The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-20
Let No Guilty Man Escape.

The Cuban carpetbag scandal has very
nearly broken bounds and this means that
it will be almost impossible for the Admin
istration to catch and cage it. In anticipa-
ton of such an eventuality it is officially
declared that the crimes against the island
revenues are TO be sifted and the consum-
ing light of publicity let in upon them
and their perpetrators. All the same, the
greatest care is being observed both in
Washington and Havana to suppress as
much of the truth as possible.
There is every reason to believe that the
confession of Reeves deputy auditor of
Cuba, includes a startling exposure impii-
eating persons of high rank and position
in an elaborate conspiracy TO loot the island
treasury: and that 1t shows that Nicely
was little more than tool-with the privi-
leges of the till-in the hands Of greater
rascals. This is half way admitted in the
dispatches from Havana, and the :act has
spread a sickening terror over the Admin
istration. 1t appears that official suspicion
of reign of smuggling. loot. and embez-
element in Cuba is not recent thing; but
it is also understood that the officers whose
duty it was to investigate, received broad
hints 10 keep their hands off. From what
direction these cautions came. 1t would be
difficult. because imprudent to conjecture.
There is one ugly question which the
Administration does not like to contem-
plate. much less is willing TO face. 1t is:
Did Nelly have a principal or principals.
N no
States? If the Reeves confession were
made public. the fear is that ii would fur
nish an affirmative answer. and tell the
name or names Of such person or persons.
There is little doubt that the President,
Secretary Root. and Postmaster General
Smith know great deal more on this sub
ject than they would be willing TO tell.
The theory that they are possessed OF sem
saticnal information is borne ou; by the
desperate efforts which are being made to
railroad Nicely out of the country and lock
him up in Havana. where anything he
might say could only be addressed to his
keeper or 10 the rusty chains and rats in |
his dungeon. Hence, the insistence of the |
Attorney General that Congress shall pass |
an ex post facto extradition law to place |
Nicely in the clutches of the carpetbag gov. |
eminent Of Cuba! II he knows too much it |
is not difficult TO guess that in such cir |
cumstsnces his health might be destroyed |
by anxiety ard that he might quickly de-
par1 this life. a repentant sinner with
diving confession generating anybody OF |
importance that might be in danger
Good politics" have become actively and
personal for the past fouf
years The unfortunate Governor Goebel
OF Kentucky did not sufficiently realize the
fact, or he might be alive today.
II it should happen that Nicely could
not be shipped out of the way, what then?
He would have TO be tried by the courts
in this country. and the chances are that
the whole truth of the conspiracy, and the
embellishments, and robberies
pursuant 10 it, would have to come cut
Suppose this should result in bringing the
the initiative and management of the
crimes home to people whom 1t is impos-
sible at present to hold free from the pos
sibility of suspicion. 1t would follow, as a
matter of course. that thu Republican par
ty could not hope to survive the blow in
the campaign of this year. and that the
next President of the United States would
certainly be somebody other than the Hon.
William Mckinley.