The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-09-01

THE PEACE GOAMisAION.
Whether Spain Is TO retain her SOW
ereignty over the Philippine islands Is
question to be decided by the Paris
commission. irrespective of the terms
of the eapItulation Of Manila. The pro-
tocol as signed by the accredited repre-
sentatives Of the governments OF the
United States and Spain provides for
the eession Of the city, bay and harbor
OF Manila to the United States, and
leaves TO the peace commission TO de-
terrnine the disposition and government
OF the Philippine islands Whether this
country shall be content with the con-
cession already made or shall demand
Possession Of the island of Luzon. or
whether it shall insist upon the sur
render by Spain Of all the islands. with
q view to establishing an independent
government under the protection Of the
United States. will depend chiefly upon
the views Of the American members of
the peace commission.
Interest, therefore, centers upon the
public expressions of Secretary Day,
Cushnlan X. Davis, Whitelaw Reid.
Justice White and Senator Frye. Nei-
Their Justice White nor Senator Frye
has publicly expressed his views. but
Secretary Day. Whiteiaw Reid and
Cushman X. Davis have talked on the
subject either prior to their appoint
ment or since. Senator Davis seems to
have the broadcast views on the subject
He Is a profound scholar and a man Of
remarkably clear judgment He might
have doubts about the policy of insist
ing upon our absolute acquisition of the
islands. bu: he would have no misgiv-
ings as To the capacity of the people Of
the United States to devise a form of
government which should meet the re-
quirements. Secretary Day Is supposed
20 be unwilling to have the government
assume responsibility beyond that al
ready defined in the protocol White
law Reid may be assumed TO have ex-
pressed his views in the columns of his
own paper. the New York Tribune Be
fore his appointment was announced
the Tribune had said: THE United
States now holds Manila city and It's
defenses. To hold them safely or with
out monetary loss 1t may find absolutely
necessary part of the surrounding ter
ritory. an entire island or all the Phil
ippine islands. That remains to be con-
sideFed. Whatever the United States
finds necessary to its welfare and safe
ty 1t will presumably demand, and
Spain has not the power TO refuse.
So far. therefore. as the peace COM
mission may be judged from it's utter
anees a majority will be in favor Of
retention OF the islands. at least in part.
With the exception of Senator Davis,
no ons OF the members has at any time
referred TO the implied obligation 10 the
islanders who were engaged In an eff
fort to throw off the yoke OF Spain
When iIiey were interrupted hS us. Act
this is phase of the situation which
should receive the most earnest con-
sidera,ion. II might not be incumbent
upon us to fight their cause al a sacri-
fee, although that is what we under
took TO do In the case of Cuba, but 1t
would seem that we were bound. IL not
incompatible with our own interests, to
espouse the cause Of the islanders. AS
suming that we do not want the Islands.
we dare not hand them over To Spain,
in view af the confidence placed in us
ty the insurgents; and this leaves the
question for the peace commission
What shall we 10 with them1