The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1870-12-15

ana the United States to the decision OF
Sir Edward Thornton, her Britani1Mai
estys Minister at Washington, who
| kindly undertook the laborious task OF
examining the voluminous mass of cor
respondence and testimony submitted by
the Two governments, and awarded to
the United States the sum of 500, 7O0.-
CO in gold which has since been paid by
the imperial government. These recent
examples show that the mode which the
! United States have proposed to Spain
for adjusting the pending claims is just
and feasible, and that it may be agreed to
| by either nation without dishonor.
1t is to be hoped that this moderate
demand may be acceded to by Spain
| without further delay. Should the pend
expectedly be without result, it will then
become my duty to communicate that
fact to Congress and invite its action en-
the subject.
SPAIN AND THE SOUTH AMERICAN Re-
The long deferred peace conference be-
tween Spain and the allied South Ameri-
can republics has been inaugurated in
Washington. under the auspices of the
United States, pursuant to the recon-
mendation contained in the resolution Of
the House of Representatives of the 18th
of December, 1866. The Executive
Department of the Government offered
| its friendly Offices for the promotion of
peace and harmony between Spain and
the allied republics. Hesitations and
| obstacles occurred to the acceptance of
! the offer. Ultimately, however, con-
terence was arranged and was opened in
| this city on the 29th of October last,
at which [ authorized the Secretary of
State to preside. 1t was attended by
the Ministers of Spain, Peru, Chill and
Ecuador. In consequence of the absence
OF a representative from Bolivia, the
| conference was adjourned until the at
tendance of a plenipotentiary from that
republic could be secured, or other
measures could be adopted toward con-
passing IFS object.
The allied and other republics of Span
| ish origin on this continent may see in
this fact new proof Of our sincere in
interest in their welfare; of our desire
to see them blessed with good govern
ments capable of maintaining order and
preserving their respective territorial in
| tegrity, and of our sincere wish to extend
our own commercial and social relations
with them. The time is probably not
far distant when, In the course Of natur-
al events, the European policical con-
nection with this continent will cease.
Our policy should be shaped in view of
this probability, so as to ally the COM
mercial interests Of the Spanish Ameri-
can States all the pre-eminence and all
the advantage which Mr.. Monroe. Mr..
Alams and Mr. Clay contemplated when
they pr, posed to join the Congress Of
| Panama.
SAN DOMINGO.
During the last session Of Congress, "a
treaty for the anexation of the Republic
of San Domingo to the United States
failed to receive the requisite two-thirds
vote of the Senate | was thoroughly
convinced then that the best interests of
tie country. commercially and material
ly. demanded It's ratification. Time has
only confirmed me in this view. [ now
! firmly believe that the moment it is
known that the United States have en-
| tirely abandoned the project Of accept
ing as part of its territory the island of
| San Domingo, free port will be ncgo-
tiated for by European nations, in the
| Bay of SANTANA. A large commercial
| city viii spring up, to which We will be
tributary, without receiving correspon-
ding benefits. The government OF San
Domingo has voluntarily sought this an
nexation. 1t is a weak power, number
! ing probably less than one hundred and
| twenty thousand souls. and yet possess
| ing one OF the richest localities under the
sun, capable OF supporting population
| Of Onl flAn of ,1oO.1o H.
people Of San Domingo are not capable
of maintaining themselves in their pres
ent condition, and must look for outside
support. They yearn for the protection
of our free institutions and laws, our
progress and civilization. Shall we refuse
them?
The acquisition of San Domingo is de-
sirable because of its geographical posi-
ton. 1t commands the entrance to the
Caribbean Sea and the Isthmus transit
of commerce. 1t possesses the richest
soil, the best and most capacious har-
bors, the most salubrious climate, and
| the most valuable products of the forest,
mines and soil of any of the West India
Islands. Its possession by the United
States will in few years build up a
coastwise commerce of immense magni-
tude, which will 60 far toward restoring
to the United States our lost merchant
marine 1t will give to us those articles
which we consume greatly and do not
produce, thus equalizing our exports
and imposts In case of a foreign war,
it will give Us command Of all the islands
referred to, and thus prevent an enemy
| from again possessing himself as rem
| devious upon our coast. At present,
our coast trade between the States bor-
dering on the Atlantic and those bor-
dering on the Gulf of Mexico, is by the
| Bahamas and the Antilles. Twice we
must, as it were, pass through foreign
countries to get by from Georgia to the
east coast of Florida. San Domingo,
with stable government, under which
her immense resources can be developed
will give remuneratlve wages to 10000
| laborers not now upcn the island. This
labor viii take advantage of every availa
bic means OF transportation to abandon
the adjacent islands and seek the bless
| lngs OF Its freedom, as sequence each
inhabltant would receive the reward of
| his own labor. Porto Rico and Cuba
will have to abolish slavery as measure
of self representation to retain their labor
ers. San Domingo will become a large
consumer of the products of our North
ern farms and manufactures. The cheap
rates at which her citizens can be furnish
ed with food, tools, land and machinery,
will make it necessary that the contigu
Gus islacss should have the same adyan-
tages, In order to compete with the pro-
duetion of sugar, coffee, tobacco. tropical
fruits, etc. This will open to us wider
market for cur products. The produc
ton of our supply of these articles will
cut off more than one hundred millions
Of our imports, besides largely increasing