Великий военный синдикат

           ItwasstipulatedthatthelandandnavalforcesoftheUnitedStatesshouldremainundertheentirecontroloftheGovernment,butshouldbemaintainedasadefensiveforce,andnotbroughtintoactionunlessanyfailureonthepartoftheSyndicateshouldrendersuchactionnecessary.Thestateoffeelingingovernmentalcircles,andtheevidencesofalarmanddistrustwhichwerebecomingapparentinCongressandamongthepeople,exertedanimportantinfluenceinfavouroftheSyndicate.TheGovernmentcaughtatitsproposition,notasifitwereastraw,butasifitwerealife-raft.Themenwhoofferedtorelievetheexecutivedepartmentsoftheirperilousresponsibilitiesweremenofgreatability,prominentpositions,andvastresources,whosevastenterpriseshadalreadymadethemknownallovertheglobe.Suchmenwerenotlikelytojeopardizetheirreputationsandfortunesinacaselikethis,unlesstheyhadwell-foundedreasonsforbelievingthattheywouldbesuccessful.Eventhelargestamountstipulatedtobepaidthemincaseofsuccesswouldbelessthantheordinaryestimatesforthemilitaryandnavaloperationswhichhadbeenanticipated;andincaseoffailure,theamountforfeitedwouldgofartorepairthelosseswhichmightbesustainedbythecitizensofthevariousStates.Atallevents,shouldtheSyndicatebeallowedtotakeimmediatecontrolofthewar,therewouldbetimetoputthearmyandnavy,especiallythelatter,inbetterconditiontocarryonthecontestincaseofthefailureoftheSyndicate.