The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-10-12
UGLY RUMORS IN PARIS.

That Peace Commission in Paris IS
fifth wheel and its existence was due 10
unnecessary temporizing. After SANTA
go, settlement by diplomacy was out OF
the question. but Mckinley signed a
protocol to avoid any decision until attef
the Congressional elections. Mr. James
Creelman gives some of the dangers
that may be feared from their work. IN
n recent letter to the New York Journal,
he says
ALREADY Il vast financial conspiracy,
or series of c0nSpira cies, has been hatch-
ed III the bosom of this elaborateiy con
triyed mystery. Not only is the Ameri-
can public to he kept in utter ignorance
of what the United States will propose
to Spain rs basis of peace in order thnt
the pending Congressional elections may
not he affected, but few choice spirits
have apparently been let into the secret
of the situation so rigidly guarded from
the public.
in consequence ring has been form
cd to buy Philippine bonds. and the
market is being secured for them. | dis
covered two days ago that powerful
friends of both Spanish and American
commissions had received inside infor-
nation that the United States would in
sist upon anncxing the whole Philippine
Archipelago. and would assume re-
sponsbility for the Philippine debt, al
though the interest on the bonds might
be reduced from q per cent. to 4, or
even 3 per cent. | knew that commune
h.. NJ hnnDs :
been passing between Paris and Madrid
In order to test the situation | tried to
buy some Philippine bonds in Madrid
through French agents.
Il at once discovered that powerful
movement was on foot to gather UP the
Philippine bonds. This is one of the
most suggestive results of former Score
tary Days scheme of secrecy. Under
its shelter gigantic combinations seem
to be forming sinister enterprises that
would be impossible were the air and
sunlight Of publicity let into the main
features of negotiations.
THE situation is curously like that
which existed in Washington when two
Senators arranged the sugar schedule
of the tariff in secret session, while their
friends made millions of dollars in the
stock market on the basis of private in
formation.
Il cannot yet ascertain how far there
may be n Wall street end to this ugly
intrigue. but there certainly is Madrid
Bourse end to it.
no wonder there is a strong, almost
irresistible, pressure ON the Commission
ers to keep such valuable secrets from
the general public.
The blacklist element of the situa-
ton is the masterful craft which is now
being employed to defeat the principal
object of the war by suppressing the
Cuban Republic, which has CALAMITY
fought for three years in the field for
liberty, and annexing the island to the
United States.
This scheme of national dishonor is
being pressed by gigantic combination
of Spanish capitalists, backed by the
Spanish Government and aided by the
very Americans who tried to prevent the
war and sympathized with Spain i'll her
merciess campaign of murder i'll Cuba.
Spaniards and their American accom-
plices know that annexation to the
United States means an enormous and
Immediate rise in the value of Cuban
property, which would not take place
under native rule"