The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1897-02-04
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
aeuEsswoRK REGARDING CERTAIN
COMING EVENTS

Some Speculation - to the Meaning OF
Senator sherman's Selection for the Cab
tnet-A strong Republican Policy Indi-
-cated--otber Matters
d, Special Washington Letter
The political guesser has become an
important part Of the modern ma
chinery for gathering news, and, as
such, he undoubtedly, deserves some
consideration. But, as a fact, the re-
tinence of those in authority seems
to Increase with the activity OF this
department of modern journalism, and
I see no reason as yet to change my
view that very much cannot be learned
regarding the policy OF the incoming
administration in advance OF its own
declarations
Senator Sherman, since 1t was defi-
nitely known that he had accepted the
tender of the premier place in the new
cabinet has been besieged with inter-
viewers. One report sent out over the
country was to the effect that he had
declared himself against recognition Of
Cuba by the United States. 1t was only
natural that he should deny this report,
and IL is rather strange that any re-
bDOuSlUlt utNS Dultdu bhOulh NANhlA ~
careful and wary q politician with SO
unlikely a statement. No doubt the
guessers will keep at work. But that
any communicative individual really
knows just what is going to happen
when a change comes, or that any. de-
finite declaration of policy Will precede
the new Presidents inaugural address
or message to special session Of Con-
,h ln ha
sidered extremely doubtful.
The choice of Senator Sherman as
successor to Secretary Olney, however,
affords legitimate ground for specula-
tion. 1t is considered here a very dis
tinctive pointer" as regards the char
acter Of the coming federal programme.
In the first place, it would seem to
point to a strong and comprehensive
political programme, with foreign af-
fairs as one of its principal features.
Senator Sherman's whole career shows
him to be distinctively diplomatic in
character One might look to him for
a strong but rather subtle policy. His
views are generally strenuously held
and clearly expressed, but rarely per-
sisted in as against the voice of his own
party or the demands of a successful
pOllCy, Inc OplulOu mere lS lHdl hS
will be scarcely as aggressive a diplo-
mat as Olney has been, but one whom
1t will be very difficult indeed for any
foreign office to get the advantage of.
There is also an opinion that financial
and commercial matters may charac-
terize the new foreign policy rather
more than it has the existing one.
Excepting Blaine, Senator Sherman
is the only recent appointee to the Sec
retary of States Office who has had
a long and distinguished Congressional
career as a member of the party actual
ly controlling legislation. He has held
a seat in the United States Senate long
er than any other man who ever enter
ed that body, and 1t is not too much to
say that none of his contemporaries
have exercised larger influence in ac-
tually determining events. AS it is
with the Senate rather than the House
that the new Administration is likely
sooner or later to find itself at odds,
his choice would seem to indicate a
purpose on the part of the coming pow
ers to be or not TO be at any needless
disadvantage in species of warfare
that has done so much to embarrass
and annoy Mr.. Cleveland during both |
Of his administrations. There are very |