Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-05-11
rHE ISLAND or HAYrI.

The announcement that Faustin is prepar
ing to invade the Dominican republic, at the
head of twenty thousand negroes, deserves
somewhat more attention than it has received
from the American press. Our maritime cities,
particularly those Of the north, have valuable
and steadily increasing trade with the Domini-
cans. The undergraduates have already,
SO far, felt the restrictions and difficulties occa-
stoned by the competition Of France and Eng
land, who have highly favorable commercial
treaties with Dominica, while we have none at
all, 50 that the choicest cargoes invariably go to
Europe. 1t is Of almost weekly occurrence
that our great veneer-sawing establishments
have to send to Liverpool for the mahogany
logs when there is demand for superior
class of veneers.
This is but one item of loss, and that merely
commercial one, growing out of our neglect
of this section of American interests; but there
are many other considerations Of high moral
and political interest which are equally disre-
garded, and to which Faustins invasion may
open our eyes a little too late. The negro EN-
peror makes no secret that it is war of races,
and is to be war of determination. He says
the island of Hayti has no room for the inso-
lent and rebellious whites" and that it is his
"duty, as the chief of the blacks, to reduce
them to submission or sweep them into the
sea-
The whites, having established their republic
and defended their territory from the negro
government at the west end Of the island for
ten years, have a right to the notice and recog-
milton of the United States, by all the rules Of
international comfy, independent of what is
due from the head of the American republic
to sister republic, faithfully struggling to
emancipate itself from the evils and trainmels of
European policy tits enough for the gallant
whites of Dominica to contend with the negro
hordes of Hayti, directed by the insidious diplo-
macy of France and England, which is playing
one race against the other until the favorable
moment arrives to cast the white republicans
under the heel of the negro despot. 1t is cruel
and most impolitic in us to add to the difficult
ties of their situation by placing them on a
studied and insulting equality with the Zero
cious savages of Hayti. The fate Of brave
and liberal white State--a State planted in the
very heart and centre of the grand circle of
American interests hangs at this moment by
thread. Europe aims at reducing the whole
West Indies to African barbarism, and we aid
her policy all we can, and to the utmost Of her
desire, by remaining passive while she prose
cutes this work.
The mere act Of acknowledging the Domini-
can republic saluting her before the world as
friend and sister, by establishing diplomatic
relations with her-will save her from the ma
chinations of Europe, and preserve valuable
State to the American system. This govern
ment has but to do this, and inform Faustin
that he will not be permitted to carry out his
threat of "exterminating the whites of St.
Domingo" to stop the murderous deluge Of
blood which overhangs the Dominicans. 1t
costs nothing to this government to say the
Dominican republic must not be blotted out
of the map Of civilization by Europe and the
negroes, and that is all the whites of the island
ask. With the assurance Of sympathy, they
will be, and will feel themselves match for
Faustin.
From HAYTI-The report that Soulouque was
-. a. &C. 81. -.