The times., 1898-08-13
SATURDAY. AUGUST 18. 1898.
Pence and the Future,

The protocol was signed yesterday
ugresably to previous announcement.
Now. what next?
Having turned that corner and is
sued his proclamation putting a sop
to blcodshei, it is fair to assume that
the President will now be in a position
TO let the country into the secret of
his actual attitude with regard to the
future disposition of the Phil ppine
Islands If we are TO judge from the
speech CT his friends last night, this
is exactly what he does not care TO d..
i is said for him that he has nat made
up his mind on the subject. On the
other hand, since it seems settled that
Mr.. McKinley's close personal friend,
Judge Day, is to head the American
peace commission, the inference is that
the President is privately in favor of
the policy of retUs-ning the Islands TO
the sovereignty of Spain, in accord
ance with the views and interests of
the nt:-Philippine element, which has
been so active in the neighborhood Of
the White House for several weeks.
The anti-expansion sentiments of the
Secretary of State are well known.
1t dawns early in the movement that
the question of Philippine surrender is
10 be kept as much in reserve as pos
sible until after the November cleo
tions. That much is admitted by peo-
pie very close TO the Administration
Why such a policy should be consider
ed necessary is hard to conceive. There
can be no doubt as to the condition of
American public opinion on the sub
ject. For instance, if it were known
today that there was a conceal
ed purpose to let go Of the splendid
empire won for US by the victory of
Cavite, the effect of that knowledge
would surely be very disastrous to the
Republican party in the Autumn. Con-
trariWise a bold and frank announce
ment that the full possession and de-
velopment Of the Philippines was the
fixed purpose of the Administration
would unquestionably increase the
chances of the party in the next House.
1t must be remembered, however.
that the influences working to defeat
Philippine annexation represent enor-
nous money power. or, presumably.
large vote which may have been pledg-
ed in return for the surrender of the
islands. The Importance which Mr..
Mckinley always gives to domestic
political considerations must be
borne in mind. when any forecast of
his action, or the attitude of Mr.. Han
ma, is sought to be made.
The peace commission will not meet
until October. Then it will sit in
Paris, where the local color and in
fiuence will be all on the side of Spain.
At the council board the urgent inter-
ests of the Rothschilds and the Vail
can win be represented by the Spanish
commissioners. including, it is pre-
dicted in diplomatic circles, Monsignor
Merry del Val. who is expected to act
as secretary, and is one of the ablest
diplomatists in the papal service.
Whatever may be the result, it is
positively certain that the influence of
the Vatican, the Austrian court and
the French financial power will be ex-
erted TO the utmost to save the Philip
pines to Spain. In this effort, it is
probably fair to expect that at least a
minority of the American commission
ers will join. The gigantic money and
other interests in this country in favor
of surrender win be able to secure
some representation on the American |
side of the tribunal, or ali history and |
precedent will be violated
But nothing will be done until the |