Morris tribune., 1898-09-14
Faction of the Cabinet Thinks 1t
Would Be Well to Await
Events.
Full Cabinet Meeting Called for
the Purpose Of Discussing
the Matter
And for Deciding Upon Instruc.
lions to Be Given Peace
Commissioners.

VI ARLINGTON, Sept. l4.-Secretary
LcnG is III Washington again, having
rnn Town from his New England sum
-mer hcne to meet the presidents wish
8hat there should be full attendance
Mt he cabinets meeting.
T&e purpose of the president in call.
dng o. full attendance at the cabinet
meeUng was to submit to the members
the =: ruotions which would be given
g., to - American peace commissioners.
"a .me is very limited in which to
prose:.y charge the commissioners. for
rs tie America members will sail
TT I. NV York, on Saturday on the
Can mania, they must leave Washing.
ton E.:lay, so that only brief time is
Rva.....-: te close up their business in
W - on: q
- ident Still Undecided. 80
- It !. lslie1sd that tie president has
hos n,lly and definitely concluded
UP line of policy respecting the
Phil,l D,nes, whether they shall be re-.
tanned or relinquished. He was strong.
ly iii, p sed at the time Of the signature
of h rotoeol to acquire nothing more
than !? ,oaling station at most, in the
Philip ,:nss. From the many inquiries
he ha made of public men, and from
tn : slice he has taken Of the attitude
ass -, toward this question by the
press . the country, it is inferred
that - i, still open to conviction as to
the 3 line of policy to be pursued,
ard it proba bic that his pr. ncipal
Tu os in calling the cabinet meeting
", t, gather from the menu ers their
pc So FL opinions, which ara sup
pr, ed i, ha freshly acquired from con-
tao. WIKI tie people where they have
be n. > N the case of Secretary Long
an the s. paying visits to their native
sta %.
Disposed to Await Events.
One element in the cabinet is dis.
pose d TO postpone the final decision on
the failure of the Philippines, arguing
that The matter might safely be left to
the discretion of the peace commits.
sioners, and pointing out that impor.
fan5 developments changing the whole
aspect Ut the question could fairly be
expecte, before the international com.
ia ssloa mad taken up the subject for
consideration.
Ii is ne present disposition to re.
fraiu from publishing instructions to
tho peace commissioners, so that it is
proba Die that only the most general
ideas VIII be permitted to leak out.
This course is regarded as absolutely
essential IN order to prevent the Span.
ish commissioners from obtaining an
advantage in the negotiations.
TIE tf1cials at the navy and army
departments profess to feel more con.
fidence than they have heretofore ex.
pressed regarding the present situation
In the Philippine islands. In spite of
all disquietIng reports that have come
of late from newspaper sources indi.
eating the existence Of critically
strained relations between the insur.
gents and the American forces of occu.
patton, 1t is fact that for three days
past no word came to either state,
navy or war department from Manila,
ia regard to disturbances or the fear of
them.
Have Confidence In Ot.s.
One reason for the confidence felt by
the war department officials in a
paacea ole solution of the difficulties, is
their knowledge of the peculiar fitness
of General Otis, the American military
pommander, for the discharge of such
duties diplomatic as we'll as military
las now confront him. The officials
are confident that if by discretion and
md olo he
can be avoided without losing any of
our advantage, General Otis may be
safely trusted to exhibit those qualities