The evening times., 1898-10-31
MONDAY. OCTOBER 81. 1898.
The Bond sufndIe Mt Paris.

The situation at Paris, Washington
and Madrid is in no way changed by
the announcement that we must pay
bonus to Spain for the quiet surrender
of all the Philippines. That of course,
was an essential part of the original
scheme of the voracious and subtle
bond sharks. 1t was the price not only
of the Philippines. but of the Spanish
demand for the payment of the debt
incurred in the name of the islands.
1t was kept in reserve until the debt
demand had made its impression. The
impression has not been exactly what
was hoped. The American people can
not be deluded by the assertion that
Spain is so deeply concerned about the
payment Of the Philippine bonds thirty
nine years hence. that she Will treat
or retreat according 10 our decision on
that point; they cannot be taken in by
the statement that while she consented
TO give up Cuba and still remain re-
sponsibIe for its hundreds of millions
Of Indebtedness, she will go to perdi-
ton rather than relinquish even Luzon
in the Philippines unless we assume the
comparatively small debt of those ISL
ands This thing is manifestly, obtru-
sively absurd. AS has been explained.
the bonds do not mature for thirty-nine
years. and they are not held by Spain
or by Spaniards, but mostly by detest-
ed pigs of Yankees" Long before
they fall due the present dynasty viii
have vanished into the limbo of obso-
lete tyrants.
1t is obvious that the Spanish Com
missioners would make no such absurd
demand without the reason that has
just been revealed-the payment of a
bonus for the quiet surrender Of all the
islands Spain would never make the
assumption Of the debt a decisive ques-
tion. She does not care enough about
it. But in consideration Of a large sum
of money she will relinquish the Phil
ippines, and, for the benefit of those
whose influence viii secure the pay
ment of a bonus-for the benfit Of the
bond sharks-her Commissioners will
also bear down hard for the American
assumption of the debt
That is the situation this Monday,
which is the day set for the first for
NAL consideration of the Philippines
question. The agents of the bond con-
spirators are on the ground. They are
visited by prominent Spanish gentle
men" who are intimate with the Span
ish Commissioners, and the deal will go
through without difficulty unless the
exposure OF the conspiracy makes it
necessary to postpone its consumma-
tion by an appearance of dissension. 1t
may be considered expedient for the
Spanish Commissioners to make excess
sive demands and for the American
Commissioners to reject them Then,
when break appears to be inevitable,
it will be the part Of wisdom and econo-
my for this nation to pay a sum of
money TO the defeated enemy and as
sumo the payment of the Philippine
debt
Yet we do not believe the people of
this country can be convinced that the
profit Of the bond sharks is in any way
essential to our holding of the islands
or 10 the quiet surrender of Spanish
sovereignty. They may not object to
liberal money compensation in order to
escape an appearance of undue sever
ity, but they are bound to ask why
they should insure the gains of the
spectators who trusted to Hanna's as