The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-22
50. Domingo.

For many months the American mind has
watched with interest the progress of events
In Cuba. From this, the largest and most
populous of the West India islands, its attention
is now diverted TO st. Domingo-the richest
| the most beautiful and the oldest. The island
was named for st. Domanic, who founded the
rival order to the Francscans We have
already grasped San Francisco, and are now
| preparing to stretch our protecting arm over
ST. Domingo. This is the only one of the
Antilles not possessed by foreign Power and
is occupied by two Independent nations The
island possesses greater historical interest
than any other of this vast group. Spain
made it the key to the whole of her posses
sions in the New World, as she entered upon
that wonderful career of conquest and success
full commercial enterprise which distinguished
her in the seventeenth century. 1t was here
Columbus founded the first city in the Western
World, and here Cortes filled the humble posi-
ton Of notary long before he dreamed of
Mexico. The growth and rapid development
of the island ceased when the greater con
quests on the main land were achieved. The
Spanish adventurer then abandoned the
island and rushed to the richer mines and
broader fields Of Mexico and Peru. The
French, in their Absence attempted to estab-
lish colony on the island. Spain opposed
them. The French turned buccaneers and
hunted the Spanish on sea and land, and the
island became little but hyenas nest of
pirates. Morgan, afterwards knighted by
Charles H., here Joined his bloodthirsty band
and sailed to sack Panama and Puerto Bello.
The French imported the African slave, and
St. Domingo became the cradle of slavery for
the Western World.
Some writer has said, iii Dominica is the
Rome Of the Antilles Hayti is the France
Before the French Revolution slave labor had
brought wealth, attended by degree of luxu-
robustness and RIGHTEOUSNESS only equaied by
their countrymen in the reign of Louis XIV.
That revolution contemporaneously repeated
| itself here by even bloodier reign of terror
than in France. The planting Of the Jacobin
standard sowed the seed Of instruction, and
hideous massacre ensued, which the French
army tried in vain to suppress. The hero and
martyr to this terrible episode was Toussaint
| LOuverture, whose praises and virtues have
been sung and extolled by poets and philoso-
piers. At last a negro, a native OF Guiana,
subdued the French, and was crowned Empe-
ror Of lIayti with Napoleonic ceremony. An
other imperial negro graced the throne, with
the title OF Henri /. He it was who built the
palace said to rival in splendor the Tuileries,
and then won the gratitude Of his country by
committing suicide within its walls. Then
followed the republic attended by more than
twenty years of comparative peace, or till
1919, when the President, 'by the viii Of the
Hayten people, in imitation OF Louis Napo-
leon, became Emperor. The present republic
of Hayti was established in 1855. Sullivan
Salnaye, "the superb negro" is President.
He reached his Office by deposing Geffrard,
bis predecessor. The partsans Of Geffrard
made war against him, and that war is still
raging. Late advices show the insurgents to
be rapidly gaining in strength, while Salnave's
officers and men are deserving to the ranks OF
the enemy. Another revolution in the repui-
lie seems not only probable but imminent.
The Dominican republic dates from 1874,
and occupies the eastern or Spanish portion Of
Like his contemporary, Salnave, he reached
his Office by making war upon and dcposinl
Cabral, his predecessor. Cabral and bi;
Cabinet at the head Of the insurgents, ar