Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1889-04-02

~ ~ uAl AAlh' AAAAtn $50 h'AAaeNh "
the war by the syndicate an American IA
port should h. taken by the enemy. or a
British force landed on any point - the
scacuasi. the contract should h. con.
sidcrvl az an end. and security and pay
mcnt forfeited. n any point on the
northern boundary ~ the United States
should h. taken and occupied by the
enemy, 100000 % the deposited ~
curiiy should b. forfeited for every such
occupation. bat the oontrac, should con-
tinuc.
IL was stipulated that tho land and
naval forces ~ the United States should
remain under the entire control % the
government. hut should IL maintained
AZ defensive fcrro and not brought
into action unless any failure ou the part
of the syndicate should render such
action necessary.
Tho state u feeling In governmental
cirrlcs. and tho evidences u alarm and
dlstrusi which wcrv hrcomins apparent
In congress and among the pcople, Il.
crtcd an important influence in favor of
the syndicate Tho government Taught
n a. proposition. not a. u it were a
straw lut al u u wcrr life raft. Tho
men who uacrcl 10 relieve the executive
departments % their pcrilous responsi.
bilitic. wcru men 81 great ability. prImi-
nent Positions. AMI vast resources, Who's
vast enterprises had already made t,om
known all over the globc. Such men
wcro not likely to jcopar,life their rcpu'
tations and fortunes in ease Ike this.
unless they had well founded rcasoi fog
believing that they would D. succ' Hful
Even thc largest amount stipulated 20 L.
raid them IN case II succcss woulf L.
les than tho ordinary estimates Tor the
military and naval operations which hal
bccn Anticipated. and In case % "a iurc,
tho amount forfeited would go fr 90
rcpair the los-ss which might L. aus
tained by the citizens %, the vlrious
states.
At all events. should tho syndicsto b"
allowed 10 take immediate control o. the
war. there would bo time 10 put the
army AMI navy. especially the latter. In
better condition 10 carry on tho contest
In case II the failure of the syndicate.
Organization and construction might
siill 50 on. and. should IL h. necessary,
the army and navy could step into the
contest frcsh ami well prepared.
Allbfanch,r of the government united
In accepting the ohcr u the syndicate.
The contract was signed. and the world
waited a. $50 what would happen next
The influence which Tor years had been
e1erted by the interests controlled by the
men composing the syndicate had it,
effect In producing a popular confidence
In tho power ~ the members ~ the syn-
dicate 90 conduct war a. successfully
N they had conducted other gigantic
enterprise Therefore. although prc'lic-
tions II disaster Came from many quar-
ten. the American public appeared will
Ing 90 wait with but moderate impaiicnce
for the rcsult ~ this novel Undertaking
Tho government now proceeded to
mass troops 20 important points on the
northern frontier. forts were supplied
with men and armamcnts. all coast de-
fcnscs were put In the bcst possible con-
dition. the navy was stationed at impor-
tani ports. and work at the ship yards
went on. But. without reference 20 all
this. the work Of the syndicate immcdi-
atcly began.
This body ~ men were of various I'ol-
itics and of various pursuits IN life. hut
politics were mo- more regarded In the
work they had undertaken than they
would have bccn In the purchase Of land
or oi railroad iron. No manifostocs of
motives and intentions were issued TO
the public. The syndicate simply went
10 work. There could h. 10 doubt that
early success would IL dirct profit to
IL, but there could also H. no douht that
its success would L. vast bencilt and
profit. not only to the business enter
prise. In which these men were severllly
engaged. hut o. the business Of the wlnolc
country. To save the United States fr'nn
a dragging war. and 10 save Themselves
from the effects II IL, were uic prompt
ing motives for tho formation of the syn-
I dicate.
Without hesitation, the syndicate de-
,crmined that the war I'm which u was
about 60 engage should h. Onc of defense
by means Of oGcnsc. Such awar must
necessarily h. quick and effective; and
with all tho forcc Of ihcir fortunes, their
minds and their bOdics. it, incmbcp
went % work to wage this war quickly
and effectively.
All known Inventions and improve
mcnis In the art ~ war he'd bcin thor
oughly consilcred by the syndbuto and
by tho eminent specialists whom Il had
| enlisted I'm - service. Certain u,tcntly
/ perfected engines of war. novel iI' na.
turr. wcrc the exclusive property oil
the syndicate. IL was known ga ,ur'
miscd In certain quarters that the syi VIII
cate had securrd possession of import ~
warlike inventions. but what they We.
and how they acted was a secret care
fully guarded and protected.
The iirst step of the syndicate was 20
purchase from the United States govern
ment ton war vessels. These were of
medium size and in COOL condition, but
they were Of an old fashioned type. and
| II had not been considered erpcdient 10
put them In commission. This action
caused surprise and disappointment In
many quarters. IL had bcen supposed
that the syndicate, through it, agents.
scattered all over tho world. would i'm
mediatoly acquire. by purchase or lease,
fleet Of fine ironclads culled from yari-
Gus maritime powers. But the syndicate
having no intention of involving. or at
tempting 10 involve. other countries In
this quarrel. paid no attention to public
opinion. and went 10 work In It's 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 h. en-
gagged. The resources Of the syndicsfs
were great. and In a very short time
several Of their vessels, already heavily
plated With ssAsi. wsss hs.~i-A-A '--'-A