Show THE PEACE commission it seems to be settled now that secretary of state day is to head the peace commission which will meet at paris for the purpose of finally arranging the future relations between this country and aed spain ambassador hay Is to become secretary of state and whitelaw reid will go to london as the representative senta tive of our government there secretary day has proved his ability to hold the helm of the state during the storm that has passed notwithstanding the criticism that has been b bestowed e upon the administration he has discharged his duties to the satisfaction of the american people and it is felt that the interests of the nation are in sate safe hands bands he to is thoroughly familiar ath the views of the president and aid in a position to speak with authority upon any question that may come up before the peace commission the members of the spanish commission are said to be made up of expert fwu and accomplished diplomats under thel the leadership alad enship of almodovar del rio ahe chief difficulty promises to be the I 1 philippine islands probably spain will nAnt maintain aln that she has a right to keep all ail except mantia manila and in this she will be supported by all the european cabinets except that of great britain not because they desire to preserve the spanish power in the islands but because a temporary continuation of that power there would mean probably a chance for the land hungry empires to help themselves to that territory when needed on the other hand the policy of the united states with regard to the philippines is believed to be to retain the entire island of luzon while the remainder of the group may be given to spain to rule under certain guarantees as to the kind of government to be administered in that event the united states having possession of luzon and its troops and naval vessels being there it will be able to enforce the guarantees as to the government of the remainder of the group these guarantees ante will probably require all the islands to be surrendered by spain in case she falls fails to maintain the conditions agreed upon in the treaty should this solution be agreed upon n the philippines may become a bone of contention between the united states and some european countries for with the island of luzon americanized the inhabitants of the other islands would soon become discontented and wish to throw off the spanish rule in order to get the benefits enjoyed by their neighbors spain would be unable to subdue the people the united states would have to take a hand again in the affairs of the islands the only way to avoid future complications is to settle the matter now thoroughly and this is all the more important because the fate of the vast chinese empire is now trembling in the balances and the united states ought to be in a position to make herself heard in the councils of the nations that presume to dictate in matters of vital interest to the entire civilized world |