Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-13
THE PEACE COMMISSIONERS.
They VIII Refer All Controversie,
Directly to the President.

From the Chicago Tribune.
1t Is reported that the President will ap-
point five commissioners to negotiate the
treaty of peace with Spain. If he does he
will follow the precedent set by President
Madison. who appointed five men to agree
on terms with Great Britain after the war
of 1912. They were John Quincy Adams,
Henry Clay (who resigned the speakership
for this new duty. Albert Gallatin (who
was then Secretary of the Treasury, SEN
ator James A. Bayard. the grandfather of
Thomas F. Bayard, and Jonathan Russell,
who was then minister to Sweden and Nor
way 1t would not be an easy task to Sc
lect as able a commission today.
Present conditions differ, however in
many respects from those of 1914 when 1t
was necessary that the United States
should be represented by men of marked
ability. This country was more anxious
for peace and needed it more than Great
Britain did. American finances were in a
state Of horrible disorder. The New Eng
land states were threatening secession.
While some brilliant sea fights had been
won, operations on land had not been IA
vorabe to the Americans. Napoleon had
been disposed of and Great Britain was left
free to devote itself to the American war
30 commissioners were required who, while
conscious Of the need of peace and willing
to make all honorable concessions to get it.
yet would get the best possible terms and
concede nothing unnecessarily. They did
the best that could have been done.
Mr.. Adams and his colleagues were in a
perplexing position because communication
with their home government was slow and
uncertain. President Madison had given
them instructions, but when confronted by
British demands which the President had
not anticipated they were at a loss to know
exactly what to do. They had to play their
own hand ignorant how far they would be
sustained by Mr.. Madison. But President
McKinley's commissioners, whether they
meet at Paris or somewhere else in Europe
win be in constant communication with
him. They will be as near him as II at
Washington. The President will be the
real negotiator and the commissioners will
be merely his mouthpieces.
As a consequence their elaboration will
not be marked by any of those lively con-
troversies which took place at Client. Mr..
Adams and Mr.. Clay, the two most set and
contentious men on the commission, dis
agreed on many occasions. and Mr.. Gala
tin, the best diplomat OF them all, was kept
busy preserving the peace. If the Span
iards advance some unexpected proposition
there will be no opportunity for the Ameri-
can commissioners to wrangle over it.
They will refer the matter to the President
at once.
There seems to be an impression that
Secretary of State Day is to be at the head
of the commission. That would be a natu-
raj choice. He has been close to the Presi-
dent during the last few months and no
one can be more familiar than he Is with
the views and plans of the President It Is
intimated that a Justice of the Supreme
Court may be put Oh, the commission
There are precedents for that Jay was
sent to England and Ellsworth to France
One Of the commissioners may be selected
from the Senate. The advantage of that
from the Presidents point of view would
be that the treaty. would have one thor
oughly informed defender In the Senate.