The Portland daily press., 1896-01-09
CURRENT COMMENT.
DEFECTS OF THE BOND OFFER.
New York SUM-

If the Secretary were in earnest in the
effort to sell the present issue, he would
adopt measures similar to those adopted
by Secretary Sherman in 1879. He would
name a price for the bonds Il little under
the market, say ia, and offer to allow to
every national bank, every banker, and
every broker, commission for selling
them.
If this commission were as much as
one per cent it would be only one-tenth
of that which last week he WAS credited
with being willing to pay, to a syndicate.
Probably one-quarter of one per cent
would suffice.
1t may be said that the requirement of
gold coin in payment for the bonds will
situations that have the gold in their pos
session or can procure it from abroad. 1t
is declared that it will be unpatriotic to
draw it out of the Treasury for the pur-
poes. This is an error. Whatever be the
source of the Gold, it is to be paid into
theH Treasury for the redemption of legal
tender notes, and it is no less patriotic to
draw it out today and pay it back tomor-
row, than to pay it in today and draw it
out tomorrow. The gold that was
brought from Europe last year for the
sos. Goo 600 issue went back again in few
months, and, as far as orr present situa-
ton goes, it might as well have been left
Gnere all Gne Time.
1t looks as if the Administration had
only delayed, and not renowned. bar
gain with the syndicate, which some of
the newspapers have criticised. 1t will
wait till Feb. S, and then, if the popular
subscriptions fail, as they probably will
fail, to cover the entire 500, 600, 900
offered, it will accept bid from the syn
dictate ''all or none"
HUM ILIATING DAYS FOR ENG
Hartford Post.)
England's experience during the past
few days has been a humiliating one.
The weakness Of what is commonly be-
lieved to be powerful empire has been
shown very forcibly. Above all nations
she should pray for peace for she has more
TO lose by war than any other. Take
her last exhibition of aggrandizement in
South Africa-for il is hers, whatever
may be said about Jameson's lack of
authority. She is face to face sthere with
Germany and France, not alone with the
sturdy Beers themselves. The warliks
German emperor, notwithstanding that
be has royal relatives In England, has
plainly offered German support to tue
Beers in case they need it. The Ger
mans, too, have landed at Delagoa bay
on the coast of East Africa and opened
up another spot tor English diplomats to
consider seriously. 1t seems as if the
whole world had waited for this oppor-
unity to attack England. None Of the
powers did this because perhaps the &C.
casion had not arisen, until after the
United States, as is her inherited GUS
tom, had told the mistress CT the seasn
to keep her hands of Venezuela This
declaration was like the shot OF the en-
hattled farmers at Concord and like that
was heard around the world. 1t stated
wave of revolution that has not ended
yet And American insistence against
Salisbury's interference on this continent
is having similar effect. Today Eng
land has no real friend among the La
tions of Europe.
SOLID NEW ENGLAND WILL COUNT.
(Springffeld Union.)
If there are any New England Repub-
licans who do not favor the nomination
of Thomas B. Reed for the presidency,
they are not standing up to be counted
The thing to do is to make it unanimous
Solid New England will count in the
national convention.