The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-09-23
OFFICE OF THE PEACE COMMITS
SION

1t has been said that it was given
out by the Government in a semi Off
cial way that our Paris Peace Commits
sion will state the terms of the United
States, with the addition that it is ex-
pected that Spain will accept them out
of hand and that we will permit no
amendments to be made.
If this is verify, then it is difficult to
discover why any peace commission
was necessary unless it is the correct
| thing to have the matter closed up
| through such a formal agency. We are
inclined to believe that the so-called
semf-official statement was inaccurate.
If our demands are not to be abated in
sany respect then there is no necessity
for debating them through a commits
sion. We must, therefore, conclude that
our Government does look forward to
and expect to make concessions that
may not be of material Importance.
In all great essentials the treaty must
be made satisfactory to us, and as
treaties are usually negotiated through
Commissioners, that is the office of our
representatives at Paris. That is to
say they will consult as to the formula
ton of the treaty, but while they will
not have power to abate our essential
demands, they will be permitted to
make some detail concessions, possibly
necessary to prevent protracted Sit
tings and much delay in the peace set
Element.
The country is not informed just what
our demands are as to possession and
government Of the Philippines, but the
commission, it is pretty certain, has
very little latitude in that direction. On
this question the public mind is much
exercised, but it must wait in patience
1t would have been indiscreet to reveal
the demands Of the Government, since
it would have afforded Spain opportun-
ity to bring European influences to bear
in the matter, and this country is de-
termined that no European Power. save
Spain, shall mingle in the affair, by ad-
vice, threat or suggestion.
The impression is daily gaining
ground that if the President has re-
solved to retain any part of the Philip
pines he has decided to hold all of them.
because Spanish Government author
ity over any of the islands under an
American protectorate would be farci-
cal, and without 1t failure AS Spain
has failed completely to govern wisely
and we'll the Cubans, and because of it
we have compelled her to relinouish all
control in Cuba, so it is reasonable to
conclude that the Administration has
not resolved to take one island in the
philippines alone, and leave the others
TO the unhappy domination of Spain.
we are very much in the position
now OF guarantors to the people of the
Philippines that they shall have better
government, and we cannot in good
conscience, therefore, excuse ourselves
by returning them to the rule of Spain.
which we have denounced as incompe-
tent. We may look, therefore, for the
disclosure the Peace Commission must
presently make, to- be one embodying
a demand for REIMBURSEMENT Of all con-
troll in the Philippines by the Spanish.
Just what is to be substituted, however.
remains an open question, whether alb
solute American domination over all
or only part, and protectorate over
other parts to stiffen a possible local
independent government, is still in
doubt, so far as the public mind Is con-
cerned