The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-12-10

United by the two Governments, and awarded TO
the United States the sum of 500, 10000 in gold
which has since been paid by the imperial gov
eminent. The recent examples show that the
mode which the United States have proposed to
Spain for adjusting the pending claims, is Just
and feasible, and that it may be agreed to by
either nation without dishonor. 1t is to be
hoped tina, the moderate demand may be acceded
to by Spain without further delay Should the
pending negotions unfortunately and unexpected
~ be without result, it will then become my
duty to communicate that fact to Congress- and
invite its action on the subject
The long deferred Peace Conference between
Spain and the allied South American Republics
has been insuE urated in Washington under the
auspices of the United States. Pursuant to the
recommendation contained in the resolution Of
the House of Representatives of the 18th of De-
cember, 1866, the Executive Department of the
Government offered its friendly offices for tho
promotion of peace and harmony between Spain
and the Allied Republics. Hesitations and ob.
stacles occurred to the acceptance of the offer.
Ultm ,tely, however, a conference was
ranged, and was opened in this city on the Goth
of October last, at which authorised the Secre-
tary of State to preside. 1t was attended by
the Ministers of Spain, Peru, Chilli and Ecuador.
In consequence of the absence of a representa-
tive from Bolivia, the conference was adjourned
until the attendance of "A Plenipotentiary from
that Republic could be secured or other meas
ures could be adopted toward comprising its OBJ
ject. The allied and other Republics of Spanish
origin on this continent may see in this fact a
nsw proof OF our sincere interest in their well
fare; Of eur desire to them blessed with
good Governments, capable OF maintaining or
der and preserving their respective territorial
integrity, and OF our sincere wish TO extend our
commercial and social relations with them. The
time is not probably far distant when, in the
course Of events, the European political connec.
ton with this continent will cease. Oar policy
should be shaped in view of this probability, so
As to ally the commercial interests of the Span
ish-Amerlcan states more closely to our own.
and thus give the United States all the pre-emi-
nencs and oil the advantage which Mr. Monroe,
Mr.. Adams and Mr. Clay contemplated, when
they proposed to Join the Congress of Panama
During the last session of Congress a treaty
| for the annexation of the Republic of San Do
mingo to the United States failed to receive the
| requisite twothirds vote of the Senate. l was
| thoroughly convinced then that the best inter-
| ests of the country, commercially and material
", demand its ratification. Time has only con.
firmed me in this view. now firmly believe
that the moment it is known that the United
States have entirely abandoned the project of &C.
cepting, as part of its territory, the Island of
| San Domingo, free port will be negotiated for
| by European nations in the bay of SANTANA A
| large commercial city will sprng up, to
which we will be tributary, without receiving
corresponding benefits. The Government Of
San Domingo has Voluntarily sought the annex.
alton. 1t is weak power, numbering probably
lees than one hundred and twenty thousand
souls, and yet possessing Of the richest local
| tiles under the sun, capable of supporting pop.
ulation OF 100000 Of people in luxury. The
people OF San Domingo are not capable of main.
tanning themselves in their present condition, and
! must look for outside support. They yearn for the
| protection of our free institutions and laws, our
progress and civilization ShGll we refuse them |?
The acquisition of San domingo il desirable,
| because OF its geographical position 1t com.
mands the entrance to the Carribean Sea and
the Isthmus trans. to commerce. 1t possesses
the richest soil, best and most pacious harbors,
| the most saubrious climate, and toe most yalu-
able products of the forest, mine and soil of any
| OF the West India islands. Its possession by the
United States will in few years build up
cOastwise commerce of immense magnitude,
which will 90 far towards restoring 10 the Unit.
ed States our lost merchant marine. It will
give to us those articles which we consider of
great value and do not produce, thus equalizing
our exports and imports. In case of q foreign
war it will give command of all the islands
referred to, and thus prevent enemy from
again possessing himself of a rendezvous upon
our coast Our guilt trade between the states
bordering on the Atlantic and those bordering
on the Gulf of Mexico is by the Bahamas and
the Antilles. Twice we must, as it were, pass
through foreign countries to get from Georgia
to the east coast of Florida. San Domingo,
with stable government, under which her i'm.
mense resources can be developed, will give re-.
munerative wages to 10000 of laborers not now
upon the island This labor will take advan.
tage of every available means of transportation
to abandon the ajacent islands, and seek the
blessings of its freedom and its sequence is that
| each inhabitant will receive the reward OF his
own labor. Porto Rico and Cuba will have to
abolish slavery as a measure Of sef.preservation
to retain their iaborers. San Domingo will be-.
come a large consumer OF the products of north
ern farms and manufactures. The cheap rate
at which her citizens can be furnished with
food, tools, land and machinery, will make nee
sssary that the contiguous islands should have
the same advantages in order to compete with
the production of sugar coffee, tobacco, tropical
fruit, etc. This will open to US a wider market
for our products. The production of our supply
| OF these articles will cut off more than one hun
dred millions Of our annual imports With such
| picture, it is easy TO see how our large debt
abroad is to be ultimately extinguished With
Q balance Ut trade against Us, including interest
OF bonds held by foreigners, and money shipment
OF our citizens travelling in foreign lands,
equal to the yield of precious metals in this
country, 1t is not 30 easy TO see how this result
| is to be otherwise accomplished. The acquisition
OF San Domingo is an adhesion to the Monroe
| doctrine as a measure of national protection. 1t
| il asserting our right to controlling influence
| over the great commercial traffic soon to flow
from the west to the east, by the way of the 18TH
mus OF Darien. 1t is to build up our merchant
1 IN >saI