The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-05-30
The Peace Part.


ceived, last week, the intima-
ton that the peace part of President
McKinley's administration was some
what at odds with the military part of
the establishment at Manila. There
was a sort of intmation that General
Otis was restless under the restraints
imposed by the parley of the peace COM
missioners with the representatives of
Aguinaldo. Word to this effect reached
the American press, and the brief men,
ton of a certain amount of rivalry,
which probably is not jealousy, prompt
ed the Standard to watch out for the
news on this score that reached some
of the notable newspapers of the coun
try through the agency of their special
correspondents at Manila.
The New York Herald has Manila
news service that has been considered
by a great many people to be some
thing to go by. The Herald's dispatch
relating to this matter included several
paragraphs touching the dealings of
the peace commission with the Fill
pinos, in one of which the correspond
ent remarks that the islanders who
have had a hand in the dealings with
our representatives are sin dread of
future legislation at Washington" and
that they will not accept a single item
in our offer of terms.
fGregorio del Pillar" says the Her
AIDS dispatch, turned red under his
brown skin when he realized that he
was being offered nothing but vague
promises of possible representation for
his people in case of compliance with
the American demand that they lay
down arms. Every Filipino shrugged
his shoulders as glowing prophecies of
the future, after the cessation of hos
tilities, were outlined to them by the
members of our commission. They said
that they asked for independence and
liberty with dignity under the protec-
ton of the United States, and were
now offered nothing but the indefinite
assurance that individual natives ought
to hold official positions under the pro-
posed government"
Inc cable dispatch from which we
have quoted has the added remark that
the opinion of military officials at Ma
Mia is that the negotiations merely en-
courage the insurgents to hold out for
better terms, especially since the COM
manding American general is not con-
suited in the negotiations. This remark
let's in a little light on the intimation
in last weeks press news, which was
that. before Admiral Dewey was many
miles away, there was revealed a senti-
ment to the effect that the chickering's
of the peace commissioners were prov
ing to be irksome to General Otis and to
the military staff. Dealing editorially
with this Dispatch the New York Her.
aid says:
The conduct of President McKinley's
civilian peace commissioners in the Phil
ippines. as described in special cable
dispatch, furnishes a new and imperative
reason for their immediate recall Their
meddlesome palavering with the Filipino
delegates in Notwithstanding them and
discussing silly terms and conditions with
them-1can only serve to swell the heads
OF the insurgent leaders. thwart the pans
OF General Otis and, by prolonging the in
surrection. add to the suffering and loss
of life among our gallant troops.
But what Of the opportunities for
fighting? Later tidings from Manila
than those we have quoted declare the
fighting season closed. Even now the
rainy season has begun and another
week will see the rice fields converted
into quagmres. While these insurgent
leaders were being entertained by
Messrs. Schurman, DENLY and Wor-
cester, and driving about Manila in blue
coats. scarlet trousers and gold lace,
reVeling in the attention bestowed upon
them and holding levees at Filipino
houses, where they had every oppor-
tunity to promote the interests of the
instruction, our troops, amid the hard
ships and perils of the field were en-
gagged in at least three several conflicts
with their murderous foes.
Nobody knows what Admiral Dewey
thinks of this negotiating. He is not
talking. AS for General Otis, the pub
lie seems to have learned what he
| thinks of this idle palaver. He is a
member of the peace commission. but
he seems not to share it's ambitions.
| The question is whether he can fight
! now. even if he were free to, or whether
! he must abide the weather. Meanwhile,
! two matters remain to be considered.
First, it does not appear that the Aguin-