The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-08-31
Very respect
Manning S. c.. Aug. 3lst 1898
Washington Letter.

Washington, D. c., Aug. 27.-Ihe
president has at last decided Upon
the names OF the five Americans who
are to represent the interests OF the
United States before the peace tri-
bunal which is to convene IN Paris
for the purpose OF formulating the
new treaty between the Ut. States
and Spain; but the selection OF these
distinguished gentlemen has been 50
adroitly made as to leave the people
still in doubt upon that feature ofthe
negotiations in which they are most
concerned-the ultimate disposition
OF the Philippines. Public opinion
is very much divided on this question.
The sentiment in favor Of holding all
of the Spanish possessions IN the
whole Philippines archipelago is very
strong in some quarters; and that
against permanently holding any foot
ing whatever beyond coaling station
there prevails in others: while there
is pendulum swinging from the one
10 the other OF. these extreme views
which is scattered pretty much all
over the country. So that, in select
ing peace commissioners practically
representing all OF those different
views, the president has very success
fully concealed his own. The COM
mission stands, as finally agreed upon:
Secretary Day, OF Ohio, as chairman,
with Justice White (appointed to the
Supreme Court from Louisana), Sen
ators Frye, Of Maine, and Davis, OF
Minnesota, and Mr. Wlitelaw Of New
York, as associates. Justice White
is Democrat who, after having been
elected to the Senate as such, was
made an Associate Justice OF the Su-
preme Court OF the United States by
Nh. Cleveland; Mr.. Reid is the editor
of the New York Tribune and erst-
while candidate for the vice-presiden-
cy on the ticket with General Harri-
son; while the other two members OF
the Commission are now II the Sen
ate of the United States. As far as
the public has been taken into the
confidence of these respective gentle
men they are not OF one mind upon
the main question to be solved and
settled by them; but this fact serves
only one useful purpose-it conceals
the ultimate policy of the United
States, in this way; not even an ink
ling Of any we'll defined policy to be
pursued is represented in their selec-
ton, since scalcely two ofthem think
alike; and they Will all go abroad
commissioned to discharge a great
public duty under and in accordance
with specific instructions to be given
under the seal of secrecy. In the
meantime the people will be allowed
to go on specializing, discussing and
perhaps formulating the ultimate
terms of peace-in the dark; while
His Ezcellency, the President Of the
United State, who alone holds the key
to the situation, is playing a shrewd
game OF politics; he is making every
body else show their hands while
carefully concealirg his own, and IN
this way he is feeling the popular
pulse, as it were, in manner which
will enable him to register it and fol-
low it without disclosing whether be
does so from conviction or from poll
cy. Not only so, but this course gives
the President another advantage,
in the event the final result should
run counter to popular opinion; he
may disarow all personal rersonsi-
bility for the result and make the
Commission father 1t. Color is given
to the belief that this state OF things
is not mere coincident by a recent
remark Of one man who, perhaps
more than any other, reflects the Pres
ident's innermost thoughts. There
is unmistakable evidence ofthe hedg-
ing going Oh in high places mani
tested in this remark-"We must go
very slowly in making final disposi-
ton of the Philippine Islands, when
It is remembered that the maker
thereof but short time ago said that
we must hold permanently and tor-
ever every inch of territory over which
our flag has been raised.
Perhaps there has not been pub
lie question brought before the Pres
sident of the United States before
in which the people were more deep
y concerned than they are IN this
one, which had to be settled by the
executive and the Senate without the
people having any voice in the MT