The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-11-08

issued to the representatives Of the
tnlted States. Up 10 a very recent date
the United States commissioners had
no precise Instructions on this vital point.
u course before they mad departed from
ashlnGton much consideration had
beeh gwen 10 this important subject by
the PRESIDENT, Secretary Day. Assistant
secretary Moore and the members Of
TIE commission. But there was a lack
OF Data az 10 the financial and political
ahalrs of the Philippines, and il 50 hap
pened that when the United States com
m~lssloners sailed they were not COM
nnltted beyond change to any line OF
policy. A majority of their number
leaned toward 4 construction Of the de-
mandS to be put forth as 10 the Philip
pines, varying all the way from the re-
tentlon of Manila bay and the imme-
date surrounding country. TO the acqui-
sltion of the whole island Of Luzon.
That represented about the extreme de-
mand that was III mind when the COM
mission left. But since that time the
PRESIDENT has become convinced that
there IS a great popular demand for the
annexation to the United States of the
whole Philippine group, and he IS dis
posed to defer to that sentiment. Be
side, there is ground to believe that. in
an unofficial manner, possibly through
the informal communication with .Agon-
clio, Aguinaldo's agent III Paris. or per-
hapS through some direct dealing be
tween the chieftain and Admiral Dewey
the United States commissioners have
satisfied themselves that the difficulties
III the way of annexation. so far as they
might be expected to depend upon the
VIII nf tho natives hlya hnap ynrI-
much exaggerated.
PREPARED FOR THE DEMAND.
1t cannot be learned definitely what
money consideration is to pass with the
title to the Philippines. Indeed there
Is reason to believe that even the United
States peace commissioners have not vet
been able to Tx the amOunt exactly.
Assuming that they are to repudlate al
portions Of the debt of the islands which
does not represent money spent for &C
tual b~ettermentS, it will be seen at once
that the task presented to the commits
slonerS, of dif~ferentiating this debt, is
not an easy one: particularly in view of
the VIGOROUSLY loose financial methods
of the Spanish colonial authorities.
That this debt should be assumed by
the United States III some proportion,
is said at the State Department to be
lnvlOlable If annexation is to follow.
The conditions presented are entirely I'M
like those in Cuba. In the latter case
there was justification in international
law and precedent for our refusal to be
saddled with the debt wLen we had re
ceiyed no tangible asset. But in the
case of the Philippines, rich and well
populated, the United States would &C
quire what, in the eyes of the world, is
a most valuable possession. and. it is be
lievcd that the holders of all government
obligations, without regard to n~ational-
ity, would insist that the lien should
pass with the property. Quite unOffi-
cially, but in Il manner to carry cOnvic
ton as to accuracy of the information
the Spanish commissioners some days
ago were allowed to know what the
United States purpose as to the Philip
pines was, once the conclusion was ar
lived at. SO they are not taken com
pletely by surprise by the demand pre-
| scented to-day at Paris. and are likely tC
be prepared to proceed rapidly with this
last article Of the protocol.
London. Oct. 31.-The Times editori
ally this morning expresses its franz
satisfaction ut the decision of the United
States commissioners to take the Philip
nipnS