The New York herald., 1870-04-08

reduced to the condition Of q tenth rate naval
Power. The navy should keep pace with the
advance Of the country and increase Of its
commerce. The recommendations Of the Sec
retary should be entitled to respectful con-
sderation, for his annual report has convinced
every one who has read it attcntively that
the only fault he committed was in not recon-
mending a larger increase.
Tho Annexation OF ST. DonaingO-Cse ucral
Grants Policy Made pinln.
We published yesterday joint resolution
prepared by General Butler to be offered in
the House Of Representatives on tho first
opportunity for the annexation, as beginning.
of all that portion Of the splendid island of ST.
Domingo embraced in the Dominican republic.
The resolution provides that Dominica shall be
annexed to the United States and governed as
q territory; that with the incorporation Of the
soil Its inhabitants shall be adopted as citizens
Of the United States, and that the sum OF
1850, ITO In gold shall be paid by the United
States for the settlement Of the debts OF the
Dominican republic, and in full consideration
of the territory and other property ceded to
the United States. Yesterday General Butler
endeavored to get the general proposition
before the House, but, objection being made,
his resolution went over under the rule.
Now, with this movement by General
Butler, who seldom acts in important
matters unless certain Of making a great
hit, no shadow of doubt, we think, can be
entertained as to the policy Of General
Grant on the subject His treaty for the an-
nexaton Of Dominica having stuck fast in the
Senate, vote of two-thirds of the
members present being required for
the ratification, he has fallen back
upon the plan Of joint resolution which will
secure the annexation proposed by majority
vote Of each house. History here repeats
ITSELF President Tyler first tried the annex
alton Of Texas by treaty, but failed Of two
thirds vote in the Senate. A joint resolution
of annexation was then introduced in the
House, and being passed by that body, it was
next passed by the Senate with an amendment.
which was concured in by the House, and the
bill as thus passed was signed by the Presi-
d
haste to Texas to make sure of the work with
out loss of time. General Grant, having been
baffled with his Dominican treaty in the Senate,
simply proposes to adopt tho alternative of
Tyler on Texas, and we have no doubt Of Its
complete success.
| 1t is we'll understood that General Grant is
very desirous to secure the annexation pro-
posed. He has been and is earnestly working
| and is anxiously interested in this matter; and
| his reasons for the acquisition of St. Domingo,
looking to the balance Of trade in the sugar,
coffee and other tropical products Of the West
Indies, are, as we hold, perfectly satisfactory
and conclusive in favor of the enterprise. 1t
! is quite possible, however, that he has another
| reason, about which he has said nothing,
and is not likely to say anything. 1t
is this: The annexation of Dominica will
not only soon be followed by Hayti,
thus giving us the whole Of the rich
island Of st. Domingo-an island which, under
| France and Spain, produced one hundred and
| fifty millions of products in single year
but the emigration which will go down from
tho United States to Dominica, with its annex
alton, will soon settle the Cuban question.
The distance between Cuba and Dominca--
q few hours sail-will settle it. In word,
| this Dominican annexation scheme Of General
| Grant is flank movement upon Cuba, which
If carried through will most probably settle
the Cuban difficulty at once, in a proposition
from Spain to sell out cheap for cash. They
want at Madrid now only plausible excuse
| for abandoning Cuba, and with Dominica, next
door, in our possession, a, very plausible
excuse will be provided. We feel satisfied
that General Grant 80 understands it, and it
is probable that General Prim eutertains a
similar view on the subject, with all the beat
ing about the bush Of Mr.. Fish.
REYNOLDS LAST DAY.-The murderer of
the old man Townsend dies to-day. Townsend
was taken off suddenly, without moment for
preparation, amid the helpless cries of his wife
and children, while his murderer goes to his
doom after weeks and months Of hearty devo-
- I ~