The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-06-11
THE MARES NEST ABOUT THE CUBAN
BOND BRIBERY IN WASHINGTON.

BOND BRIBERY IN WASHINGTON.
From the ". Y. Herald
The sensation story spread abroad that the
Cubans we're bribiDg congressman and others
by liberal gifts of their bonds to obtain the
recognition of our Government has ended in
smoke. Mi. Fitch and other members of the
House have ventilated and exposed this can
ard. 1t was as Mr. Fitch intimated. no doubt
manufactured by or through Spanish agents
for the purpose of creating prejudice against
the Cuban cause just at this particular time
1--WE approach, In few days, " he said, ''the
consideration of the question whether the
House will help Spain to crush Cuba or not.
1t is, perhaps, conf ectured by members of the
Spanish embassy that if charges of corrup-
tioD on behalf of Cuba can be circulated with
impunity and permitted to pass unchalenged
here concerning members, gentlemen on this
floor may be afraid to express the kindly SEN
timents which they may entertain for the
prosecuted Cubaps, and at the cost of a
dinner or a five dollar bill some scavenger
who disgraces the reportorial fraternity is
induced to sound the preliminary note of
slander. This is rather sharp, but no doubt
hits the nail on the head. Mr.. Fitch. how
ever, like many other members, we suppose,
will not ''swerve from the utterance of words
of encouragement and cheer to people who
are struggling for freedom" though such
slaDdero1s attacks may be made There are
plenty of lobby schemers in Washington
ready to take money, bonds, or anything else
from any side, and they buttonhole everyone
who goes to that city on business connected
with the Government. They live in that
way, and mostly upon false pretenses. They
endeavor to make it appear always that they
are on intimate terms with members of Con-
gress and high officials of the Government
Sometimes they take pay or promises to pay
from both sides. Nothing comes amiss to
these cormorants They often take and
cheat at the same time. There is no subject
in which there is a prospect of money
that they do not nibble at as keenly
as hungry fish at a bait. The Alaska
purchase, the st. Domingo treaty, Cuba,
or anything else, is tested and squeezed
in every possible way. These fello VS. have
been trying to humbug the Cubans, probably,
and taking money from Spain at the same
time. But they appear to have been foiled,
as far as the Cubans are concerned At least
it appears evident there has been no attempt
to bribe members of Congress. And why
all this fuss about the Cubans using what
means they have within their power to pro-
mote the cause they have at neart-the inde-
pendence of their country? Apart from re-
ported attempts to bribe members of Con-
gress or of the Government, which have no
foundation, what harm is there in the Cubans
using their means for such a sacred object?
DO not all governments-both established
and revolutionary governments-emplo
agencies and whatever means they can COM
mand TO accomplish their objects And if
these be not immoral where is the evil
There is a great deal of humbug and bun
combe about this cry of using Cuban bonds
to create favorable influence These ex-
plOded slanderous reports against the Cubans
will tend to benefit the Cuban cause and to
react upon the Spanish agents, who probably
manufactured them.