The times., 1901-04-02
The spanish-Cuban Bonds.

The Spauish-C Cuban Bonds
At about this season Of the year and
considering current conditions, 1t Is
natural to look for a spring resurTec-
ticn Of the old attempt TO fasten upon
Cuba the five or six hundred million
dollars of debt incurred by Spain in
her effort to exterminate the Cubans.
As a matter of fact, the scheme with
which the American public was used
TO be so familiar has not been apan-
doned. The New York, Boston. Phiia-
delphia. and London syndicate which
was once so much in evidence when
John J. McCook was wont to permeate
the Capital just before the Spanish war
is still in existence, sore over the pro-
motion money it has advanced, ana
stiu warily watching for an opportunity
10 file its huge and hideous claim against
the Pearl of the Antilles.
We are afraid that much of the viz
tuous Indignation we see exhibited be
cause neither the Government nor the
American people are inclined to place
an extreme and suicidal construction
upon the hysterical Teller resolution
of April, 1898, is due TO the disinter-
ested and philaDthropic work Of this
Spanish bond syndicate. They under
stand fully that were this country to
accord Cuba fall sovereignty and the
unrestricted right to make treaties, war
and debts at discretion their share
in the loot-which might be hundred
millions or more-nlight possibly b Sc
cured. They would doubtless have the
assistance of the foreign bondhoiders
whom they have put under option and
of the Governments of those bond
noIders. in exerting pressure upon Cuba
T. induce her 10 shoulder that hope
tess Spanish burden In the present
political state OF the island there is
zoo much reason 10 fear that. We're it
allowed complete independence. it m ght
be easy for the Spanish-CUban bond
combination to secure complete OF par
tial recognition Of its claims by the ex-
penditure of two or three million dol
lars. or even a less sum. among The
leading men Of the Cuban factions.
It may be answered to this that the
proposed Cuban constitution. as far as
it has been formulated. only recognizes
debts in. the cause Of the movement for
emancipation from the Spanish yoke,
contracted since the beginning Of the
last insurrection, in February. 1895.
y lille this is true, it is rather an omi-
nous fact that no distinct repudiation
Of the Spanish Cuban debt has been ac-
complished This is the more difficult To
T-an,
il not directly. repudiated in the Treaty
Of Paris We are q triie surprised that
the question has not been agitated in d
convention Of which both Hcratio
Rubens and GonZalo de Quesada, for
serIy connected with the Cuban revo-
Iuionary junta in New York. are mem-
eers. Possibly they may agree with
the syndicate, that the matter should
b. left open TO future negotiation
1t is a question which Americans and
Cubans, and particularly Cuban prop
erty holders. ought To bear in mind
when the future relations Of the two
countries are under discussion. If the
United States shall do its duty TO itself
as well as TO its ward. and firmly exact
and retain control Of Cuban war, treaty,
and debt powers-eNacting a kindly
but effective suzerainty-the probabili-
ties are that these Spanish-Cuban bond
speculations and cOnspiracics viii die
out. and that tic money furnished to
Spain IN order 10 enable her 20 main
tain a reign Of terror near our coasts,
and 10 butcher men. women. and chill
dren by the thousands. ultimately VIII
be charged off to profit and loss by the
investors. That is a consummation de-
voutly 10 be wished. and it is Ger
tain one if the policy and course Of
this Government are 10 be marked By
wisdom.