The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1898-09-02
THE PEACE CoMMISsIoNS Task


a century that the United States has
been at war with another nation, but
the settlement then, at the conclusion
of the Mexican conflict, was q much
less formal affair than this one will
be. One commissioner only, Nicho-
las P. Trist, represented the United
States in the arrangement of the
treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo of
S49, and three represented Mexico.
Moreover, Trist was not regularly
recognized commissioner of the
United States at the time, having
been recalled from Mexico just be-
fore the treaty was framed, but his
work was accepted by this country.
Mexico was PROSTATE at the feet of
the United States at the time, with
an American army holding its chief
cities, and was forced to accept any
terms which might be imposed by
the victor. The terms we're made
easier by the fact that the victor paid
a large sum of money, $15,000,000,
besides assuming $3,250,000 of debts
due from Mexico to American citi-
zens, for the territory which it had
already won by conquest.
In the present instance American
difficulties will be far greater than
they were then. Five commissioners
will represent the United States IN
this peace convention; they will be
confronted by five of the most astutc
personages whom Spain can select,
and the Spaniards will be ''coached''
by the diplomats of the other conti-
mental European powers. The COM
mission is to meet in Paris, city in
which, Notwithstanding its cosmopol-
itanism, Spanish influence, as dis
tlnguished from American, is pre-
dominant. 1t is known that the de,
mands of America IN the Philippines,
which will be the principal subject
of discussion among the commission
ers, will be exceedingly dIsagreeable
to the great nations of Europe out
side of England. The American
embers' whole environment will be
more or less hostile. 1t was of the
utmost Importance that the United
States representative be men of
ability, shrewdness and courage. The
commissioner Secretary Day, Sen
ators Davis and Frye, Justice White
and Whitelaw Reid--meet all the de-
mands IN these respects.
The Philippine situation, however,
is shaping itself favorably for the
Americans. Dewey and Merritt are
in virtual control of the whole Island
of Luzon, which commands the entire
Philippine group. Spanish authority
IN the archipelago is practically dead,
for the Spanlards in the few other
islands which have had garrisons
have neither supplies nor a navy.
The insurgents, now that the Ameri-
cans have destroyed the Spanish navy
and have captured the Spanish
stronghold, Manila, could overcome
the rest of the Spaniards, but they
would be powerless against American
opposition. There will be no neces-
sity, however, for American opposi-
tion. Aguinaldo, who was expected
to make trouble for the United
States, has become tractable. The
Philippines in Manila have told the
American officers that the lnsurgent
forces will disband if they are as
sured of American or British contro
of the islands, but add that they vii
never accept Spanish rule again
This simplifes the situation. The
The Philippines can not be giver
back TO Spain. England not only
does not want them, but she urge!
the United States to keep them. The
United States has won them, the
Philip pinos tell her to hang on tc
them, she needs them, and she will