The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1897-06-22
WOULD BUY CUBA
Sugar Trust Credited With q De.
sire to Come Into Possession
of the Island.
Scheme Originated by Colonel
McCOok-How 1t Might Be
Accomplished.
determination Of Cubans by Star
walton Goes on at an,Alarm-
ing Rate.

WASHINGTON, June pa story is
current that the sugar trust has evolved,
or accepted, an ambitious suggestion
that as Cupa is substantially for sale, it
might as well become sugar plantation
for a gigantic corporation supported by
the sympathy and the interest of our
country. In other words that we might
nave a West India company as England
has an East India company and a Hud-
son Bay company, each of which aided
vastly in the extension of the British
empire.
Colonel j. McCook is the gentleman
credited with the imagination to CON
ceive the capture of Cuba with cash as
McCook understands it, is merely a
matter of business. The idea runs this
way:
Spain has already charged to Cuba a
debt Of 800, 900, 900, and under Spanish
dominion the island can never yield a
event amounting to one-half the in
terest. Cuba, without a port or town
or ship, has IL national debt, and yet
there are many who think the CT, dit of
the Cuban government should be as
good, if not better, than that of Spain.
Suppose there was a company ON.
handing money to take up the whole
Cuban debt, with the wal debt of Spain
say $4,000, OOO-and 500, 900, 900 for the
Spanish rights in Cuba, and the Cuban
rights in the forests aud mines, and in
settling American and Cuban claims
against Spain-and the United States
would guarantee bonds to the amount
of 500, OO,OOOat 8 per cent, and supervise
and administer the custom of the ports of
Cuba for the payment Of the interest,
the government holding the bonds as
security, would not liberty and peace
and prosperity for the island be accom-
plished ut a cost of S3,OO0,O00 Il year,
taken out of the Cuban custom houses!
Incidentally There Would be Profit.
Incidentally, it would seem that there
must be an immense profit to the man.
ayers of what might be called the Gu.
ban trust. The advantages to the
Spaniards would be peace and the ex
tinction Of some hundred millions of
hopeless debts, for the creditors of Spain
would be glad to scale her obligations,
and she could have a large sum of
money i'll hand instead fof Cuban
blood and ashes on her hands. The
gain to Cuba would he government by a
corporation, limited, instead of a crown
absolute, and there could be a contract
guaranteeing civil liberty to the people
on United States models. There would
be money for roads and schools and SAIL
itary measures, and there would be, as a
necessity of internal administration,
such a measure of self government as
would maintain order through a police
force with Cuban volunteers to deal
with brigandage.
The municipal problems could be
dealt with by the municipalities and adj
justment made for the administration
of justice and payment of worthy pen
sionerS.
With the introduction of American
energies and the security of capital
made plain by the visible presence of
political security would yield wealth be-
yond the dream of averice.
The revenue in the days of reciprocity
with us was in excess of $50, 900, 900, and
it would rise far beyond that figure
within a few years of this magnificent
management.