The Union and journal., 1870-12-30
The San Domingo Resolution.

The San Domingo hesolutlon'
Last year tho Administration desired
the Senate to ratify treaty for the an
nexation of the island Of San Domingo.
It failed. however. without the publies
understanding why 1t WAS desirable on
The oao part. and why il was defeated on
The other. In his annual Message the
President presents to the nation the rea-
Mons why. but modides the demands oil
the Administration down to request that
Congress shall authorize n commission for
the purpose Of visiting the Island and au-
tboritatiyely learn the situation Of affairs
and report thereon. 1t viii be difficult to
convince the people Of the propriety OF
opposing this modest and very judicious
request on the part of the President. To
be sure. majority Of the commission
would In all probability be desirous to
render n favorable report; but this was
the least weighty Of all reasons that could
be urged against IL.
But il was vchemently opposed. and
the opposition WAS led by MIR. Sumner.
who was betrayed into n loss Of temper
and whose valor outan his discretion.
We do not learn that direct and personal
charges of inability or corruption were
made upon tho Executive; but IL Mr..
summers argument statements and theo-
rics are correct. the President lacks ability
TO comprehend the situation or Is n great
knave. neither Of which statements the
friends of Mr.. Sumner would be willing
to admit. His war-cry Of "a dance OF blood
to which the President invites us" sounds
very ridiculous and is in fact still more
ridiculous.
Here we have the government OF San
Domingo anxious to be annexed to the
United States. the government de fdcto.
hut which Mr.. S. asserts Is not the gov
crnment dc jurc. But we cannot for u
moment inquire into the rights OF neigh
boring governments to the powers which
they do actually exercise. That is their
concern and not ours nor that of any for
cign State. Consequently. admitting Mr..
Summers statement to be correct, this
government recognizes the government
Of Baez to be the only authoritative voice
of the people Of San Domingo, rs 1t is
bound to do rather than recognize Mr..
Sumner rs their representative govern
ment. Here, then. we start with fact
admitted to be fact by the opponents of
tho resolution, that the only government
Of that Island. the only authority now
capable to sign any treaty affecting its in
forest, Is desirous to ccde the Island TO
the United States. The cnly questions
now to be considered are two.-Is such
an annexation desirable on the part of
this government. and is such u consum-
nation antasonistic to humanity
The last question requires no debate Mt
the hands Of the American people, but
the first |, one to be inquired into. Such
is the purpose of tho commission asked
for by the President, and the Senator will
find 1t difficult to convince the public that
thoy should oppose the inquiry. Annex
alton Of desirable ports. harbors, and an
tiguous territory has been the traditional
policy OF this government. We have Of
fored us at one-fourth the purchase money
required for securing that lunatic project
Of Seward and Summertime purchase OF
that God-fors,kcn polar region known rs
Alaska-a foothold and secure harbors,
saying nothing Of the territory and popu-
lation Of San Domingo, directly in the
track of our commerce. Should any
other government attempt to purchase it,
our government would be obliged to fight
TO prevent Il. when there would really be
..a dance OF blood" to which Mr.. Sumner
gives no thought.
We hope the resolution to appoint a
commission will pass tho House unani-
mously. ..r-r-.r .....' e...|