Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-12-16
A VISIT TO THE ISLAND.
Correspondence of the New York Tribune.
AT SEA. Thursday Nov. "a 1853


Have you place in your columns and interest in
your heart for that rich and romantic island, which
with all It's wondrous dowry of tropical beauty, is
orphan and stranger IN the midst OF our Amer
lean seas Z! Sano Domingo is scarce y ten days sail
from the port of New York, and all her magnificent
shores TEEN with historic legends; yet ii is an I'M
known land in the United States There Columbus
first planted church and Fortress the of Christ
and the flag of CASTLE al the discovery OF the New
World. and there he mourned in chains his gift of
new empires TO the cruel and ungratefu Spain.
There tradition still points out the where the
confding but not cowardiy, princes of the soil made
their last fruitess and fatal struggles for freedom and
existence.
There on the green slopes OF Laborna even now
overlooked BY a crumbling chapel once dedicated to
our Lady of Mercy, amid the stately palms aud broad
eayed foliage OF the tropics, we may trace the path
OF three strange massacres-hrual and furious mas
sacres of race. In successive waves OF retributlon
the Spanards who had lnveg ed the princess OF those
hills banquet, and there shot down her collected
followers and family in cold blood, were themselves
slaughtered by he desperate natives they col
ecting to work the gold mines Again, a century
later. those green stained with the blood
Of women and children by The negroes of the West
frantic with successful Instruction and so thirsty for
the blood OF the whites that they drank it-liieray
drank tin their unclaimed delirum. The venera-
Bile priest who plead for the lives OF these innocent
and helpless victims, fell with his uplfed cross in
the midst of the bloody pile and from that day the
voice of prayer and the incense of sacrifice has ceased
in that ancient chapel.
Still later, when : Santana the Liberator,' unur-
led the flag of Dominican independence, a party of
negroes, led by one of Sououque's black captains,
attacked the neighborng village with the cry of
IS death TO the whites" This ominous cry, which has
often carried terror and destruction the whites of
Eastern Hayti, sent the frightened inhabitants to
! the mountain des for refuge, but they fed they
met near the ruined church by little band of
horsemen, coming 10 their rescue The young leader
unfurled the white cross of Dominica under the light
Of their blazing homes. and rallied them 10 battle in
their own defence 1t deadly, desperate strife
! They were not many, but they fought hand to hand
with all the cherished bitterness of hostile races I'M
til the mornlng-lhe gorlous gorgeous morning Of the
tropics-dawned on the field, and revealed the victory
of the whites Seventeen white men lay dead or woun
ded, but among them more than thrice their number
Of blacks, and they were dressed for BURIAL and the
last rites were paid them close beside the ancient
Church Of the palm grove, where the last princess Of
the red had been reacherousy slain by the Span
iards; where the children of the Spaniard had beer
savagey murdered by the Africans. There the children
of the Africans had also paid the blood penalty O
their and their fathers deeds This last act o.
this retbutIve drama of is late occurrence
, Happily it has been followed by truce which i.
now consolidating into liberal and permanent peace
of the races in that district
This IS but one episode of the wild poetry of th
Island history. The gold districts OF Ciboa ant
Cotuy abound in tales of romance. Each abandon
ed stronghold on its lofty hills, each ruined hall fall
ing into decay amid its deep forests each silent cit
OF her once fertile but desolate regas has it
r own story of pride, prosperity and overthrow
: From the city of Columbus to the palace of Faus
tin. through her mahogany forests and tangled dells
: by her lonely bride paths and over her rough-piIe
ore-mountans, hope to visit, with ample time an
scope, all that st. Domingo presents of the highes
historic interest," of the most striking natu raj beauty
and OF the greatest promise to civilization and tn
advancement OF her own in the path of Amer
can progress The Dominicans make generous in
vitaion 70 Inc people OF the grand eldest daughte
of American Lberty-the sons of the North Amer
Union, to and share on free and equal term
the gifts which nature has bestowed upon their is
land :; and it is just to both Republics that the Pres
OF the United States should declare TO the world tn
character and value of those gifts
CORA MONTGOMERY