The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-05-14
The 81. Domingo swipdIc.

The meeting nj Cooper Institute on Thurs
day evening was called Tor the purpose of
promoting the ratification of the pending
treaty for acquiring the right TO occupy and
hold the BAY of SANTANA in the island of St
Domingo; !" but the resolutions of the meet
ing and all the speeches that were delivered
related, not 10 the question of SANTANA, but
20 the annexation Of the entire republic. As
Mr.. Mosrs II. GRINNrIL expressed it, il WIS
"a movement for the acquisition of the noble
island of st. Domingo" This beng the case,
why did not the authors of the demonstration
frankly state its real object in their callg
Was any false Trctence necessary to attract
the public to The meeting?
The resolutions set forth various generali-
lies respecting the value Of the island Us Il
part of the American geographical system,
the variety of its products its magnf-
cent harbors, It's capacity for com.
mercc, and so on but neither in these
resolutions nor in the speeches of the ora.
tors do We find my explanation Of the doll
cate questions involved in this treaty. No
one Of them assures the public that the
N'NNiIAliAAk WIN NlAANh lAAS iIthNg Nhr
made is likely to be permanent. No one
presented any evidence that the people of
- Domingo are really and honestly in
favor Of annexation. No one attempted 70
relutc the idea that # we shonld take pos
session Of tie island i would be at the ex.
ponse of engaging in n difficult, costly, and
uncertain civil war. Both Gen BANKS and
Mr.. FITcn, WHO were the principal speakers
If the occasion, carefully avoided all these
points confnitg themselves 10 interesting
phrases respecting the progress Of hu-
mainly, the American eaClc, and the mani.
fest destiny of the United States. As for
doing anything to bring the public mind TO
the support OF tho Dominican treaty, this
meeting was total failure.
In the year 1861, Spain undertook the ex-
pertinent TO which we are now invited. She
annexed 81. Domingo. The people Of the
country gave their consent with greater ap-
parent unani!nity than they have now given
i TO annexation to the Uuitod States. There
was thenno civil war in the republic, all up.
parntly acquescug in tie Government Of
President SANTANA. The annexation being
completed, an army Of twenty thousand
Spanish soldiers was sent to maintain order
in the new possession. This army was rein.
forced from time to time II contonded with
olstinacy against the civil war which soon
broke OUT, and which il was found impossible
to put down. Finally, in 1865, the Spanish
forces were Withdrawn, leaving twenty five
- t4Gusqnd soldiers buried - Dominican soil
The whole operation cntailed upon the Span
ish Government m addition to their public
debt Of more than twenty-five millions Of dol
lars.
is there any reason to suppose hat the
United States Will be more fortunate in St.
Domingo than Spain was? Spain took
there laws essentially the same us those
Of tho republic the language of her
soldiers and civilians was that of the
country her social habits and usages were
the same her religion was the same. We
differ from the DomiLicans in all these re.
epacts. We shall carry to the island forms
and modes of Law 10 which the people are
entirely strange Oar language is alien to
their ears our manners and customs are un.
like any 10 which they have been labituat,
cd. In religion we tolerate everything ex.
ccpt that enforced uniformity 10 which they
have been wontcd. In addition to this we
find there long established civil war, alrea
dy on the point of overthrowing and cXpel
ling from the country the Government with
which we have undertaken to treat. il il
probable that under such circumstances we
shall be able 10 hold the island after we have
annexed it
With thirty thousand soldiers in st. Do
minPo, Spain had 10 suffer the humiliation OF
abandoning it, How large an army will it
rcquir" to protect us against such a dis
grace? Certainly not lrss than fifty thou,
sond mon. Nor can fifty men ofwar avail
10 blockade the coast, snd keep out thos,
who would attempt TO furnish arms and mate.
rails Of war To our enemies Ia the interior. Tho
expense Of anncying st. Domingo, mi of
holding it for as.ngle year by means of such
milit.Iy ard naval force, cannot lo lcs,
than $2C1,0O0000 Nor at the end Of III,
,en,, ~ Of any period TIT ccn lc estimated
beforehand. -l.nll We DO relieved from Ia,
n,c,n-ity Of moiuto'r'na our hold upon til,
island y an crny and q llc,t
,r,stor. .oiufl lor which twoa,d law.
h.rn ayr. i.o a. receive some lo-t'y.
iurIma,o u from So acute and clcorhoado.
Osa'Duto &C. r,n. EANhf, or from eo cln
ucnt an clycr''r q progress as MIR flrcIi
u would cY.r la'. nca br Ter than nothin,
tc tlo.p N.l .u ctt.,.r.t I.,,ilo 10 cost t,I,