Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1898-09-23
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular Correspondent,


as European governments are con-
cerned, the center of interest will be
shifted from Washington to Paris, as
soon as our Peace Commissioners,
now in their way, arrive at the latter
city. The German Ambassador left
for Europe ahead of the Peace Com
missioners, on lhe plea that he need
ed a course of bathing at Carlsbad.
There is little doubt that he was sum-
moned home by the Emperor, who is
deeply interested in the settlement
of the Philippine question so deeply
that many believe be intends to seize
an island if the treaty does not pro-
vide for the entire group passing I'M
der American control. The Am
bassador can give him pointers on the
condition of American sentiment.
The French Ambassador, who repre-
sent ed Spain in the preliminary peace
negotiations, has also gone to Europe,
and he didn't take the trouble to say
that he was going for his health.
From hints dropped by the President
10 several of his callers, the impress
sion is growing that our Commits
sioners are instructed to insist upon
American control of the whole of the
Philippine islands.
Notwithstanding the declination OF
number of gentlemen to serve on
the Commission to investigate the
conduct of the war, the President ex-
poets to get the Commission complet-
ed and at work in a few days. lie
impresses those with whom he talks
on the subject with the idea that ne
is very much in earnest and deter
mined that the Commission shall get
at the whole truth regardless of con-
sequences. He has promised every
possible assistance in getting oral
evidence, and that all the War De
partment records will be open to the
Commission. That should bring out
the facts, even if the Commission does
lack authority to compel witnesses to
to testify.
Until Col. Hay arrives to assume
the duties of Secretary Of State, which
will he within the present week, the
department of State will be without
a Secretary and without first AS
sistant, Mr.. Day having resigned the
Secretaryship to become a Peace
Commissioner, and Mr.. Moore the
position of lst Assistant to accompany
the Peace Commission in an advisory
capacity. Col. Hay will be allowed
10 choose his lst Assistant.
Englishmen who have recently
visited Washington are practically
: unanimous in their opinions of what
we ought to do with the Philippines
Mr. Samuel Bride, a prominent Lon
doner said: "England has deep i'll
terest in the settlement of theowner-
ship of the Philippines. If the Q. S.
does not hold on to them, England
will not readily assent to their oc-
cupation by any other power. We
think it is all right for your govern
ment to hold them; in fact, from our
point of view, it would be an act OF
weakness for the Americans to re-
nounce any spot of ground thai they
have obtained by conquest. A strong
nation will always hold what it has
won though the expenditure Of blood
and money. The result of the war
with Spain has elevated the Ameri-
can Nation in the eyes Of the coun-
tries across the sea, and it would be
a distinct loss to you to falter or give
way in the least degree in the polio V
that your victory over SPAN has rem
dered inevitable"