Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-03-15
Official Paper of County.
OUR CANDIDATE IN 1900
Shifting the Blame.

uuR CANDiDAIE IN l9UU
Shifting the Blame.
On the 18th inst. the Chicago Tri-
bune published an editorial which,
considering that the paper is repuli-
can and for the gold standard, is re-
niarkable. The article reads:
1.-THE dispatches from Washington
in the Sunday Tribune indicate that
warlike preparations continue. 1t is
stated in them that about the only
settled policy SO far is the decision
that the preparations for conflict
shall go on steadily, and with as little
publicity as possible, but that the
North Atlantic squadron, now con-
centrated in the immediate neighbor-
hood of Cuba, shall not be dispersed
until all possibility Of war has been
disposed of.
There can be little doubt that this
question of the possibility of war is
MORE LIKELY TO BE SETTLED
IN WALLSTREET than in Washing
ton. Whether these preparations
will be ultimately utilized in war De-
PENDS largely on whether the big
stock gamblers of the former locality
want war. If, upon the whole, they
decide that THEIR INTERESTS will
be best consulted by having war, then
these preparations mean something.
They know, as every one else knows,
that a war with Spain will end with
the freedom of Cuba and knock the
value OF Spanish bonds practically
down to nil, and that Cuban bonds
will corresponding enhance i'll value.
II they can make money by buying
Cuban bonds at the plesent low pric-
es they will in favortof war.
Even if the president comes to the
decision that the nations honor de-
mands the expulsion of Spain from
Cuba and the cabinet agrees with
him, all that may come to nothing if
the big stock gamblers decide that
their interests lie in another direct
ion. Ii they recognize indications
pointing to war and realize that con-
gress is belligerent and they do not
want war, then they will provide
congress with tips, and there is moth.
Ing that will SO quickly reduce con
gressman's belligerent inflammation as
tips. promptly applied. They are
both soothing and seductive. Even
if the president were to order action
the stock gamblers would bring these
fascinating influences to bear upon
congress and hypnotic it into the
docility of the jack rabbit. This is
what makes the war news SO kaleid.
oscopic. That the news changes from
day to day is not due to changes in
the situation, because the situation
cannot change, but to changes in the
views of the big stock gamblers. The
Tribune has stated from time to time
what would happen if the stock gam.
blers' interests could be eliminated
from the situation and the country
could be freed from their baneful in.
Huence, but so long as these exist ii
Is difficult to predict what war prep.
arations actually mean. There is no
doubt about the attitude of the
American people. They want repara.
ton made for the Spanish treachery,
They want the Cuban war stopped.
They want Spain driven out of this
hemisphere. But unfortunately, THE
PEOPLE of the United States HAVE
LITTLE OR NOTHING TO SAY in
the matter, THEY MUST WAIT UP.
YIN the pleasure of the big WALL
STREET stock gamblers
The stock gamblers have not been
able to give tips enough to prevent q
majority of the senate from passing q
resolution for the recognition of Cub
an belligerency, and even with the
assistance of Speaker Reed, they have
lacked power wholly to prevent the
members of the house, republican.
and democrats, from expressing de
testation Of Spanish methods ane
sympathy with the insurgents An6
within the past few days both house,
have wholly ignored Wall street in
forests and wishes by unapimousl,
passing a bill placing $5O,O0O,OOO a
the disposal of the president for til,
purpose of national defence. So IA
as the Cuban matter is concerned
the senators and representatives
Speaker Reed excepted, are patriot,
enough. 1t is the executive who ha,
been influenced and res trained by th,
stock and bond gamblers. and tn,
Tribune, fearing to criticise him. at
tempts to make congress scapegoat
for his offense. But for Reed the sen
ate resolution recognizing the bellig
erency of Cuba would have passed
the house long ago; and it is tn,
president who has controlled Reed
Wall street that has controlled the
president, and greed that has con
trolled Wall street. Telegraph.
-.
ian, 10,