The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1889-04-26

l
These twenty-three men had forme
themselves into syndicate, with tn
object of taking entire charge of the wa
between the United States and Grea
Britain.
This proposition was an astounding
one, but the government was obliged t
treat it with respectful consideration
The men who offered it were power il
the land, power which no government
could afford to disregard.
The plan of the syndicate was compre
hensive, direct and simple. 1t offered t.
assume the entire control and expense O
the war, and to effect a satisfactory peace
within one year. AS a guarantee tina
this contract would be properly per
| formed, an immense sum of money
would be deposited in the treasury al
Washington. Should the syndicate be
unsuccessful this sum would be for
feited, and it would receive no pay fol
anything it had done.
The sum to be paid by the government
to the syndicate, should it bring the wal
to satisfactory conclusion, would de-
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 year, one
quarter the sum stipulated to be paid if
peace should be declared in three months.
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 aud pay
ment forfeited. If any point on the
northern boundary of the United States
should be taken and occupied by the
enemy, S1,00O,000 of the deposited Sc
curity should be forfeited for every such
but the contract should con-
tinue.
twas stipulated that the land and
naval forces of the United States should
remain under the entire control of the
but should be maintained
as 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
in congress and among tho people, ex-
crted an important influence in favor Of
the syndicate. The government caught
ut its proposition, not as if it were a
straw but as if it were q life raft. The
men who offered to relieve the executive
of their perilous response
bilties 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
we're not likely to jeopardizc their repu-
.ations and fortunes in a case like this,
unless they had well founded reasons for
that they would be successful. |
Even the largest amount stipulated to be
)aid them in case of success would be
ess than the ordinary estimates for the
military and naval operations which had
ocen anticipated; and in case of failure,
he amount forfeited would so far to
'epair the losses which might be sus-
aimed by the citizens of the various
states.
AT all events, should tho syndicate be
Flowed to take immediate control Of the I
var, there would be time to put the
rmy and navy, especially the latter, in
'etter condition to carry on the contest
n case of the failure of the syndicate.
and construction might
till go on, and, should it be necessary,
he army and navy could step into the
ontest fresh and well prepared.
All branches of the government united
4 accepting the offer of tho syndicate.
he contract was signed, and the world
'aited to sec what would happen next.
The influence which for years had been
xerted by the interests controlled by the
len composing the syndicate had its
feet in producing popular confidence
l the power of the members of the syn
icate to conduct war as successfully
3 they had conducted other gigantic '
lterprises. Therefore, although predic- E
ons of disaster came from many guar {
re, the American public appeared will &
e to wait with but moderate impotence I
II the result of this novel undertaking. [
The government now proceeded to ]
ass troops at important points on the /
,rthern frontier; forts were supplied q
it'll men and armaments; all coast de- O
nses were put in the best possible con- {
ton; the navy was stationed at impor-
Mt ports, and work at the ship yards
mt on. But, without reference to all
is, the work of the syndicate immedi-
Ely began.
This body of men were of various pol {
cs and of various pursuits in life. But
litics were no more regarded in the
'rk they had undertaken than they
,uld have been in the purchase of land G,
of railroad iron. No manifestoes of
,tives and intentions were issued to
, public. The syndicate simply went nc
work. There could be no doubt that 3,
rly success would be a direct profit 70
but there could also be no doubt that :,
success would be u vast benefit and al
Gift, not only to the business enter !"
ises in which these men were severally 81
gagged, but to the business of the whole II
lntry. To save the United States from p'
lragging war, and to save themselves "
IN the effects of it, were the prompt Sc
motives for the formation of the syn pr
ate. "
Without hesitation, the syndicate de-
mined that the war in which it was az
,ut to engage should be one of defense III
means of offense. Such a war must ia
,cssarily be quick and effective; and II
ia all the force of their fortunes. their pc
nds and their bodies its members its