The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-04-01
GENERAL GRANT, THE SENATE, AND
THE DOMINICAN TREATY.
From the N. Y. Herald.

From the NJ Y. Herald
The United States Senate, since the pur-
chase of Alaska (4S1, 200 square miles on the
main land and string of islands which no
man can number stretching clean across the
Pacific Ocean, and all for 81, 200, 900 in Cali
fornia gold), has become somewhat distrust-
full of any further investments for the present
in real estate. The Conscript Fathers, in
fact, look upon Alaska, the home of the white
bear, as a white elephant, and not knowing
what to do with him they don't want any
more elephants, white or black. Hence the
failure of the St. Thomas treaty, although
certain volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and
tidal waves in that quarter played the mis-
chief with the King of Denmark Even Cuba
appears to have lost its attractions as the
''key of the Gulf, and the splendid island of
st, Domingo, rich beyond comparison in all
the riches of the tropics, goes begging in the
Senate, although offered for a song.
General Grant has concluded treaty with
the Government concerned for the annexa-
ton of the republic of Dominica-two- thirds
or more of the island of st. Domingo, the
republic of Hayti holding the remainder.
| The annexation of Dominica would be speedily
| followed by that of Hayti, thus securing us
the entire island, the possession of which
| would inevitably soon result in the acquisi-
| tion of all the surrounding islands, beginning
| with Cuba. Moreover, Senator Morton has
| shown that in 1889 (when negro slavery was
in full blast there) the productions of st.
| Domingo reached the enormous figure of one
hundred and fifty million dollars per annum,
| giving employment to seven hundred vessels
and twenty-seven thousand seamen - facts
which sufficiently attest the amazing riches
and capacities of the island. In our posses
| sion this maximum of one hundred and fifty
| millions of products would soon be restored.
| In coffee and sugar alone the crops of the
island within ten years would reduce the cost
| of coffee throughout the United States to one
third its present price, and sugar to one-half.
How and why, then, is it that the Senate op-
poses this treaty which provides to secure US
this island for bagatelle?
Mr.. Sumner, they say, does not want any
more niggers. He has had enough. On his
Alabama claims he is looking to the acquisi-
tion of Canada and the white folks up there;
but he shrinks from Mexico, Cuba, st. Do
mipgo and all those tropical places, because
of the niggers and hybrids of all shades and
crosses which make up their population. We
had supposed that the fifteenth amendment,
establishing perfect equality Of colors and
races, would give us scope and verge enough
to take in everything down to Brazil. But,
| then, it appears Mr. Sumner has other OBJ &C.
tons to Dominica, such as the unknown debts
of that republic, and upon these, il is said,
the Senate is dead against this treaty.
just here, however, we have touch of the
shrewd common sense and far-reaching sa-
gacity of General Grant. He proposes that
the Senate shall suspend action upon the
treaty until competent commission to Do
minica shall have inquired into all these
objections, and made straight and specific
contract in dollars and cents. And we can
not believe that this fair proposition will be
disregarded by the Senate.
The Presidents reasons for the acquisition
of the island we hold to be conclusive. In the
article of sugar (of which the United States
consume seventy-fve million dollars WORTH
and in coffee and other tropical products St.
Domingo would largely contribute to turn the
general balance of trade in our favor. Then
the laws of Cuba and Porto Rico being
} against our commerce, the possession of st.
Domingo is necessary to establish ourtrade OF
proper footing in the West Indies, and will
do it, Again, our country has become SO i'm
mense that it needs outposts for military Sc
eurity against hostile European combinations
and nowhere do we need commanding out
post so much as in the Gulf of Mexico. Sucl
are General Grants views of the importance
of this Dominican treaty of annexation; anC
though obstructed for the present in the Sen
ate, the proposed acquisition on the general
argument indicated must prevail