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solution of the Turkish problem by peace； but was overruled； and
the solution was attempted by a war most costly in blood and
treasure； which was apparently successful； but really a failure。
He was driven from his post with ignominy； and I well remembered
seeing a very successful cartoon in 〃Punch〃 at that period；
representing him； wearing coronet and mantle and fast asleep； at
the helm of the ship of state； which was rolling in the trough of
the sea and apparently about to founder。
Since that time his wisdom has； I think； been recognized； and I
am now glad to acknowledge the fact that； of all the many British
statesmen who dealt with the Venezuelan question； he was clearly
the most just。 The line he drew seemed to me the fairest
possible。 He did not attempt to grasp the mouth of the Orinoco；
nor did he meander about choice gold…fields or valuable strategic
points； seeking to include them。 The Venezuelans themselves had
shown willingness to accept his proposal； but alleged； as their
reason for not doing so； that the British government had preached
to them regarding their internal policy so offensively that
self…respect forbade them to acquiesce in any part of it。
Toward this Aberdeen line we tended more and more； and in the
sequel we heard； with very great satisfaction； that the
Arbitration Tribunal at Paris had practically adopted this line；
which we of the commission had virtually agreed upon。 It need
hardly be stated that； each side having at the beginning of the
arbitration claimed the whole vast territory between the Orinoco
and the Essequibo； neither was quite satisfied with the award。
But I believe it to be thoroughly just； and that it forms a most
striking testimony to the value of international arbitration in
such questions； as a means； not only of preserving international
peace； but of arriving at substantial justice。
Our deliberations and conclusions were； of course； kept secret。
It was of the utmost importance that nothing should get out
regarding them。 Our sessions were delayed and greatly prolonged；
partly on account of the amount of work to be done in studying
the many questions involved； and partly because we hoped that；
more and more； British opinion would tend to the submission of
the whole question to the judgment of a proper international
tribunal； and that Lord Salisbury； the prime minister； who； in
his rather cynical； 〃Saturday…Review；〃 high…Tory way； had scouted
the idea of arbitration； would at last be brought to it。 Of
course； every thinking Englishman looked with uneasiness toward
the possibility that a line might be laid down by the United
States which it would feel obliged to maintain； and which would
necessitate its supporting Venezuela； at all hazards； against
Great Britain。
The statesmanship of Mr。 Cleveland and Mr。 Olney finally
triumphed。 Most fortunately for both parties； Great Britain had
at Washington a most eminent diplomatist； whose acquaintance I
then made； but whom I afterward came to know； respect； and admire
even more during the Peace Conference at The HagueSir Julian；
afterward Lord； Pauncefote。 His wise counsels prevailed； Lord
Salisbury receded from his position； Great Britain agreed to
arbitration； and the question entered into a new stage； which was
finally ended by the award of the Arbitration Tribunal at Paris；
presided over by M。 de Martens of St。 Petersburg； and having on
its bench the chief justices of the two nations and two of the
most eminent judges of their highest courts。 It is with pride and
satisfaction that I find their award agreeing； substantially；
with the line which； after so much trouble； our own commission
had worked out。 Arbitration having been decided upon； our
commission refrained from laying down a frontier…line； but
reported a mass of material； some fourteen volumes in all； with
an atlas containing about seventy…five maps； all of which formed
a most valuable contribution to the material laid before the
Court of Arbitration at Paris。
It was a happy solution of the whole question； and it was a
triumph of American diplomacy in the cause of right and justice。
I may mention； in passing； one little matter which throws light
upon a certain disgraceful system to which I have had occasion to
refer at various other times in these memoirs； and I do so now in
the hope of keeping people thinking upon one of the most wretched
abuses in the United States。 I have said above that we were； of
course； obliged to maintain the strictest secrecy。 To have
allowed our conclusions to get out would have thwarted the whole
purpose of the investigation； but a person who claimed to
represent one of the leading presses in Washington seemed to
think that consideration of no special importance； and came to
our rooms； virtually insisting on receiving information。 Having
been told that it could not be given him； he took his revenge by
inserting a sensational paragraph in the papers regarding the
extravagance of the commission。 He informed the world that we
were expending large sums of public money in costly furniture； in
rich carpets； and especially in splendid silverware。 The fact was
that the rooms were furnished very simply； with plain office
furniture； with cheap carpets； and with a safe for locking up the
more precious documents intrusted to us and such papers as it was
important to keep secret。 The 〃silverware〃 consisted of two very
plain plated jugs for ice…water； and I may add that after our
adjournment the furniture was so wisely sold that very nearly the
whole expenditure for it was returned into the treasury。
These details would be utterly trivial were it not that； with
others which I have given in other places； they indicate that
prostitution of the press to sensation…mongering which the
American people should realize and reprove。
While I have not gone into minor details of our work； I have
thought that thus much might be interesting。 Of course； had these
reminiscences been written earlier； this sketch of the interior
history of the commission would have been omitted； but now； the
award of the Paris tribunal having been made； there is no reason
why secrecy should be longer maintained。 Never； before that
award； did any of us； I am sure； indicate to any person what our
view as to the line between the possessions of Venezuela and
Great Britain was； but now we may do so； and I feel that all
concerned may be congratulated on the fact that two tribunals；
each seeking to do justice； united on the same line； and that
line virtually the same which one of the most just of British
statesmen had approved many years before。
During this Venezuela work in Washington I made acquaintance with
many leading men in politics； and among those who interested me
most was Mr。 Carlisle of Kentucky； Secretary of the Treasury。 He
had been member of Congress； Speaker of the House of
Representatives； and senator； and was justly respected and
admired。 Perhaps the most peculiar tribute that I ever heard paid
to a public man was given him once in the House of
Representatives by my friend Mr。 Hiscock； then representative；
and afterward senator； from the State of New York。 Seated by his
side in the House； and noting the rulings of Mr。 Carlisle as
Speaker； I asked； 〃What sort of man is this Speaker of yours？〃
Mr。 Hiscock answered； 〃As you know； he is one of the strongest of
Democrats； and I am one of the strongest of Republicans； yet I
will say this： that my imagination is not strong enough to
conceive of his making an unfair ruling or doing an unfair thing
against the party opposed to him in this House。〃
Mr。 Carlisle's talents were of a very high order。 His speeches
carried great weight； and in the campaign which came on later
between Mr。 McKinley and Mr。 Bryan； he； in my opinion； and indeed
in the opinion； I think； of every leading public man； did a most
honorable thing when he deliberately broke from his party；
sacrificed； apparently； all hopes of political preferment； and
opposed the regular Democratic candidate。 His speech before the
working…men of Chicago on the issues of that period was certainly
one of the two most important delivered during the first McKinley
campaign； the other being that of Carl Schurz。
Another man whom I saw from time to time during this period was
the Vice…President； Mr。 Stevenson。 I