The Florida agriculturist., 1889-03-20

could call upon friendly nations. But
wise men smiled sadly at these sugges-
tions; it was difficult to find nation de-
sirous of war with England.
In the midst of the enthusiasms, the
fears and the suggestions, came reports
of the capture of American merchant
ports made the American people more
furious, the American government more
anxious
Almost from the beginning of this
period of national turmoil, party of
gentlemen met daily in one of the large
rooms in hotel in New York. At first
tHere were eleven of these men, all from
the great Atlantic cities, but their mum:
ber increased by arrivals from other
parts of the country, until at last they
numbered twenty three. These gentle
men were all great capitalists, and ac-
custcn1ed to occupying themselves with
great enterprises. By day and by night
they met together with closed doors,
until they had matured the scheme which
they had been considering AS soon as
this work was done, committee was
sent to Washii gton, to submit plan to
the government.
These twenty-three men had formed
themselves into a syndicate, with the
object of taking entire charge of the war
between the United States and Great
Britain
This proposition was an astounding
one, but the government was obliged to
treat it with respectful consideration.
The men who offered it were power in
the land, a power which no government
could afford to disregard.
The plan of the syndicate was compre-
hensive, direct and simple. 1t offered to
assume the entire control and expense of
the war, and tQcffect satisfactory peace
within one year. AS guarantee that
this contract would be properly per-
formed, an immense sum of money
would be deposited in the treasury at
Washington, Should the syndicate be
unsuccessful this sum would be for
feited, and it would receive no pay for
anything it had done.
The sum to be paid by the government
to the syndicate, should it bring the war
to a satisfactory conclusion, would de-
pend upon the duration of hostilities.
That is to say, that as the shorter the
duration of the war. the greater would
be the benefit to the country, therefore,
the larger must be the pay to the syndi-
cate. According to the proposed con-
tract, the syndicate would receive, if the
war should continue for a year, one
quarter the sum stipulated to be paid if
Il II.
If at any time during the conduct of
the war by the syndicate an American sea-
port should be taken by the enemy, or a
British force landed on any point of the
seacoast, the contract should be con-
sidered at an end, and security and pay
ment forfeited. If any point ON the.
northern boundary Of the United States
should be taken and occupied by the
enemy, $1,00G,000 of the deposited Sc
curity should be forfeited for every such
occupation, but the contract should con-
tinue.
It was stipulated that the land and
naval forces of the United States should
remain under the entire control of the
government, but should be maintained
as Il defensive force and not brought
into action unless any failure on the part
of the syndicate should render such
action necessary.
The state Of feeling in governmental
circles, and the evidences of alarm and
distrust which were becoming apparent