Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-08-30
The Peace cemmls.lon.

- sAAS ssAoSe A0tOtdWe COIHIucue
on all sides OF the selections made by
President Mckinley in forming the
peace commission. The Ave men
chosen as the American representa-
tives will have work Of vast respon-
sibility before them when they meet in
Paris. next month. to arrange the
peace details and draw up the treaty
with the representatives CT Spain.
Our Ave Commissioners represent both
great parties and widely separated
sections Of our country. but all are
men of eminent ability and wide ex-
perience in public affairs, and all are
men of intense Americanism. The
President has chosen one man from
his cabinet. one from the supreme
bench. two from the Senate and one
from private life. Maine, New York.
Ohio, Minnesota and Louisiana are the
states represented on the commission.
President Mckinley has recognized
the necessity. in the selection of the
peace commission, of securing as rep
resentatives of the United States men
of a superior order of fitness. While
the commission will receive general in
structions from the President as to the
policy which shall govern them. it Is
of the utmost Importance that they
shall be tactful and prudent in their
intercourse with the skilled diplomats
who are to speak for Spain. The war
is halted rather than ended, and while
no apprehension exists of the resump-
ton of hostilities, it is eminently to be
desired that the peace conference shall
be harmonious as to the personal rela-
lions of its members, and that the
American government shall be worth
lily and ably represented. The subtle
ties of diplomacy are cultivated to the
extreme by Spanish statesmen, While
Americans are given to bluntness and
plain dealing. The peace commission
which President Mckinley has desig-
mated is a well rounded body of prac-
teal men. Who may be depended upon
to safeguard our interests and acquit
themselves creditably of an especially
delicate responsibility.
William r. Day, who is to resign the
office Of secretary of state in order to
become the senior member of the COM
mission, is particularly fitted for his
new position. He is entirely familiar
with the situation, having conducted
all of the negotiations on behalf of our
government, made necessary by the
determination of the present admins
tration to intervene in the matter of
Cuba. He has the judicial poise. the
qualities of fairness .,and precision.
which make him aEsaS and sagacieus
representative. seha bH Cushinih tx.
Davis is chairman of the committee on
foreign relations, andsis about COM
pleting his second term in the Senate.
He is an exS eri{ hceeS lawyer. has
served Is g9x4na3 q Minnesota, saad
has taken a conspicuous part in con-
nection with the debates in the Senate
over our attitude towards the powers.
Senator William P. Frye, of our own
State, is second on the committee on
foreign relations, and has been a
member of Congress since 1881. He is
eminent as a lawyer and a man of
broad and deep education. He is one
of the most influential members of the
Senate, and has few equals as stu
dent Of American politics. The COM
mission as well as Maine, is honored
by his selection. Justice Edward d.
White of Louisiana, is a well known
jurist, who owed his elevation to the
supreme court largely to his thorough
acquaintance with the NapoleOnic code,
which underlies the laws in force in his
section of the United States. His
familiarity with the procedure which
obtained during the acquisition Of
Florida, Louisiana and Texas should
prove of value. Whitelaw Reid of
New. York, is a man of affairs, whose
diplomatic experience. will make a
most valuable member of the commits