New-York tribune., 1902-08-08
"HIGH EINANCE" " CHA

Another interesting chapter of what may
some day be developed into History of the
Loot of Cuba was contributed yesterday by
The Tribune's Washington correspondent. in his
revelation of the somewhat more than suS
pected completely of the anti-reciprocity con
spirators with the scheme for burdening Cuba
with a huge and perhaps linmanageable public
debt The story would be startling one had
rot the public mind been pretty we'll prepared
by former revelations for almost anything the
Boxers" and their directors in high finance
might do. After the practical amalgamation Of
the Sugar Trust and its erstwhile rampant and
implacable foe, the beet sugar ring, as promptly
discovered and reported by our correspondent,
and after the astounding abdcation of author
ity by which the majority leaders of the Sen
ate permitted the Boxer minority to defeat
for the time the policy of the administration
and the Republican party. and to compromise
the honor and impair the material welfare of
the United StateS-after these and similar
things there remained no room for surprise at
anything political spectators might do in re-
spect TO Cuba.
The scheme as it now stands is a very pretty
one, from the point of view Of the lOoter. The
Boxers and those behind them-have driven
Cuba to seek a loan. They have further pre-
vailed upon her TO adopt the old principle of
get while you're a-getting," and to seek very
large loan; much larger, there is reason TO
think than she would be able TO manage prop
ery If such loan is made, then, there will
be much danger of Cuba's becoming practically
bankrupt. But such loan can be made oply
with the sanction Of the United States, and If
the United States sanctions it this country will
thus become morally responsible for 1t, and in
case Cuba defaults upon 1t the United States
.ba iuha a ,,P
national honor and expediency" TO make it
good So at least the Boxers" would doubt
less argue for, with their friends money in
vested in the Cuban loan, they would doubtless
be uncommOnly keen upon the subject of
tional honor. Then, of course, if this country
had to paw Cuba's debts for her there would be
nothing left but to annex the island outright, to
the great profit of the sugar spectators and
others who had, in expectation of just such an
emergency, been buying up half ruined Cuban
estates at 1.-THE of their real value. Either
Cuba is TO be starved into annexation or she is
to be dragooned into it through the bankruptcy
court The Boxers mean to "catch her a-com-
ing or a-going."
This exposure of the scheme will, however
force the conspirators TO show their hands, and
it will be interesting to see how many OF them
have the nerve TO do it. There can be no Ques-
ton that the Cuban loan scheme VIII De brought
before Congress at the next session 1t viii
have 10 be, if the loan is to succeed. For,
whether or not the loan will technically need
Congressional sanction for its valdlty, there Is
no doubt that 1t will need 1t for its success.
Not even tbe ..Roxers'' capitalist allies will
invest in such an amount of Cuban bonds with
out a United States guarantee. 1t will be par
ticularly interesting to see how the opponents
of Cuban reciprocity will speak and vote upon
this subject We shall take pleasure in record
ing for everlasting remembrance the names of
those consistent and generous souls who first
| voted to deny Cuba the chance to earn an hon.