The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-03-19
The Dominican Republic-Its
Position, Geography, I
and History.
- A Nj A N a BA ".
Shall We Rent 1T p
The Key to the xndies---Nego-
tiations Concerning IT. o. o.

that are recognized as warrantine the exnend,
ture of $40, 000 600 to secure it. the annexation.
lists are now devoting their whole time and at
tention to the case of San Domingo. The Senate
Committee on Foreign Affairs does not appear
to regard the scheme with favor, having voted
to report against it; but the President has be-
come its special champion, and 1t is thought
that, when Mr. Sumner presents his adverse re-
port in the Senate, that body will order the
whole subject back to the committee for further
consideration, in connection with various maps
and documents not examined hitherto, which,
1t is hoped, will cause the committee to reverse
its action and recommend the ratification of the
treaty with President Baez. In executive ses-
sion on Thursday last it was decided to make
the treaty the special subject of discussion In
secret session on Wednesday next, and for that
purpose the executive session will begin at
o'clock and the whole day devoted to It, In
view Of the importance which is attached to the
annexation scheme the facts concerning San
Domingo given below will be read with interest
at this time. --''I
The Republic of San Domingo. sH1
The Dominican republic, the eastern portion
of the island of Hayti, comprises nearly three
hfths of the island. Its name is derived from
the ancient Spanish appellation of the island
San Domingo. Its area is estimated at 1850
of whom one-tenth claim to be whites; the rest
are of African descent, or of mixed African
| and European. The boundary between it
and the Haytien republic is an irregular line
| drawn from the mouth of the river Massacre,
| on the north coast of the island, to the river
| Anses-a-Pitre, or Pedernales, on the south
| coast. The interior of the republic consists
! a -------i--- ----sOe, rising to an eleva-
ton of 5000 to 5000 feet, and covered with
magnificent tropical forests. From the
base of these mountains large plains, watered
by numerous streams, stretch towards the coast.
Of these plains, the Vega Real (Royal plain) and
those OF the Sayna, the Azua, and the Neybe are
the most densely populated. Among the rivers.
most of which bear the character of mountain
torrents, the Great Yaqui, emptying into the
| Bay of Monte Christie; the Yuma, whose en-
| bouchure is in the Bay of Samana; the Higuey
the Gaboon, Soco, socaris, BrujueIas, Ozoma.
Jayna, Nisao, Bani, and Neybo deserve to be
mentioned. The harbor of st. Domingo city Ia
one of the best; next to it the Bay of SANTANA
offers an excellent roadstead. OF the lesser
islands on the coast belonging to the republic,
Beata and Saona are the most considerable
History of the Republic.
The territory belonging to the present re-
public was under the rule of Spain previous TO
1795, when, by the treaty of Basle it was united
with the Haytien portion under the domination
of France. When after terrible struggles, the
colored population of the island had become
| independent of France, the tyranny of Dessa-
| lines drove the Dominicans back into the arms
of Spain, which thus regained possession of its
former colony in 1903.
The next year the Dominicans declared their
independence, abolished slavery, and remained
in an unsettled state until 1922, when the whole
island was united under republican form of
government, and Boyer, the President of Hayti,
was chosen President for life.
| First Presidency of Santana.
But in 1874, the negroes of Hayti having sue
ceeded in elevating General Riviere to the Presi-
dency, the Dominicans, encouraged by the
friendly assurances of the French Consul Gene
raj Moges, again formed separate government
| February 27)'under the auspices of the ''libe-
rator" Pedro Santana, who defeated Riviere
near Santiago april 81, thus securing the inde-
| pendence of his country Recognized by
| France, treaty of friendship and commerce
| with which power was concluded October 22,
| 1S4s and by Great Britain Greatly of amity,
| commerce, and navigation concluded in May,
| 1850, the Dominican republic upheld her inde-
pendence successfully against repeated efforts
| of Soulouque, the ruler of Hayti. -
The Treason of JimeRes. .L.l
The Presidential term of Santana having
ended in 1S49, Jimenes was elected his success
sor. Though of Caucasian blood, the latter
secretly conspired with soulouque, who invaded
the territory the republic at the head of 90 600
| men, and defeated the Dominicans la some
slxirmishes near Azua and Las Matas In this
| extremity Santana was recalled by the people.
He vanquished the Haytien army April 22, near
Savanna Numero, so completely that the war for
the time being was at an end. Jimenes sought
refuge with Soulouque, who made him one of
his dukes, while Santana resigned his Dictator
ship in favor of the newly elected constitutional
President, Buenaventura Baez.
First Presidency of Baez.
BaeZ is mulatto, and was born at Azua In
| the year 1920. His father had taken an active
part in the insurrection of 1908, and he was thus
| born into public life, as it were, his unques-
toned talents, not less than his wealth, contrl-
buting largely to his influence. He had been
| the most intimate friend of Santana, and to his
influence was owing in measure his elevation
| to the Presidency at this critical period in the
| history of the country. In 1850 Soulouque once
more invaded the country unsuccessfully. Baez
having. during the latter part of his administra-
| ton favored the policy of the clerical party,
was rejected by the people In 1858, and Santana
reelected President, breach between him and