The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1898-09-17
Faction Of the Cabinet Thinks It
Would Be Well to Await
Events.
Full Cabinet Meeting Called for
the Purpose of Discussing
the Matter
And for Deciding Upon Instruc-
tiOns to Be Given Peace
Commissioners.

run GOWN from 0l6 NEW EQgl8nu sum-
mer home to meet the presidents wish
that there should be full attendance
at the cabinets meeting. -.
The purpose of the president in call.
ing for full attendance at the cabinet
meeting was to submit to the members
the instructions which would be given
to the American peace commissioners
The time is very limited in which to
properly charge the commissioners, for
as the America n members will sail
from New York, on Saturday on the
Campania, they must leave Washing
ton Friday, so that only brief time is
available to close up their business in
Washington. -
President Sill Undecided.
It is believed that ths president has
not finally and definitely concluded
upon line Of policy respecting the
Philippines, whether they shall be re-
tanned or relinquished. He was strong
ly disposed at the time of the signature
of the protocol to acquire nothing more
than coaling station at most, in the
Philippines. From the many inquiries
he has made of public men, and from
the notice he has taken sof tho attitude
assumed toward this question by the
press OF the country, il IS inferred
that he is still open to conviction as to
the best line OF policy to ba pursued.
and it is proba ble that his pr ncipal
purpose in calling the cabinet meet ng
was to gather from the members their
personal opinions, which ara sup
posed to be freshly acquired from con-
tact with the people where they have
been, as in the case Of Secretary Long
and others. paying visits to their native
states.
Disposed to Await Events.
One element in the cabinet is dis.
pose d to postpone the final decision on
the future of the Philippines, arguing
that tho matter might safely be left to
the discretion of the peace commits.
sioners, and pointing out that impor-
tant developments changing the whole
aspect Of the question could fairly be
expected before the international COM
mission had taken up the subject for,
consideration.
1t is the present disposition to re.
fraln from publishing instructions to
the peace commissioners. 80 that it 10
probable that only the most general
ideas will be permitted to leak ont.
This course is regarded as absolutely
essential in order to prevent the Span.
ish commissioners from obtaining an
s., inks
The oficials at the navy and army
departments profess to feel more con.
fdence than they have heretofore ex.
pressed regarding the present situation
in the Philippine Islands. In spite Of
al disgusting reports that have come
Of late from newspaper sources indi.
eating the existence OF critically
strained relations between the insur.
Rents and the American forces Of occu.
patton, ,sit il fact that FOR three days
past no word came to either state,
navy or war department. from Manila,
in regard to disturbances or the fear of
them. 5
Have Confldencs iu Otis.
One reason for the onfidence felt by
the war department officials In a
peaceable solution Of the difficulties. is
their knowledge Of the peculiar fitness
of General Otis, the American military
commander, for the discharge Of such
duties -diplomatio as well as military
-as now confront him. The officials
are confident thatif BY discretion and
Judgment q clash with the insurgents
can be avoided without losing any OF