The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-21
Nae TasIs of the Peace Commission.

The Task of the Peace Commission.
A few days ago the President did not
seem to think the peace commissioners
would occupy a great deal of time IN their
| negotiations. He expressed the opinion
that the treaty of peace would be com
pleted and ratified by Thanksgiving day.
1t is doubtful if he still has that opinion.
The capture of Manila has greatly com
plcated the situation. il has strength
ened the position Of those who insist that
we shall have permanent possession of all
the Philippines. In fact it has strength
ened public sentiment in favor of retain
ing them. What the Presidents original
intention was is not known. It Is suppos-
ed it was TO be guided in a great meas
ure by public sentiment When the pro
tocol was signed public sentiment, it is
safe to say, was against retaining the isl
ands The President may still think that
public sentiment is against holding them,
though he cannot have helped 10 notice
that the surrender of Manila has made
more popular the demand that all cap
tured territory shall be held.
If he thinks that it is the popular viii
that we shall retain possession of the Phil
ippines he will, without doubt, appoint
commissioners favorable TO their reten-
ton and he will instruct them to insist
that the United States shall have them.
OF course Spain would have to yield, but
she would not do so with good grace and
she would hesitate a long time before
yielding. Therefore, the capture of Ma
Mia promises to prolong peace negotia-
tons.
Spain does not think that the capture of
Manila changed in the least the situation
which existed at the time the protocol
was signed. In our Madrid dispatches
yesterday it was stated that Spain in
sists that the capitulation of Manila shall
have no effect in the peace negotiations
that is unfavorable to her interests She
also holds that Manila alone was sur
rendered, not the Philippine Islands Gen.
Merritt has not been heard from yet on
that point, and therefore it is impossible
10 say what position our government takes
in regard to it. If it should hold that all
the islands We're surrendered there would
be protests by Spain that would retard the
work Of framing the peace treaty
1t is safe 10 say that the treaty of
peace will not be ratified by Thanksgiv-
ing day We shall have reason for rejoic-
Ing if it is ratified by Christmas.
1t would not be surprising if the atti-
tude of the Philippine insurgents should
obstruct the progress of peace negotia-
tions. They are very aggressive. The
President has refused to permit them to
enter Manila and they are therefore ready
to take a position of hostility to our
forces They wanted to occupy Manila
jointly with our army. The President
was right, of course, in refusing them that
privilege. A concession of that sort would
have been the source of an endless of
trouble
The Philippine problem is an extremely
difficult one to solve. The peace COM
missioners who will have the solution of
it should be chosen from among our ablest
and purest men-the men the best quail
fed for the task-and they should be in
structed to forget politics and political
parties for the time being and keep stead
lily in view the welfare and interests Of
the American people