Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-04-08
SPAIN AND THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
STRENGTH OF Tue SPANISH NAVY AND ARMY-A SKETCH
or THE History, POPULATION AND RESOURCES or THE
REPuRnc uF DONINIcA-POslTIoS or Francs AND
ENGLAND.


ENGLAND.
The rumors in relation TO the designs OF Spain against
the Republic of Dominica will naturally attract attention
to the military and naval strength of the government OF
Madrid. Not a few, doubtless will be surprised to
learn how large a force Spain is able to muster. Ac-
cordug to statement in the New York World, she had
in her navy tn 1860 the following number of vessels,
viz: Ships-owar -, steamers for war purposes, 20
other war-vesscs 80, total 1877.
Besides these Spain has numerous smaller vessels for
coast service and had the stocks last year three ships
of.theine of 50 guns, and with 900 horse auxiliary
steampower and five steam rigates of from 300 to 600
| horsepower each.
The extent of the Spanish regular army organization
is indicated by the fact that il contains 10 captain gen.
erals 66 Acknowledgements lis majorgeneras snd SOi
/ brigadier-senerals
In Cuba Spain has eight regiments of "veternns" "
one regiment of artillery brigade of five batteries,
one company of workmeu, two regiments Of cavalry,
aud battalion Of engineers, besides large force oil
militia distributed at the principal ports aud towns
In Porto Rico there the regiment CT infantry, one
brigade of artillery aud section of cavalry and one
& cton Of cavalry besides a large force OF militia
The alleged movement Of spain against Dominica, ii
it proves true, is fact possessing much interest The
New York Post publishes the following sketch Of threat
oned revolution:
"The island which is, next to Cuba the largest rich
est and important OF the West India islands, has
since its independence been divided into two portions,
Hayt the former French colony occupying about two
ftns of itS area, aud the republic of Dominica once
Spanish colony holding the remaining three-iths The
latter has population of about 10000, Of whom about
one-tenh white Itsupports an army of2oo men,
aud has navy consisting of seven small vCSsuis In
1852 the total exports of this part of the island Chiefly
| mahogany ebony and other precious woods amount
cd TO one and half millions and the imports lin great
part from the United States to little more.
! "The Republic of Dominica Spanish colony un-
Ill 1875 when the French obtained possession Of the
whole island In 1921 the Spanish coionists declared
themselves independent of their mother country Slsy
~ had been abolished in 1909 and in lS22 receiving
] encouragement from the cOOred Inhabitants Boyer
President OF Hayti he French portion 0! the sland)
overthrow the provisional government at St. Domingo
and made himself master of the whole island. In 1914
27th Feb the fall of Boyer encouraged the Spaniards
orce more TO assert their independence They proclaim
ed the Dominican republic; Santana their President
defeated the OF Boyer and again defeated Sou
| 1udue n 1879 He was reelected President IN loJj
8aez being baushed for fayorug the clerical party.
"In lSiS France recognized the republic, and couciu
ded treaty OF amty, commerce and CATION. Great
Britain did the in 1880. and Denmark has also re-
cognized its independence. In 1851, President Pierce
sent out Gen. Cazueau on secret mission to President
Santana He negotiated treaty tHe secret spuatiOns
of which provided it believed for the cesSi0u of the
bsy of Samana to government. The treaty new
er ratified aud the United States government has
|
"Snce 1851 Baez has more been President, but
Vas driven out in 1855 by Santana whose copgratua-
,ous (u 1857 OF President GetfraTd, CT the new Hay
eu Republic led the hope that at last the French aud
Spanish portions Of the Island would live peaceaby TO-
ge.her.
The Dominican Republic has not nearly the CONNER
ca importance Of Has proper In lS575S the United
States exports tO the 4tter amounted and
quarter million dolllrs and imports thence to nearl
an equal sum- Since the fight OF Soul'uque the uAyeus
have been IeoTglnzDg their government aud have held
inducements to free coocd people from this country
and Canada 20 remove thlher. France, which has ac-
kuowludged the independence of Hay,, Cn 1921 has
authority over her former colony though 1t Is likely
that the Spanish government would prefer to have the
consent OF the Emperor Napoleon before attempting the
| subjngaton Of the negro republic.
''St Domingo has always been a tempting morsel to
Sran The island is separated from Cg5a by OILY fifty
tour miles. Il abouuds in valuable natural products; aud
H Spain could succeed In more euSiuvng the free
blacks which is not at ail likely she would make oi St
J. mir 60 such another vast slave plantation as Cuba has
| [ c omc."
! james Redpath. who visited Hayti a few months ago,
in .ocr 10 the Boston Traveller undertakes to give Il
correct version of the late rumor7 from the island. He
! some wears ago-what I say now "a drawn from Hay
,ian official sourccs-Slutani borrowed million OF dol
a,s from Spain Falling to repay It according 10 the
terms OF the loan he offered to give mortgage on the
custom-houscs Last summer, accordingly small band
Saint Domingo aad the three officials among them i'm
medateIy entered on their duties Collectors At the
ports The rest were mechanics That's HH the "cnli-
cratioon that has been sent the Dominican Republic
b. Spain There has been small emigration from south
America but this tide with It's lux and reux Is as old
As the Independence of the Spanish colonies; tor when
ever there is revolution in Venezuea the adjoining
countries numbers OF the tanshed seek home in the
| Dominican Republic.
The pocy of Santana furnished the material for erea-
/ tb.o to ia aopN-
ernment See he is selling the country to the white ~
Even as early last December, revolutionary circulars
and prOcamatious in type in Saint Domingo, and
a copy OF the proof know shown to distinguish
Ell AMBASSADOR at Paris But this project was nipped in
tSe bud and Baez still axle The ntrSues of the
opposition continuing and increasing, Santana has cali
cd for ad-rs in order the perpetuty OF Lis
own government and secondly to enable him TO repay
| the loan.
This venture to say is "the sum total of the whole
| hu5bub that hear from Havana.
| There are various reasons why France will never
! threaten Hayti-smong them these: She has recognz-
ed the independence OF lay; she draws large revenue
lrom Uayt her payment for recognizing that inde-
| pendence; she is bound by treaty TO defend Hayti
against all foreign attacks and lastly she could not at
tack lla,t without first deeaiug against England.
have also official authority for stating that last jan
uary England and France offered to be the medators OF
treaty of alliance and OF defense between Hayt and the
Dominican Republic, By Which the integrity Of tie terri
tory Cf both cCfrcN against az JtrtyH PoWeFS ~ guar
aaiced. TIE proposition was accepted commissioners
we're named to conclude the treaty. and whent is signed,
France aud England stand pledged to enforce it. But
even if France did not stand thus pledged is it likely
that EugInd would permit her to sezs Hayt IN violation
of the law of nations and of her treaty stipuationsy
Neyerl For Hayti in the bands of irsclass power,
would command the gulf; and the Mole Saint Nicholas,
hy the expenditure of few thousand dollars, could
easily De made second Gibraltar England would not
permit her trade with Jamaica to be thus imperled.
THE GREAT FORGERY IN BOSTON-FURTHER
! PARTICULARS.