New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-20

Nhoates addresses in England--if they
care 10 understand why another great
lawyer like Mr.. Olney would have found
place of his own here, and have done
MS country a kind of service lawyer
Is peculiarly competent To do. The
frime Minister is a barrister Of re-
hoWh; the Cabinet has half a dozen
others; the House of Commons is
thronged with lawyers: it is a profess
sion which stands at least as high in
England as anywhere else in the world
ON all grounds Mr.. Oney would
have been welcome. His origin and
his life are his credentials The spirit
Of Boston was in him: of Massachu-
sets. l cannot but go back to that.
Who is there who would not be born
in Massachusetts if he could? Who
would not be proud Of a lineage dating
back to 1850, when Thomas Olney
came to New England from beneath
the shadow of the giant abbey church
of ST. Adams? Strict Puritan on the
fathers side; French Huguenot on the
mothers; is there a better descent or
! descendant? 1t must he admitted he
broke from the ancient political faith
OF the Bay State. 1t cannot be denied
that he is a Democrat but even so
he found salvation for f he had not
been a Democrat he could not have
been a Gold Democrat. and stood like
a rock against the silver heresies Of
| Mr.. Bryan when silver meant national
| bankruptcy. As President Cleveland's
Attorney General. 1893 to 1898. he re-
| inforccd the natural stubbornness of "A
Chief who was at least as likely TO be
| stubborn in a bad cause as i'm good
! and helped. in Lowell's phrase, TO keep
his rudder true.
As Secretary OF State he did a far
higher service than that, for between
the Presidents blind stubbornness
about Venezuela and the disaster TO
! which he was inevitably advancing.
Mr.. Olney interposed his common sense
and clear view of what could and could
not honorably be done. or done AT all,
! in great International crisis. If he
should read what / say. he will not
like it nor admit it; but il is true. |
90 not write TO please Mr.. Olney. but
70 state the fact: as | lave stated il
before. His loyalty to Mr.. Cleveland
cannot alter the fact. have never
been and am not now free 10 state all
the facts. but If they could be stated
they would more than justify what /
say. And not till they can all be
| stated will full measure Of justice
be done TO Mr.. Oney, or tho fun extent
of his unexampled services TO his coun-
try be known. The facts came TO my
knowledge in such circumstances that
Il cannot state them without his per-
| mission. | long since asked his per-
mission and he refused it; again from
a sense OF loyalty TO his President
which I may think extreme but none
the less respect.
! What such a man could have done
for his country at such moment az
this is not TO be guessed at The loss
of Mr.. Reid, with his experience: with
his knowledge Of the English and their
knowledge Of him; with his sagacity,
and the confidence he had won. is irrcp-
arabic: but his work must be taken
I'D and carried on. We have TO deal
not with England only, but with all
Europe in this unhappy business OF
Panama. / can think OF no man in the
democratic party equipped for these
duties as Mr.. Olney is equipped. He
too has experience. lie saved us from
almost certain war in 1896. lie had
then 10 deal with the ablcst living
diplomatist in Europe Lord Salisbury;
and not only with him, but with Mr..
Chamberlain, in whose jurisdiction as
Colonial Secretary lay British Guiana;
and not only with Lord Salisbury and
Mr.. Chamberlain. but with President
| cleveland. out Of all those dangers he
brought safety. The danger Of to-day
is far less menacing but it is a danger,
and II needs a strong man in the Lon
don Embassy; needs him the more be
cause Mr.. Bryan is in the state De
partment. and Mr.. Bryan is in respect
Of such matters an inCalculable force.
| can imagine meeting between Sir
Edward Grey and Mr.. Olney as Am
bassador-he might still come as Spe-
tcial Ambassador What Sir Edward
Grey is as Foreign Minister We all
know: fair minded, prudent, versed in
Diplomatic methods; friendly. The two
men would take each others measure
at once. They would lay their cards
on the table. Each would know he had
met q kindred spirit; each with high
ideals and a sure hold on the practical
side Of the problem they had to solve.
II is not yet surely known here what
limo President Wilson means TO take
ON Panama. 1t may be he does not
know himself. But let the President
and Mr.. Olney agree, and there is no
great risk in saying that Sir Edward
Grey and Mr.. Olney would agree. And
when that should happen two nations
.. desiring only to live in peace and
amity would place on those three heads
a triple crown. There would be glory
enough for all three: and the everlast-
ing gratitude OF the English and Ameri-
can people. Il. w. ;.
FOREIGN EXODUS UNDER WAY