The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-06-10
Proposed by Shrewd Bond Spec
ulatOrs, Unearthed.
They Are Seeking the Aid of
the Government
UNDER THE PRETEXT
Of Settling the War in Cuba
With Money.
United States to Make Worth
less Cuban Bonds Good.

Cincinnati June 1O--The Enquirer
prints the following special from Wash
ington:
An attempt is soon to be made to
saddle an enormous amount of bonded
Indebtedness upon the people of the
United States for which there is to be
no consideration It will, if successful,
be a great steal. This is a hard word,
but the only one adequate for the Oc-
casion.
It is to be for the sole benefit of a
small number of bond spectators un-
der a competent leader. They are be
HeVed to be now engaged in plan to
secure an option on about $500, 000 600 Of
Spanish bonds at. a nominal price-that
is to say they seek to secure the priv
Iege of buying these bonds at any time
within a certain number of months at
a small price, say 20 cents on the dol
lar
They will not pay anything for this
privilege, and will never buy the bonds
unless they become worth a hundred
cents on the dollar before the privilege
expires. This they believe can be ac-
complished by measures upon which
Spain, Cuba and the United States can
be brought to an agreement.
They viii first alarm the present
holders of the bonds by assuring them
of the early Intervention of the United
States in the war in Cuba. They will
induce them to readily deposit their
bonds with a. New York trust cOmpa-
ny. to be delivered to the syndicate
within q given time (say six mOnths)
upon payment of the purchase price
They Will. meanwhile, endeaVOr to
secure the appointment of an inStru-
ment Of their own as United States
minister to Spain. Through him they
expect to influence the men of influence
IN Spain not in Office. He must be
man of severe aspect, loudly vaunted
virtue. unspOtted reputation, and be
thoroughly and prudently corrupt. For
him there win be millions in it"
The schemers believe that Cuba will
assent to any proposition our govern
ment may suggest. for the sake of in
dependence, especially when threatened
with our displeaSure if she refuses.
This would make the circle complete.
The plan would then unfold itself in the
following order:
/. cuban submission to Spanish au-
fhOrity.
2. Spanish recognition of Cuban in
dependence.
8 Cuban assumption of $500, 600 900 of
Spanish bonds.
4 Guarantee by the United States of
this Cuban debt, and a United States
protectorate over the island
Perhaps the syndicate would consent
to accept a United States guarantee for
$500 coo, 900. This would give them a
profit of $40 600, 00G, or what cost them
but $60.OOO-OOO. They risk nothing They
would not pay the $50 900 900 until con-
gress had made the purchase with the
amount guaranteed.
The syndicate could afford to prom
ise liberal shares in this plundering
scheme at every stage. The only secur-
ity there is against its success is the
refusal of the president to yield to the
demands of the men who contributed
great sums of money toward his cleo
ton, and the pride of the Spanish gov
ernment. which the reckless courage
of the mob in the streets Of Madrid
would not allow to abate.
The thought is not to be entertained
that the president would lend himself
to this audacious scheme, but the con-
spfracy is on foot, and a warning should
be given through every newspaper
which is free to speak out
No bonds for purchasing peace with
Spain or her consent for the United
States to befriend the Cuban patriots.