
with the American public, it is known
that the ink of the signatures to the treaty was
not dry and the Senate had not even begun its
solemn deliberations over the proposal To re-
move the injunction of secrecy from the treaty.
before the correspondent here Of The London
Chronicle" received copy Of the document from
Olney. That he had the right to do
SO nobody will deny. of course. Mr.. Low. the
correspondent Of The Chronicle" is the CORE
spondent likewise Of The Boston Globe" the
Secretary's political home organ. 1t is reason,
able to suppose. therefore. that Mr.. Olney knew
exactly what he was doing even If he had never
heard Of the Plumb aphorism before. Mr.. Low
s to be congratulated. Of course, and very de-
,ervedly so, for being in position to work the
snap" and Mr.. Olney is worthy of the highest
praise for creating an element of hilarity In an
therwise dull and dreary situation.
Whatever criticism may attach to Mr.. Olney's
peculiar methods of letting his countrymen
,now what the State Department is occupied
With there is very great unanimity Of opinion
hat he has done a very wise thing in giving q
lack eve to the fetch o. mystery -mongering.
lost newspapers no doubt would prefer furnish
ng TO theia readers news touching the foreign
relations Of this country by way OF London. than
not furnish it at ALL Why, then. find fault with
Mr. Olneys peculiar methods?