The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-21

TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.

America entereu upon tue pain OF nDerty, the sons
of the Spanish portion Of the island of Santo Do
mngo desired 70 unite their voice to the enthusiasts
tic cry of freedom then resounding through the
New World. Unfortunately their efforts were fruit
less at this epoch. The French-Africans who in
habit the west end OF the island invaded the Span
ish settlements at that critical period Of isorganiza-
ton when the bonds had just been broken with the
mother country. The Haytien invasion was followed
by term Of infamous and irresponsible despotism.
These Vandals Of the West, inferior in race and
character to the Spanish colonists and opposed 70
ms in language and social habtudes, and superior
onyin brute force, satated the Spanish colonists
the hatred which vulgar minds feel when compelled
by the consciousness of their own moral impotence
and their vast inferiority in race.
The Spanish Domncans who did not emigrate,
some in the trust of saving their property others in
the hope of better order of things, and more be-
cause they would not live on the bread of charity
in strange lands, suffered under their Haytien OPP
pressors in the faith and spirit of martyrs with their
eyes fixed on the future.
Twenty-Five years passed by to the sound of their
chains, only interrupted by scenes of slaughter,
when the suspected or the illuminated suffered for
weeping too incautiously the fate Of their country.
Suddenly, and to their Franco-African oppressors
most Unexpectedly, on the 27th Of February, 1874,
the resoute and enthusiastic youth of the Spanish
race proclaimed the independence and raised the
standardcross Of the Dominican republic. Since
then the whte-cross of regenerated country has
waved victorious on every field Of battles Without
money, without arms, without the aid Of any other
nation, the Dominican republic has solely, through
the patriotic devotion Of her sons, reduced to
grand and sgn can't fact the destiny of the Island
of st. Domingo problem which had long
been thought a difficult if not an impossible sou-
tion by other nations.
Many years were exhausted in this terrible strug
gle Of liberty against despotism-of civilization
against barbarism; and through it all we have had
to endure the ostracsm of Indifference from you of
the United States Our island has been to you as if
botted from the map Of America; our grand and
central Santo Domingo, the chosen OF Columbus,
the magnificent garden of America, seemed invisible
to American eyes, though the great political event
OF our republican independence, and its probable
consequences sufficient to fix the attention of
France and England on the Dominicans and their
destiny.
When Tin ls49) the last Haytien invasion spread
terror and desolation over the beautiful frontier
districts of Aqua, General Santana again
presented himself in the field of battle
at the head of handful Of brave citizens, and vic
toriously re-afrmed the independence of our coun-
try in the memorable field Of Las Carreras-in that
routed, with heavy loss in men and artillery, and
forced to retire from the country although his army
outnumbered the Dominicans under Gen. Santana,
ten to one.
After this the governments Of France and Eng
land recognized the independence of the Dominican
republic, and entered into honorable treaties with
her. France, however, had made a treaty with the
Dominicans in ls4s, though notifications had not
been exchanged within the assigned time. Consuls
had been appointed to the young republic from the
period Of her independence but the great European
powers hesitated, like the United States-though
not for so many yearswhether they should dispense
the invaluable courtesies of great nation to young
people heroically struggling for existence against
brutal and barbarous race or enemies.
The Dominicans have always believed in the
friendship of France and England; but it sometimes
occurs to them to reflect why those powerful nations
being the friends of the Dominican republic and
the representatives Of the ideas Of civilization and
humanity Of the age, do not make the Haytiens
cease this barbarous and Improbable war of races
in st. Domingo
Can there be any motive of policy to induce the
European Powers 10 balance against each other the
adverse races which divide between them the
richest Of the American islands?
The mediation of France and England from
which so much was expected, was VIGOROUSLY def
cient in results It all ended in years armistice,
ITO arrange de initve peace or ten years truce"
Sou0uque had need of this suspension Of hostilities
for a year, 10 have himself proclaimed Emperor.
It is curious eXemplifcaton Of the culture Of the
race occupying the western end Of the island, that
defeat was worth a dadem to Soulouque. The
battle of Las Carreras, in which he vanQushed,
was the best title he had to seat himself throne
and be called his Majesty Faustin the First.
1t is an unjust mistake to suppose the people of
customs or ideas with the population which
calls itself the empire Of Hayti. The object Of the
writer is to correct this erroneous impression, which
perhaps explains the indifference with which the
great republic of the North regarded the UNEQUAL
but victorious struggle of the Dominicans for the
rights of independence and selfgovernment.
We believe this great and powerful Union should
put herself IN the vanguard of the nations of Anne
rca the representative and defender of American
interests and should not look with Indifference on
the fate of any member of the American nation
alties.
Let us review the position Of tile Dominican re-
public as a sister and neighbor Of the United States.
For twenty-five years the French-Alricans governed
by brute force and military despotism the east, or
Spanish part Of the island. On the 9th ofFebruary
ls44 the Dominicans declared their independence of
Hayti, and their freedom was VIGOROUSLY crowned
on the field Of battle. These events did not at
first command the attention of civilized nations but
after the surprising victories OF lS49, England and
France-and since then Denmark and Holland-have
recognized and treated with our republic Then the
Dominicans solicited the intervention of the first
named powers and the United States, to bring to a
close the war with Hayti. The United states re-
NAMED Indifferent, and the mediation of England
and France only amounted TO the year OF truce
which Soulouque had occasion for and made use OF
for his coronation.
Inc cold SlenCe Oh tne Unteu states may DC attTl
buted to the mistaken idea that the Dominican
people are the same in with the Haytiens. This
error arises from the unjust and Inaccurate reports
of those who have not examined fully into the facts
The colonists Of European blood in the French
part of the island who did not perish when Dessanes
and his compeers raised the African standard Of
determination, had to fly the country, and leave 1t
absolutely to the negroes. This not the with
the Spanish colonists. They were not driven from
their homes on the liberation Of their slaves, for
it was done so calmly that most Of the
freed men remained for years after in the houses
of their old masters Their descendants do not en-
terrain this hostility of which exists in Hayti
and in the Dominican republic all make common
cause for the country Neither has the soil Of the Span
ish part of the island witnessed those of can
MI al horrors-the effect also of the precious war
casies--which have been perpctrated in Hayti from
Dessalines to Chlistophe, and from Christophe to
sculort nc, their last and now reigning Nero. And
ii there exits this wide difference in the race and