The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-07-01
THE REJECTION or THE SAN Do
MINGO TREATY..

The fate of the San Domingo treaty was de-
finitely settled yesterday, by its rejection in
the Senate, the vote standing % in favor
and 29 against it, This result was due to the
disclosures recently made which rendered it
a most certain that the proposition to annex
San Domingo to the United States was
gigantic Job by which a ring of spectators
hoIe ed to get rich, while the occupation and
government of the island might probably cost
us many times what it was worth. If the
rejection of this treaty, however, means that
we are to abandon the partial foothold we
have obtained, it can scarcely be considered
as other than unfortunate, and the anxiety of
the President to secure favorable considera-
ton for the scheme of annexation arose from
the fact that he appreciates keenly how i'm
portant it is that we should obtain a COM
manding position in the Gulf of Mexico.
So far as mere territory is concerned, we
have quite as much, if not more, than we
want; but if any one will examine the map
of the United States, it will be seen at a
glance that there are at least three points of
strategic Importance that we ought to be able
to command in such manner that it will be
impossible for our foreign neighbors to annoy
us as they certainly can do now. These
points are the mouth of the st. Lawrence
river, the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico, and
Puget Sound. The first would necessitate
the annexation of that part of Lower Canada
to the south of the st. Lawrence; the second
the acquisition of San Domingo, Cuba, or
some other large West India Island; and to COM
mand Puget Sound we should have possession
of Vancouvers Islsnd, which we very fool
ishly allowed the British to bully us out of at
the time of the "ffty-four-forty or fight" con-
troversy. We think that the energies of
American statesmen ought to be earnestly
and energetically directed to the acquisition
of the territory necessary for us to command
the positions named, and although our ne
cessities are not so pressing that we are under
any obligations to make forcible demonstra-
tions at the present time, yet the fact that
certain great national objects are to be gained
should never be lost sight of, and no opportu-
mites be allowed to pass by unimproved for
rounding off the corners of our dominions in
the manner suggested. San Domingo would
answer admirably for West Indian station,
and we ought to get possession of it if we
can do so without being swindled to an
unlimited extent 1t is now proposed
to adopt the same course
that was pursued in the case of Texas, and
to pass Joint resolution of both houses of
Congress admitting San Domingo to the
Union. How this will operate to defeat the
calculations of the ''ring" we are not prepared
to say, but it is apparently preferable way
of definitely settling the question. During
the Rebellion the absolute necessity of a
West Indian station was conclusively demon
strated. We have in that neighborhood no
port except Key West, which is practically
worthless as military or naval station; and
however much we may object to the conduct
of the agents employed to negotiate the
treaty with San Domingo the desire of tn 3
President to secure for it a favorable consi-
deration by the Senate was inspired by sound
craftsmanship, and it will be a matter for
regret if by combination of unfortunate
circumstances the prize is allowed to slip
through our fingers.