, 1870-01-31

tAH DOMINGO AHD ST. THokAs,

tAn DOMINGO AHD ST. THokAs.
Two tre.tiea, looking to the Acquisition
Of tarrito1y N the West Indies, axe pending
before the SenAta. One ia a legscy
from the Secretary Of state, to whose
Wanted American policy wo owe ths annex
stion Of ioe-bound Alaska; the other is
gift-that is, the ides, not the money to
ca1J it into e1ecutou--frorn Admiral
Porter TO the nation AIr, Seward's treaty
couteuplates &he purchase, from Denmark,
for s, ,50o, G0o-about the cost OF Alaska
Of st. Thomas, an Inland twent5-three
square nllea in area, eith population Of
some Is, GOO, when not decirnated by the
yellow fever {afrequent viitoz) or swallow.
ed up by an earthquake ian annual eve.t)-
Tho Recommendation Of st. Thomas is it's
spacious and deep harbor, land-looksd On
three sides, and well fortified, but liable,
Ike the land, to m upward movement, that
occasionally leaves vessels high md dry
among the mountains, and exposed, Of
course, to the Diseases prevailing On tho
coast
Admiral Porter'a project [perhaps We do
MN fnJusaee In not ascf1nang tae os.
Inomas plan' a'so, 70 nus fertile ofnn' OUT
It IL mora convenient 70 nAae tnat alter 1a
putati7e father) involves, 80 far as known,
the expenditure OF only 81, ,500, 600 IN cash
down, but there are secret c1ausel In the
treaty making additions to this sum; there
are responsiveness at'acneo 70 tne acquisa-
hoo sofe 70 Ieso 70 lafse aan"a' apPtop1aa-
hons' me tota. o. WHICH NJ 1nan can
fee8on- Do"ln!e@r *nca lo.'e1 ooso'S'
IN one q *noee Days lne on1.ea eeaeee nag
already noats' mas IN area o' over !f'op
square mHes, ano Popu'Auon ol oet"een
>oo'oe" and soo'opu, clsn ~n nAs 1oI
monens oeso1Aa'e. ~: eoy esea 11o ~
than the eafehqaaSes II stne1s 11o". 1ne
people afe NOT nj ios se'-goseennen'' ano
mus1' 1ot years 70 eo"o' e'tne1 o. sosetnea
N IN ann-sepooncaa naunet y. pe al.oaeo
TIE privileges Oh cauzens oeao.e .ney pu'seas
the capacity 10 pe7oi1h 1os ouaes q e'a
zena. Dominica mofeosef' ao1o'as haJu'
which embraces more man 1n'1a o. tne ne
whole islano' and Is 'nnAo''eu o5 oSe1 nal'
mlulon OF persons noSs q WHO" na'e
negro blood IN ther VEINS Inc aeaulnaon
OF Dominica Is su1s' sooner OK iale1' 10 1e'd
to that OF the more popoious asSu, anu We
ehsll then have nearly a million OF uneou-
Gated people upon our nanna' e'tnef a. Sud
iects or as aoFereiens.
Were We forced to choose between 81
Thomas, at seTen millions and hhH, and
Dominica, at million and ha1, Tus
Heaven knows how much more. We shoald
give the royal Dane what be asks' 1of We
prefer to know the bottom of bargain at
once. II the United States must have
coaling station IN the West Indies, let 1t be
IN island just big enough for the purpose,
with population only sufficient to serTe as
coal-heavers. -.....-.-
But wherefore buy either island? Our
NAVY has got along well enough without an
insular coal yard 80 far. In time OF peace
it can purchase supplies anywhere. Ii
time Of war-bus We are no friends OF the
doctrine, "ln time Of peace prepare FOL
vsr, high as ia tho authority for the ma1'
i'm. As ne see 40 Argument in favor Of
large standing army, in the possibility thai
its services nay be required against nov
friendly nation, 30 do We see none in faro
of acquiring coal yard to supply the posi-
ble needa Of cur cruisers. When war come
they naT take in their coal at home ports
or may conquer it from the enemy.
OF slktimes, thla is tho least opportun
for tho EurchAse Of territory, whether 10
acoal station OF for the American Ehgte t
fsp hia:'wiuga orer- The Republican part
went II 10 powar with promises to retrene
tho public expenditures, TO reform the put