Morris tribune., 1889-03-20

the syndicate. Inc government caugnt
ut its proposition, not as If it We're q
straw but as If it were a life raft. The
men who offered to relieve the executive
departments of their perilous response
bilitics were men of great ability, promi-
nent positions, and vast resources, whose
vast enterprises had already made them
known all over the globe. Such men
were not likely TO jeopardize their repu-
tations and fortunes ina case like this,
| unless they had well founded reasons for
believing that they would be successful.
Even the largest amount stipulated to be
paid them In case of success would be
less than the ordinary estimates for the
military and naval operations which had
been anticipated; and in case of failure,
the amount forfeited would go far to
repair the losses which might be sus-
tanned by the citizens of the various
states.
At all events, should the syndicate be
allowed to take immediate control of the
war, there would be time to put the
army and navy, especially the latter, in
better condition to carry on the contest
in case of the failure of the syndicate.
Organization and construction might
still 60 on, and, should it be necessary,
the army and navy could step into the
contest fresh and well prepared.
All branches of the government united
in accepting the offer of the syndicate.
The contract was signed, and the world
waited to see what would happen next.
The influence which for years had been
exerted by the interests controlled by the
men composing the syndicate had its
effect in producing o popular confidence
in the power of the members of the syn
dictate to conduct war as successfully
as they had conducted other gigantic
enterprises. Therefore, although predic-
tions of disaster came from many quar-
tiers, the American public appeared will
ing to wait with but moderate Impotence
for the result of this novel undertaking.
The government now proceeded to
mass troops at important points on the
northern frontier; forts were supplied
with men and ornaments; all coast de-
lenses were put in the best possible con-
dition; the navy was stationed at impor-
tant ports, and work at the ship yards
went on. But, without reference to all
this, the work of the syndicate imnsedi-
ately began.
s. This body of men were of various pol
itics and Of various pursuits in life. But
politics were no more regarded in the
work they had undertaken than they
would have been in the purchase of land
or of railroad iron. No manifestoes of
motives and intentions were issued to
the public. The syndicate simply went
to work. There could be no doubt that
early success would be a direct profit to
it, but there could also be no doubt that
its success would be a vast benefit and
profit, not only to the business enter
prises in which these men were severaly
engaged, but to the business of the whole
country, To save. the United States from
a dragging war, and to save themselves
from the effects Of it, were the prompt
ING motives for the formation of the syn
dictate.
Without hesitation, the syndicate de-
termined that the war in which it was
about to engage should be one of defense
By means of ofense. Such awar must
necessarily be quick and effective; and
with an the force Of their fortunes, their
minds and, their bodies. its members
went to work to wage this war quickly
and effectively. .
aAu known inventions and improve
ments in the art Of war had been thor
oughly considered by the syndicate and
by the eminent specialists whom it had
enlisted In its service. Certain recently
perfected engines of war, novel in ma
fure, were the exclusive property Of
the syndicate. It was known or sur
missed in certain quarters that the syndi-
cate had secured possession of important
warlike inventions, but what they were
and how they acted was secret care
fully guarded and protected.
The first step Of the syndicate was to
purchase from the United States govern
ment ten war vessels. These were Of
medium size and in good condition, but
they were of an old fashioned type, and
it had not been, considered expedient to
put them in commission. This action
caused surprise and disappointment in
many quarters. It had been supposed
that the syndicate, through its agents,
scattered all over the world, would inn
mediately acquire, by purchase or lease,
a feet Of fine ironclads culled from vari-
GUS maritime powers. But the syndicate
having no intention of involving, or at
tempting to involve, other countries in
this quarrel, paid no attention to public
opinion, and went to work in its own
way.
Its vessels, eight Of which were on the
Atlantic coast and two on the Pacific,
were rapidly prepared for the peculiar
service In which they were to be en-
gagged. The resources Of the syndicate
were great, and in very short time
several of their vessels, already heavily
plated with steel, were furnished with
an additional outside armor, formed Of
strips Of elastic steel, each reaching from
the gunwales nearly to the surface of
the water. These, strips, about a foot
wide, and placed an inch or two apart,
were each backed by several powerful
air buffers, so that a bali striking one or
more Of them would be deprived Of
much of its momentum. The expert
ments upon the steel spring and buffers
adopted by the syndicate showed that
the force Of the heaviest cannonading
was almost deadened by the powerful
elasticity Of this armor.
49,,