The times., 1898-09-08
Justice White. Deciination.


Friends of the President will hardly
fail to congratulate him upon the decli-
nation of Mr. Justice White to serve
on the Peace Comm ssion, as an action
well calculated TO relieve Mr.. McKin-
ley from embarrassment Without any
idea of questioning the motives which
led to the selection of Judge White. it
is only charitable to assume that 1t
was made without any very careful
thought as to the effect it might natur
ally have upon public opinion.
Justice White is an eminent light Of
the national bench. but unfortunately.
as an individual citizen he is recog-
nzed as one OF the foremost enemies
of American expansion-a policy Of
practically universal acceptance
throughout the country. AS one-half
of the bi-national Peace Commission
is. of course, a unit in opposition to
our retention of any lately Spanish ter
ritory. it would seem reasonable that
the other. or American half. should be
a unit in maintaining the view of the
American people. At least il would
seem strange. indeed. for President NC
Kiniey to intrust our interests and
honor in the premises to gentlemen
whose opinions favor the Spanish and
not the American policy in regard To
disposing of the territorial results of
the war.
That there can be any real purpose
behind Mr.. McKinley's course in fixing
upon persons to represent this country.
other than to find men who will cour-
ageously and ineXorably insist upon
the solution demanded by the Ameri-
can people. is not to be supposed.
That would be tantamount to accusing
the Executive of designs of which no
Chief Magistrate could be capable
without unfaithfulness to his high
! trust, so fragrant as to be nearly in
! conceivable. Hence we have a right
to expect that the American part of
| the Commission will be instructed to
and will defend and enforce the popu-
| lar claim TO all conquered lands now
under the aegis of our flag.
Notwithstanding many reports and
rumors to the effect that Justice
Whites nomination was due to his po-
sition as an ardent Catholic. and
hence. his presumed unwillingness to
see the monopoly interests of the Fran
ciscan and Augustinian orders in the
Philippines adversely affected, We are
unwilling to believe that any such
considerations could have entered into
| the matter of his appointment. That
| some such idea has become prevalent
| is doubtless owing to the important in
| fluence which the Vatican. through
Archbishop Ireland, has seemed to ex-
ert in the preliminary peace arrange
ments. At the same time it is perhaps
| just as we'll that Justice White has
refused to place himself and the Ad-
ministration in position of deiicacy
in the connection. and thus has saved
| the Chief of State from the necessity
of defending himself against suspi-
cions which, however unjust. inevitably
would have created an outcry in many
quarters.
Nothing could be more wretchedly
unfortunate than TO allow the injection
of any religious question into either
! our domestic or our International poll
tics. The peculiar conditions surround
! ing the Philippine settlement present
| certain dltliCull4e5 lIOII ILLS punt VI
view. The President and the people are
/ bound to accept the unpleasant fact
| that the Vatican is earnestly opposed
to American control over the territories
| formerly under Spanish sovereignty.
! and that its power and influence here
and in Europe has been and is being
used to minimize the extent of such
control as much as possible. We may
regret the lack of confidence thus sug-
gested in American good faith, liber-
ality in religious matters, and institu-
| tions generally, but we are bound to
take notice both of its existence and of
| the means and methods which are be-
| ing employed to further the interests
| involved.
For these and other good reasons,
we repeat that. in our judgment. it is
very good thing for President Nc
! Kinley that Justice White has made
up his mind not to serve on the Peace
! Commission.