New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-02-19
YHE DOMINICAN QUESTION

defeated In the House, he has substanuaiy tno same
thing lat least so far the interests oil private P"
are concerned) proposed IN Gho'her s""l0, ~
little difference to him whether 1t lnterNehuon pro-
,eotorate - ar annexation" which finally succeeds
Either will give enormous wealth TO certain private ind
yiduals for whom Mr. Stewards benevolent nature seems
70 he panfuly excited. mean no reflection upon 'no
oorsons "a no have secured Mr. Stewards very active as
sstance They have right to find their fortunes where
they can and II Mr.. Seward chooses to prostitute n
Office TO their service. they would DO more tn"n
"seward and Weed men," II they refused 10 Pron' W "
But he has simple public duty TO perform anu n"o ~
right 70 know or to promote any interests Ou'
his country. .,,,o.
do no, profess 10 be specially Informed on TINS SUBJECT
The foundation Of my views and influences Is Wv. ot "
t .aen IN the telegraphic columns OF the daily prhts
and recent letters from st. Domingo puDhshed IN inc
NewYork papers. Ny convictions, however, nave Oeen
uch strengthened by the welknOwn character OF the
Secretary as well OF Of President Baezs agents.
and the mysterious in which this business mas
been conducted
Afew weeks ago. "protectorate was to be estab
lished over ST. Domingo but the proposition was unac
companed by any explanation or the suggestion Oh any
fact which would justify such proceeding II was SIM
ply said that the Secretary OF State knew something Out
he was so very honorable that he couldn't te-a crcu
stance which forebly recalled the asserted " dignity
which dobarred the members of the Russian Legation
from tesfyng as the Alaska purchase Last Monday
the same scheme took the form Of annexation put as
on the former occasion discussion had proved rather us
agreeable and ncOnvenent IL was now summary us
posed Of by invoking the previous question anu SINCE al
Stewards measures have been redoent OF sancuy the
Ionsa was exnected 70 take this one faith When the
proteotorate" was on the floor il was limited that ST.
Domingo was mady DESTROYS OF our assistance against
some vague and unmentOned danger which threatened
her nationality But when 1t came to the turn OF an
nexaton" that distressed country was represented as
equally frantic sacrifice the aforesaid nationality
which but the other week. she groaned from center 10
circumference athe thought OF losing President Baez
probably takes the votes Of his people by some patent
process and maintains spiritual communication WIN
Mr. Seward else how could lie learn ana transmit ths
sudden and surprising change of sentiment on the part OF
the Domnicans In the very short period OF time whch
separated the death Of the proteetorate and the birth
of Z" annexatiOnf"
st. Domingo it is true fair country but the people
who nhabit are not much For many years. they
have had no very cordial understanding among them
selves. or with their neighbOrs over in Hayu To-day
Santana regns and harrles; tomorrow it is CaDral;
and the next day IL is our coaxng friend Baez The
lattor is now inrenched in his capital with half dozen
civil wars TO look after, and all the exiles including
Cabral returning to raise more Baez has heretofore
been rover and 1t is doubtless, unpleasant to him 10
be confined to that dismal and city
He has therefore bethought him OF his old friend
seward-him who aforetme made the stealing OF the
Americans guano so good thing-and through him he
proposes transfer TO the United States ali that part OF
his country which lie has no control ana somebody
else has II ST. Domingo will not have him for ruler
he will just alay the unpleasantness between them Dy
giving the whole thing Seward To do this he has no
moro right or power than Mr. Seward would have to give
the United States Great Britain, because the United
States will no longer have him for Secretary OF State
But Baez knows very well that Seward would always
treat with anybody who had pretended to have any
thing to SELL and it made little odds whether the rear
estate broker represented existing government or
not Now It would be a clever stroke Of policy for Baez
he could induce the United States TO take on his hands
the several wars in which he is getting the worst OF It,
and thus compel them to conquer the island Wmch
he pretends tn eede, but which he has no
more power to transfer than Queen Isabella has
this moment to transfer SPAIN He is as certain that
this humane idea would captivate Seward, Roderick
Random that his landlady would steal the odd coin
In the time, there lie the "Samana Bay Company
and the "Altaivela Guano Company rich and powerful
in both countries While the cedng and giving away is
going on, land grants, gold mines, and guano islands,
may be made to these gentlemen under the seal OF
the nation which the beeaguered chief would not fail to
have about him. President, too his country being
40 ungratefu might seek honest recompcnse for al
his tolls by becoming partner in the speculations OF
those good people Besides all this one OF the conditions
OF the transfer understood 10 be as international law
requires should be in such easel that the United
States shall pay the public debt of St. Domingo. and SC
soon as the former made liable, the gentlemen Of The
A6li.m.
When tho yaunted evidence OF the willingness Of the
people Of ST. Domingo to he annexed comes TO be pro
duced IL will likely be found to consist OF nothing but
the mutual Of these high contracting parties
viz Of the waning President ard his friends on the
one hand, and waning Secretary Of State and "his
friends" on tie other.
1t will be rccollected that in 1861 hereabous OF
President Baezs predecessors was the receipt OF
pecunary consideration, seized with violent affection
SPAIN which caused him, in like manner to offer the
nation which he presided free gift to the object
OF his regard But the people Of the country wholly de
Cned TO be sold or to DC given away and accordingly
between the operations OF the "patrOts" and the dead
illness OF the climate great Spanish army In the course
" few years savage warfare melted into nothing
and the last vestge of Spanish authority disappeared
May similar consequences follow occupation OF
the island upon a similar invitation extended by Pres
dent who is crouehing in his "last dltchi"
ST. Domingo is no doubt "lovely" country; but we
hayo no right and hold her merely because she
"lovely" Beside being "hard the African people,
such proceeding would be altogether out OF keeping
with public morals as well public law, and would
probably never occur to more scrupulous statesman
than Mr. Seward. 1t is alleged TO be sure that
ton" must be preceded by direct application OF st.
Domingo. Yes, but You have acknowledged Baez as
the political chief Of the country you must accept 1t
Is intended you shaD his application the application OF
the people AS TO holding election determine the
question, that is impOssbe for Baez being close prs
IN his capital camp his facilities for conducting
electlOhs aHlOlS peOpic akaihot
him Hust be somewhat limited. Such thing as free
election been known in the country since the days
of the old Colonial Assembly.
When the spaniards invited In, there was a real
party in the country in favor of them But there can be
party there In favor Of American invaders, since
suspicion Of intention on his part to lease
SANTANA Bay to the United States caused revolution
which unseated President Cabra and the suspicion
Is now about TO do the like service for Baez
The agents whom the falling President has chosen TO