The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-27
SIXTEEN PAGES.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY q. 1898.
The Talk of Purchase.

N New YORK the clIcie VI iish hieA
who have the administration wholly
in their power includes coterie
which for some time has been quietly
figuring On a scheme for the purchase
of Cuba by the government of the
United States This is a syndicate; II
proposes to conduct the deal. If re-
ports are true, this purchase PROPOSE
ton has been quietly pushed In govern
ment circles at Westinghouse meets
with almost universal protest at the
hands of the American public. This
country is mot of a buying turn of
mind.
The talk about the purchase of Cuba
is half a century old; often IL has been
prompted by feeling of sympathy for
the Inflated people on the island who,
through succeeding generations, have
been ground under the iron heel of the
government at Madrid. In 1S4s. Presi-
dent Polk went so far as to propose,
through the American minister at
Madrid, the purchase of Cuba, the price
then limited at being a million dollars.
chase was presented in the federal
senate, the informal suggestion then
being that ten millions would be ABOUT
the right figure.
Although no definite plan has been
advanced by those in authority at
Washington, the informal suggestion of
a purchase has often been heard during
the recent years of war on the island,
but the New York syndicate plan is of
comparatively recent birth. This syndi-
cate talk is in large figures, of course;
the accepted rumor is that is pro-
posed price is hundreds of millions: that
figure would. il is rec,.oned. satisfy
Spain and leave abundant millions 10
the ]. Pierpont Morgan syndicate which
proposes to make the purchase with
this countrys money.
There are those who assert that Pres
ident Mckinley is in favor of this
scheme-no newspaper is warranted in
saying that he is. If he is. 1t would be
eminently like him: his policy is direct
ed as straight from Wall street as If the
constitution provided in terms that it
should be- Wall street openly asserts
that there shall be no war; the friends
of the administration say the same. A
few days ago. the Broad street stock
gamblers raised the complaint that this
war talk is upsetting the price of
stocks. Forthwith MIR. Hanna got into
the middle of the road to make public
and emphatic and dogmatic announce
ment that there will be no war. and
the administration organs themselves
were foolish enough TO admit that his
proclamation had a tendency TO quiet
the market.
At any rate, the proposed purchase
strikes a discordant note. 1t isn't the
kind of proposition the American peo-
pie want to listen to just now. The sit
uation has a weightier aspect than one
that can be measured in dollars anc
cents. The country is not disposed L
consider terms of peace that are to b,
signed in Mr.. Morgan's office or pay
him a commission out of the people.
money for having allayed the anxiet,
of his Wall street companions whs
think they don't care for a war jus
now. II is certain that Mr.. Mekinle,
will do what Wall street bids him do
He was a bankrupt few months be
fore he ran for president and. OF course
the influential men" who made hin
rich again have claims; but II isn't fai
TO push the president too hard, Wal
street viii ruin the reputation of hi
administration. anyhow. just as certain
as it lives through the months of Il
second half, but it is due the presiden
that the thing be not too barefaced il
its processes.
For that matter. very recent dis
patches from Madrid are pretty ciea
announcement that the Spanish gov
eminent il not 1T all inclined TO a bar
sain-and-sale suggestion. Spain hal
heard that the proposed purchase hai