The New York herald., 1869-06-09
st. Domingo-An Important Movement.

I 81. Doming0-An Important movement.
The steamship Tybee, which left our port
yesterday as the pioneer of q line of steam
ers to st. Domingo, carried among her passen-
gers special commissioner from the govern
ment, with orders to proceed to the Dominican
republic and report upon its condition at an
early day. Whether Mr.. Hunt has higher se-
cret instructions We are not informed. This
movement is an important one in many re-
spects, and if the administration contemplates
Alright the new movements and combinations
which are going on in the Antilles it may be
productive in the highest degree of good to
our political and material interests. There is
now an unusual activity in questions affecting
all of the larger islands of the American Medi-
terranean, and combinations both favorable
and adverse to the United States are being
widely discussed. -
Cuba is convulsed with the questions of
revolution, independence and annexation. In
st. Domingo policy of seeking admission to
our Union has been discussed by President
Baez, which has awakened efforts against him
by Cabral, his former antagonist. In Hayti
General Dominique, who is making powerful
resistance to Salnave, months ago wrote to
Secretary Seward, seeking a protectorate for
the territory he ruled. In Porto Rico violent
explosion against the Spanish rule is only kept
down by force Of bayonets much larger than
is warranted by the pecuniary resources
OF the island. In Jamaica the British
government is exhibiting q sudden energy
in restoring the harbor of Kingston, while the
Governor, Sir John Peter Grant, is making
extraordinary efforts to stimulate the material
labors Of the people. Coincident with these
internal agitations we witness on the one hand
a marked increase Of the British, French and
Spanish fleets in American waters and, on the
other, prompt denial of disposition on the
part of Mexico to sell territory, accompanied
with notable acknowledgment of the great
increase in that dilapidated republic of the
desire for an American protectorate over it,
These outcroppings from the undercurrent
Of public opinion which is beginning to run so
strongly in the countries south of US all point
to the necessity for the adoption of a marked
and final policy in the premises by our govern
ment. Mr.. Seward felt this pressure from the
march of events In his times and endeavored 10
meet Its requirements but his great mistake
lay In adopting the traders and not the states
mans view. He believed that all that was
required was that an agent should present
himself with bag Of gold in one hand and the
American flag In the other, and that he had
only to hoist the one as soon as the other had
been accepted. In the pursuit Of this petty
and mischievous policy he received a signal
rebuke from the Dominican republic In the
Samana question, and from the Senate of the
United States in that of st. Thomas. Both
were merited, for the principles on which his
course was founded were OF the meanest and
most contemplate kind. Questions Of national
Importance merit higher and q nobler style
of treatment.
Fifty years ago policy was announced by
President Monroe which acquired an extended
influence in American politics and European
Cabinets, because it expressed the sentiment
Of the American people. During two genera
tons that policy has been the pole star Of na.