The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-01-13
OUR NEW POSSEsSIONS-THEC CHANCES
OF ACQUISITION
From the N. Y. Times.

=
The foothold in the West Indies which has
long been an object of quest by the United
States is now in fair way of attainment
The Babcock-Gautier treaty for the cession
of San Domingo is before the Senate with
the chances in favor of its ratification. Will
that popular vote, which is nominated in the
treaty as needful to its becoming of full and
binding effect, result in a majority for an
neXation
This is one of the interesting queries of
the hour. Weighing all the chances, it seems
to us that the islanders will affirm the treaty
We are mindful that ever since the spring of
1867 the little republic has been rent in
twain by civil strife over this very ISSUE
We recall that Cabral, once President, and
now powerful rebel, has rested his cause
mainly on this ground We are aware that
this chieftain still hovers on the western
frontiers, at the head of some four or five
hundred Cacos, bent on deposing Baez; that
General Luperon, now at Turks Island, de-
clares that Saget and his men are still in full
sympathy with Cabral, and that, SO soon as
Salnave is etfectually done for, he will have
the entire Haytien force at his disposal, in
Guiding the fleet that lately defeated Salnaye
at Port .au-Prince. We do not lose sight of
| any of these facts, nor of the likelihood that
| the business now in hand will prove the sig
| nal for storm of revolt from the Haytien
! insurgents.
But, ON the other hand, let us put in array
the favoring facts, and see what sort of show
| they make. In the first place the adminis-
| tration is thought to be unit in favor of an
nexation, being moved thereto by strong per-
| suasives-partly an empty purse, and partly
| their precarious tenure of Office Baez like
Barkis, is "willin'," and, indeed, very
| anxious So, certainly, is Gautier, who has
acted as Commissioner, and shown prompt
ness and conciliatory spirit, together with
Del Monte, with Hungaria, and with Curiel,
who, as Secretary of the Treasury, is deely
versed in the mystery of negative quantities.
Baez had found it needful for political effect
to let the impression prevail, last spring, that
| he was opposed to annexation; but he really
is its strongest advocate. Rather than not
come into the Union at all, the Dominican
administration consented to have the island
introduced as Territory. We think, there
| fore, that we may count on the Executive
patronage being wholly thrown in favor of
| the treaty.
Next we come to the leading public men.
We know already the feeling of Messrs. Fa-
bens and Gabb. The Church dignitaries are
not to be considered; and our Washington
| correspondent tells us that their leader Don
| Domingo la Roche, one of the most influen-
tial citizens in the republic (and the reputed
owner of one-seventh of it), expressed to
| General Babcock the strongest desire for an
nexation, and his willingness to use his great
influence in the prevailing Church to that
| end. Then we approach the Senate, COM
posed Of the representatives from the seven
! provinces-this body ratified the treaty at
once. Finally, as to the cities, the new
treaty is with them the all-absorbing topic,
and in San Domingo City, SANTANA, Porto
Platte, Santiago, and all the considerable