The herald., 1898-03-09

but to be let alone, and to be permitted
to work out their salvation. Nor are
they wanting in confidence that theil
redemption is near at hand.
1t is not difficult to see why they
prefer to continue the struggle unaided
since any scheme of Intervention or ar.
bitration proposed would saddle upor
them the enormous debt incurred by
Spain in it's three years of abortive at.
| tempts to subdue the insurrection. II
would, indeed. leave them worse off thar
they were before they revolted.
Having, in short, bought their freedom
with blood, they do not now propose te
purchase it with dollars, mortgagins
themselves and posterity for the pay
ment Of the debt.
A mere exchange of Spanish for Ameri-
can masters, mere transfer of moneyed
obligations from Madrid to New York
would avail them little in their struggle
for liberty, and would be considered by
them as tantamount to surrender oi
about all they have been struggling for
| And yet the name of the president OF
the United States is unpleasantly con-
nected with a scheme having for its
object the reaching Of an understanding
upon some such basis. 1t is declared to
be his purpose. if matters should drift
along until May without an open rup-
ture, to interpose the authority Of the
United States between the combatants-
ostensibly in the interest of humanity
and to put an end to hostilities-but
really in the interest of the American
holders of Spanish bonds, purchased al
an average price of sixty cents on the
dollar, but which would appreciate te
par and go to premium, could an agree
ment be reached by which the insurgents
in exchange for a more liberal grant OF
autonomous rights than is compre-
hended in the present scheme, would
consent to turn the customs houses OF
the island over to the holders of these
obligations until their exactions are sat
isfied.
1t is alleged that European capitalists
are also concerned in this deal, and that
it has been satisfactorily financed by q
syndicate of London and New York
bankers.
1t is further charged that the persistent
assurances, for month past, vouchsafed
by the Washington government, that
there would be no war between the
United States and Spain-assurances es-
sential to the success of the enterprise
were inspired by the interest which
Wall street has in it.
1t is limited that the Maine disaster
occurred at a time when the negotla-
tions were about perfected, and since the
consequences of that tragedy threatened
to disrupt all of the plans of the con-
spirators, cabinet minister was made
the instrument for declaring the belief
of the administration that Spain's re-
sponsibility for the disaster was not to
be longer considered.
Such a declaration from so high an
official source, made while the board OF
inquiry was still investigating the cause
of the disaster, and when the administra-
ton was appealing to the people to with
hold it's judgment until the report
of the board was filed and the whole
truth was ascertained, certainly gives
color to the ugly rumors.
The frequent consultations of Mr.
Hanna, the most trusted friend of the
president, with the banking interest in
New York, and the confident assertions
of that supposed executive mouthpiece
that there is to be no war, and that,
whatever Spain's responsibility for the
Maine disaster, it would be settled upon
cash basis, all serve to confirm the
probability that a scheme of gigantic
proportions was hatching-a scheme
which would be frustrated We're this
country forced into declaration of war
What measure of truth there may be in
all these surmises, intimations and posi-
tive allegations, we may never know;
but it is certain that the issue of war
has within a fortnight been taken from
the president and assumed by the repre-
sentatives of the people, in whom the
constitution lodges it.
| 1t is quite as safe to assume that with
| out the sanction of congress the presi-
dent will be powerless to carry out any
compact with the money power which he
may have made, in furtherance of any
| scheme which he may desire to encour-
age.
1t is certain that the American people
will not approve of any interference in
| the affairs of Cuba that does not have for
| it's central object the unconditional free
dom of the patriots-freedomf from Wal
street as we'll as from the Spanish
money sharks-and the absolute inde-
pendence of the Cuban government.
And to justify that intervention, wher
| it takes place, there must not be ground
for even the slightest suspicion that the
United States enters upon it with any
idea, however remote, of aggrandize.
ment, of territorial acquisition or in
sular extension of authority.
Cuban annexation has long been 6
dream of many Americans, but it Is
not now to be thought of. American in
tervention must now be based upon the
broad ground of duty to humanity anc
interest in the extension of human free
dom, wholly free from tant of money
greed or land-hunger.