The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-08-21

The personnel Of the peace commission
has not yet been announced. but there
Ii iitiIe doubt that Secretary OF State
William K. Day. ex-Secretary Of the
Navy Benjamin F. Tracy Of New York
and Senator Cushman K Davis OF Min
ncsota. chairman OF the committee On
foreign relations, will be members of
the commission. Senator Davis and Mr..
Day have already been selected. 1t has
been generally understood that Secre-
tary Day is not an ardent expansionist.
and viii. therefore, meet the question
of the disposition OF the Philippines in
conservative spirit. We have not seen
any public expression OF opinion from
ex-Secretary Tracy upon this subject.
but his views are no doubt ia harmony
with President McKinley's. The posi-
ton OF Senator Davis as chairman OF
tbs committee on foreign relations will
entail member of the commission. In
his address at st. Paul last month at
the laying Of the corner-stone Of the
new state capitol building Senator Da-
Wis. after alluding 10 the partition OF
Africa among the European states and
the movement toward the Orient with
similar designs upon China's territory,
said:
''The maritime. commercial and political
genius of the American people VIII not
suffer the United States to be the China
of thc West What action By the United
States do its peace and safety require 20
insure TO IL the rightfal and most advaH-
tageoiIs results OF these new international
seiag icas and adiustments9 The situation
In the Chinese Orient Ii pregnant with
wars and wars.
Next TO China the Pacific possessions
of the United States are the most Inviting
objects of attack Under existing conai
;ions their defense would be diffcu,t. Had
Spain triumphed at Manila as dcciSiyeiy
did the United States. her navy could
have seized Honolulu and operated rem
there upon the entire coast Of the States
from the coast Of Mexico to the Yukon.
An oveTpowering European force in the
Asia.ic waters could Go the same thing:
so could Japan.
The situation is plainly one OF aitcraa-
uves. The United States must heco!.ic an
efficient element In the Asiatic situation or
mus, abstain frora any participation In IL.
return 10 It's own shores and cover the
smallest possible share Of lis Commercial.
advantages. and prepare fer rs own de-
Tense against the same aggressions which
have reduced China to her present condi-
ton. Ii may he objected thai al. this ia
without precedent. So II Ia. but all great
human eyolutlons must precode presidents
In order 10 create them.
The pfesenS war has restored confidence
to those whc feared that the spirit Of our
people and their patriotism had been
cnervascd by long and prosperous peace.
1T Is now manifest that the United
States vii De at the conclusion ~ his
"sr great ard actual nava. and military
power The astounding victories a. Aa~
nirai Dewey ard Commodore s'chley have
convinced our people Of the VISA. lgnpor-
lance Of the sea power. The organization
and OPERATION Of Il grAa. army and navy
VIII teach them their Hsv1 strength II is
also perceive, 49,, the greatest xa;i~faf-
tAa taa. ,srtain opponents of European
opinion. wao Gniil recently speke via
eon1cse ending assumption of superiority
81 intervening IN thg present contest. azxe
aha'.si 'hsii bauteur of expression
The Mo1ros doctrine in The senSa ~
Vsse 70 Efcyenf encyeae ha.euis by t-si-
roeean nations 09oa republics ~ the Wez.-
ora Acmls@hese. has hssn confirmed an3
has received steadyiag la fierce"
II is plain 10 he seen that Senator
Davis IS koenly alive 70 the situation
confronting the United States. ard If
1t is LETT 10 him to decide which 81 the
TIVE alternatives presented shall be
adopted. there Is no doubt This country
viii become an efficient element in this
AStatic Situation