The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1870-04-23
The san Domingo Annexation
President Grants Views.

Among our foreign news will be found u tele.
graphic abstract of the debate in the Senate OF
the proposal to annex San Domingo. 1t is inter.
esting as it developes n deep-seated and strong
opposition to the acquisition Of any foreign terri,
tory. While a majority of the American people
believe that the entire North American Continent
is destined to be absorbed by the Republic, they
yet are strongly opposed to a~nnexing any territory
separated by sea from the United States. This
is sound policy. And it applies with equal force
to Cuba, San Domingo, Hawaii, the Fijis, or any
other foreign territory.
President Grant, however, has taken hold Of
this project to annex San Domingo, with Il de-
termination TO carry it through, and certainly
brings forward strong arguments. If we may
Judge from the obstinacy with which he fought
the rebels at Vicksburg and at Richmond, and
from his reputation for unficbing courage, he
will not yield till he has won the contest. His
rguments are summed up in the following report
from Washington, under date of March 30th
1.-THE Heraid's Washington special says the Pres
idcnt, in conversation on the prospects of the San
Domingo treaty, this evening, briefly expressed the
following opinion, bearing or this important subject
\ Government rs extensive and populous as the
United States consumes many things grown only in
the tropics the population of the country rapidly
increases, and as a necessary result the consumption
of tropical products becomes larger in proportion.
We talk about the balance of trade being against us
in Europe, this is an error the United States
consumes about seyenty-fve millions worth of sugar
per year-this is almost entirely drawn from the
wealth of the country true, bills are drawn on
Europe, but chiefly 10 pay the balances against the
United States in the tropics.
The balance against the United States in Brazil is
over twenty millions, and proportionately the same
is the case in all the tropical countries with which
We have commercial transactions. This being an
incontrovertable fact, certainly it is q most desirable
step to acquire the country where American capital,
labor and enterprise could he employed in raising
sugar, coffee, and other tropical growths, for Amer
lean consumption.
The President reviewed the whole question under
four heads
siton as San Domingo in An agricultural point Of
view, for the reasons l have already stated.
Second-The laws of Porto Rico and Cuba are
inimical to American commerce there is no reason
why American manufactures and provisions, such as
we are able TO compete in, should not 90 to these
Islands ; their laws are hostile to the interests of this
country they are a check upon American commerce.
l wish most earnestly to see the commerce revived
a strong hold in the West Indies would very soon
regulate this.
Third, the country has become so immense in its
proportions that it requires outposts. Our yulner-
plant ourselves there this will be a guard against
aggression from foreign powers, and consolidate the
power of resistance by this country.
The last reason is,-without such q foOthold, in
the event of 4 struggle, our enemies would rendezvous
in the Gulf, and the whole power of the nation might
be called to concentrate against Il danger which, by
timely action, could have been averted.
Speaking most s~eriously-aye, even NEST earnestly
the President remarked, how can we tell at what
moment there might be q demand for action in those