The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-07-25
Sc. Domingo.


While our attention is turned to Cuba we
should not altogether lose sight of the island of
st. Domingo, which is, after Cuba, the largest
and most beautiful of the West India Islands. A
glance at Its geographical position makes It
evident that as soon as ever Cuba has sue
ceeded in cutting adrlft from Spain and casting
in her lot with us st. Domingo must follow
Our news reports from this unfortunate island
describe things there as little better than an
archy. AS in Mexico and every other Spanish
speaking republic on our Continent, state of
domestic or foreign war is, strictly speaking tho
rule and not the exception; and, as If to prevent
the possibility of the people of st. Domingo
losing any portion Of their martial spirit from
not having field on which to exhibit itself,
the island, although smaller than Cuba,
is divided into two separate Independent
States. The republic of Hayti" occupies tho
western portion Of the island, and the ''Doni-
ncan republic" the eastern side, and between
these two republics there is as much love
lost as between the two famous Kilkenny
cats. The divisions in territory correspond
pretty much to the ancient French and Span
ish possessions for Spain, France and even
Great Britain have in turn occupied whole
or portion of the island. In the ''republic
of Hayti," which is said to have population
of five hundred and fifty thousand souls,
we find the woolly-headed, unadulterated
African-the genuine Sambo of our Southern
States, whom the carpet-bagger delights to
honor-with but few instances of miscegena-
ton to improve the stock In the Dominican
republic" it is estimated that one-tenth of the
population is white, while the remainder re-
present every shade of color peculiar to a
mixed race. AS neither of these republics
seems satisfied with the occupation which a
war with the other affords we frequently find
an insurrection besides going on on the part
of some rival claimant for civic and military
rule. This is the purport of our latest advices
from the town of st. Domingo, in the Domini-
can republic, which represent the insurgents
as at present besieging the town of Aqua,
while President Baez is hurrying up troops to
the relief Of the garrison. This President
Baez has had more ups and downs in life
than can be met with in the history of any
politician living out of the happy family of our
Spanish speaking republics.
st. Domingo or Hayti-for the island is
known by both names-is celebrated in
American history as the Hispanioa of
Columbus. 1t is rich beyond estimation in
mines of gold, silver and lead; but these
mineral resources, although known to exist are
still in a great measure undeveloped. The
interior Of the island consists OF mountain
range covered with magnificent tropical
forests, and the plains that stretch from thence
to the sea are watered by numberless streams
and are of amazing fertility. What this island
might become If under a firm government
that would know how to protect life and
property, remains to be seen. There is only
one solution to the st. Domingo difficulties,
and that is annexation to this republic. Secret \
negotiations for this purpose took place dn0er
President Pierce's administration, but the
whole matter unfortunately fell through. 1t is
but short time since we were informed that
the same subject was again under the consid-
Grafton of our government. The people
st. Domingo will find that annexation to us
means peace, and that our constitution under
republican treatment has become stone blind
as to color, and 1t these inducements fail to
move them now they are certain to have their
due weight hereafter.
M EAnrp ~