The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1898-09-22

Washington, Sept. 1.-THE cabinet
met in special session at :; O'Clock yes
terday afternoon and adjourned at 4
O'Clock. Al, of the members were
present except Secretary Algec who is
not in the city. All united in the
statement made after the Meeting
that they had greed 10 say nothing
more OF the result Of the deliberations
than that the peace commissioners
had been fully instructed. OF the
nature of these instructions they con-
ycycd not Il word. Each pointed out
that to do so would amount to arming
the Spanish commissioners in advance
against themselves. The peace com
missioneTS who We're approached on
the subject made II similar response,
thus closing Ill official avenues of in
formation. IT was said Wat the COM
miSSioners were fully instructed"
ana upon seeking further cXplana-
| ton of this phase ii appeared tLat TIE
| cabinet had patiently gone over in the
discussion with the commissioners
| every subject that in their opinion
| could DE brought into the proceedings
| before the joint commission. ON each
| of these the American commissioners
were made acquainted with
| The Views and Wishes
of the administration. 1t is not to be
! understood from this that the commits
| SionerS 20 under ir0nclad and un-
| changeablc instructions al all points,
for there is Il certain amount of tiexi-
! bility in the instructions also. as one
OF the cabinet members put it. the
president might just as well have re-
duced his wishes to paper in the form
of IN ultimatim and have sent that to
| Paris by Il messenger. The peace
| commissioners are in no sense mere
| m0uthpieces. but having chosen with
| the greatest care ana consideration
| five men in whom he puts the most
implicit confidence. the president feels
that they are To- he trusted with the
interests OF the United States. 1t Is
no expected that they will have
free rein i'll the larger questions or
policy. but with ample opportunities
FOR consultations by cable and other
wise. there is no reason why the COM
missioners should not be able TO carry
out the
| Desires OF the Administration
aud at the same time have the oppor-
tunity To somewhat shape those de-
L v "
may acquire. For instance. it is said
that mt Paris the commission will
meet Gen. Merritt fresh from Manila,
and in addition they will there have
the benefit Of II Spccia! report from
Admiral Dewey. These will bc of the
greatest value. for the commissioners
are not acQua with the Philip
pine question in detail. aud even
the information is to be acquired from
the Spanish peac" commissioners is
not to be despiSed when it takes such
an official form that it can be relied
| upon rs 10 accuracy
| All the arrangements have been
completed for the departure of the
commission and its staff. The Cam
: paniu sails at p. m. Saturday. and
explicit instructions have been given
all of the members OF the party as to
. being on board at that time.
In n statement given to the press,
| Secretary Day. speaking o. the work
| OF the commission and the instructions
= given the members by the president.
: says:
| AT the very outset ii will be made
clear To the Spanish commissioners
. that. as in the case of the preliminary
protocol there can be no deviation
/ from nor modification Of the demands
made by the United States"