The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-28
TWENTY PAGES.
SUNDAY, AUGUST IS 1895.
The Peace Commission.

VIII
president to select Whitelaw
Reid for membership on the
peace commission are not clear. Few
people will pretend that Reid has any
qualifications for the place, He has
had no experience in statecraft. he has
shown any aptitude for diplomacy,
at Paris he was simply a social figure
head. The only construction that can
be placed on Reds appointment is
that II is a reward for services rendered
the republican party. 1t is by odds the
gravest abuse of the appointing power
of which Mr.. Mckinley has been guilty.
Here, If anywhere is a place demanding
craftsmanship; in whitelaw Reid II re-
ceives a stick.
The ablest man on the commission is
Senator Frye Yet the appointment Of
Senator Frye and Senator Davis is open
TO the patent objection that as senators
they will be required to pass on their
own work as commissioners They viii
be members of both courts. thereby vio-
lating one Of the fundamental principles
Of judicial procedure. AS to Davis he
is a man of pretty fair ability. He does
not size up with Frye-it would be easy
TO pick half a dozen republican sena-
tors who outmatch him in all that goes
TO make a statesman. Associate Justice
White. the democratic member, unde-
niably is a strong man.
Then there Is Day-a good country
lawyer. a thoroughly well-meaning and
high-principled nan with just enough
brains TO make a stagger at statesman
ship. His lamentable duels early in the
year with sagasta are still fresh in
memory. The willy Spaniard outwitted
m outgeneraled Day at every turn,
driving him into unexpected corners
and repeatedly making a fool Of him.
Take the protocol itself-we may rightly
assume that Mr.. Day had a large share
in its compassionate is a document SO
vague and indefinite in respect to certain
terms about which il should have been
explicit, that the Spanish commission
ers, trained in all the wiles Of diplomatic
cunning, will find every opportunity
they want 10 win trick after trick in
Aht fbbAld AiphGH VI ldiAlIb III lNtAt "
defer the preparation OF the treaty of
peace almost indefinitely. The protocol
mad no conditions as 10 the vast
smoun Of Spanish property in Cuba
public buildings, docks, nharves and
other harbor property; Spanish vessels
n the harbor, among which the war
ship Alphonso XIII, and many other
smaller armed craft are listed the for
tihcations and their armament In all
parts of the island. with the Mauser
rifles Of 10000 men, the cash IN the
colonial t~reasury-SS00, 900 was found by
Merritt at Manila; the Spanish civic
buildings n all parts Of Cuba. Nothing
having been said IN the so-called proto-
col about these matters, the Spanish
agents claim that ali the movable prop
erty may be taken away n that the
United States must pay for What IL not
removed. Spain makes the same claim
in regard 10 the Spanish-Cubau debt 81
$500. 900, OOo-that as It is not mentioned
in the protocol st is an open question %
be discussed by the peace commission
They claim that at least a part Z the
amount should be assumed OF ruarau-
teed by the United States. There are
similar questions which may be raised
in regard TO Porto Rico and the Phiil
pines.
In fact II Is a fearful taugle that the
peace commission Will have before ii q
neutrality-suspicious. hat would tax tn,
very highest powers Of a Blaine or a
Gladstone 1t is one OF the defects OF oul
system of government that it does not
and cannot train men from their your
up in the profession OF statesmanshiI
and the art of diplomacy. Monarchie,
are favorable 10 such education. repub.
lies, with their more or less frequen.
changes OF administration. are not
spain, backward though she is IN civil,
ization. has at her command probably
nfty men able. shrewd, crafty, adroit
p~olshed-msn who have MAIDS diPio,