The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-16
THE CABINET MEETING.
Peace Commissioners Present and
Given Their Instructions.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15-The Cabinet
met in special session at o'clock this aft
ernoon and adjourned at l. All of the mem
bers were present except Secretary Alger,
who is not in the city. All united in the
statement made after the meeting that they
agreed to say nothing more of the result of
the deliberations than that the peace COM
missioners had been fully instructed OF
the nature of these instructions they con-
veyed not a word. Each one pointed out
that to do so would be extremely impoitic
and would amount to arming the Spanish
commissioners in advance against them
selves. The peace commissioners who were
approached on the subject made a similar
response, thus closing all official avenues of
information
1t was said that the commissioners were
fully instructed and, upon seeking a
further explanation of this phrase, it ap-
peared that the Cabinet had patiently gone
over in the discussion with the commission
ers every subject that in their opinion could
be brought into the proceedings before the
joint commission. On each of these the
American commissioners were made ac-
quainted with the views and wishes of the
administration. 1t is not to be understood
from this that the commissioners go under
ironclad ana Interchangeable instructions at
all points, for there is certain amount of
fiexibility in the Instructions AS one of
the Cabinet members put it, the President
might just as we'll have reduced his wishes
to paper in the form of an ultmatum and
have sent them to Paris by messengers.
The peace commissioners are in no sense
mere mouthpieces, but, having chosen with
the greatest care and consideration five
men in whom he puts the most implicit
confidence the President feels that they
are to be trusted with the interests of the
United States.
1t is not expected the commissioners will
have free rein in the larger questions of
policy, but, with ample opportunities for
consultation by cable and otherwise, there
is no reason why the commissioners should
not be able to carry out the desires of the
administration and at the same time have
the opportunity to somewhat shape those
desires by conveying information they may
acquire. For instance, it is expected that
at Paris the commissioners will meet Cen
eral Merritt fresh from Manila, and in ad-
dition they will there have the benefit of
special report from Admiral Dewey These
will be of the greatest value, for the COM
missioners are not acquainted with the
Philippine question in detail, and even the
information that is to be acquired from
the Spanish peace commissioners is not to
be despised when it takes such an official
form that it can be relied upon as to accu-
racy.
All the arrangements have been COM
pleted for the departure of the commission
and it's staff Most of the party will leave
Washington at 4 o'clock tomorrow after
noon for New York, but circumstances
may detain some of the commissioners un-
til the night train. The Campania sails at
p. mi. Saturday, and explicit instructions
have been given all of the members of the
party as to being on board at that time
Special baggage tags have been printed for
the belongings of the members, and small
paper paster showing red and blue bars
crossed on a white background gives a
handy way of making a red. white and
blue" Identification of the personal and gen.
eral luggage of the party. A number of
stout cedar chests have been made to carry
the books, pamphlets, typewriter papers,
etc. which form a part of the American
case. The chests are like a shallow steamer
trunk, so that they may be showed under
the berths and thus be available or the
passage over instead OF going with the bag
gage In the hold of the steamer. This will