The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-05-12
The ". Domingo Meeting.


ito promote the interests and safety of
American commerce by providing necessary |
means of protection for public and private |
vessels navigating the waters Of the Mexican |
Gulf and the Caribbean Sea" The means |
by which these gentlemen propose to attain
this end is, ra;ifying at an early day the |
pending treaty for acquiring the right TO &C
cupy and hold the Bay of SANTANA in the |
island of St. Domingo, with the adjacent ter. |
ritory."
THIS meeting originated in Washington. |
IL forms part of the machinery which the |
President has for some time past been work |
Ing with view TO secure the cOnsuinmation |
of the mighty job Of nnncxing st. Domingo.
1t is said that he has OF last succeeded in
bringing over to his views, and those OF bis
friends here and in St Domingo who have
large stakes in the project of annexation, n
sufficient number Of Senators to authorize n
hope that the treaty may at last be ratified.
Those Senators, however, who have thus
changed their minds require some sort Of
public manifestation in favor of the treaty
~ an excuse for proclNiming their con.
version, For this purpose Mr. GRrNSEII,
the venerable Collector Of New York, has
been directed to make arrangements for the
demonstration of tbs evening.
The objections 10 anuexing -. Domingo
are plain and unanswerable. 1t is notorious
that the Illegal vote of the people of the
island in favor of the measure was fraudu
lent, and does not represent the sentiment OF
the whole country. A large portion OF St
Domingo was even then in open rebellion
against the trcacherous and oppressive Gov
eminent with which Gen. GRANT made his
bargain. This rebellion has since made
great progress. II has captured the impor.
tant town of Aqua. Its revolutionary CON.
mittces are active and cntcrprsing in the
city of st. Domingo Itself and there
IN little doubt that, notwithstanding
the MD Illegally furnished 10 BAEz
by .hs naval forces of the United
States, the revolt will soon Lave possession
of the entire republic, But even if this re.
bellion does not succeed so soon rs now
seems probable, it will certainly lie continued,
and the ratification of the treaty would
simply require us TO undertake d tiicult
and expensive civil war in that island. All
the men and materials for carrying on such
war would have to I've transport.
ed from this country. The expense
would be great and the d fiiculties
enormous. Spain tried it five years ago,
and after losing twenty thousand sol
diers aud millions upon millions of money,
was forced IT, abandon the contest and leave
the Dominicans 10 themselves, Possibly
this might not be the result if we should
sttcmpt to annex and conquer the island ;
but what saue man wishes TO be compelled
% send there au army of fifty thousand meu
and fleet OF fifty mcnoiwar2 Win the
benefits to be gained justify such an under.
1aking2
We do not accuse the gentlemen who call
this meeting Of any intention TO deceive the
public; but the language they employ is
calculated TO give false impression Of their
design. They propose only TO ratify the
treaty for the Bay of SANTANA as naval sta
zion. They say nothing about the annexa
zion treaty, which lie the real object OF Gen
GRANTS negotiation with the Senators al
ubu VI lulb ulONSulcub mere
But can 1t be supposed that by
endorsing the little swndle the big swindl'
may, after all, be accomplished? The rem
proposed to BE- paid for SANTANA is $4,000 I
year; but it is believed by the public that
considerable part Of this sum will go int,
The pockets Of spectators who have a.
ranged the terms Of tho treaty, and but
Sery small part into the Dominican treasury
Besides, Il is well understood tina
all the rights and privN gcs conveyed il
tho proposed sale of SANTANA could hav
been obtained year ago for 100000
year. May we hope that some satsipctor
explanation upon this delicate point VII b
given in the course Of the proceedings OF thi
Ucnngf
The gentlemen who address the mcctin,
would also do well to consider whether som
better means than the urchasc Of Salnan
cannot DO discovered for protecting publ.
and private vessels In those regions.
would be wiser for them, instead of advoca
ing the purchase Of a barbarous aud un II
proved island, to call upon President GRAN
70 change his Secretary Of State, and appoir
20 that Office some man who will not truck
from sheer poltroonery to weak and sinl
ing power Ike Spain, and who will II,
allow the American flag TO be outraged Q
the high seas by Spanish cruisers, wit
out enforcing an immediate apolog
and indemnify. They would also
well to urge upon the Presdel
tho duty OF at once rcmoyinu OFOHuE
robson from the Office of nominal Sccretnl
OF the Navy, md DAVID d. PORTER from Il
real control Of that Department Then
Him put in the place of Mr. robson son
man Of energy and intelligence, who W
send Admiral PORTER about his business, al
recall tho useless and costly squadro