The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-04-13
San Domingo.

The Message of the President is less a
presentation of the advantages of annex
alton than personal defence of the Presi-
dent against the charges of corruption.
SO long as our Chief Magistrate saw fit
to examine the grave charges made by a
recent supporter Of such prominence as
the Massachusetts Senator, the public will
regret that he confined himself to denial
of the charges Of corruption and 4 recital
of unimportant events. The gravest al
legations made were not that certain conf
Dental agents of the President had Sc
cured gifts and concessions to themselves
personally. but that the President and his
advisers had overridden the laws and the
constitution by the unauthorized exercise
of war powers, and the use of the army
and navy to threaten nation with which
we were at peace. The taking of brides,
the stealing of lands, and the enriching of
favorites by corrupt means, we have be-
come so much accustomed to at home as
to look for its early and frequent occur
renee in any new territorial acquisitions.
Even icy Alaska had scarcely got under
the shadow of the flag before administra-
ton favortes had stolen the seal fishing
privilege, the only thing worth having.
At Il time, therefore, when the power
of the sword and bayonet are being ex-
tended so widely at home and being
brought to bear upon matters heretofore
considered sacfedly exempt from their in
fluencc, the people desire to know by
what authority the President assumes to
use them in so arbitrary a manner abroad.
Upon this matter, by far the most import
ant of all that has been urged against the
administration, no information is given.
1t has only the confession of silence. The
country may then accept it as part of
the administration policy, that the navy
may be sent abroad at any time with in
structions which are liable to precipitate
us into war unwarned and unprepared.
SO much at least the President has admit
ted
Beyond this, the message is divided in
to sharp retorts upon Sumner and Shurz.
and mild attempts at philosophy. In the
latter department the country is confident
ly assured that the sage of the White
House has 'cven believed that all men
were wiser than any one man." All of
port. is very affecting and unparalleled
by anything since Socrates, dosed with
hemlock, discoursed to his disciples.
The report of the Commissioners is
mainly apologize of the condition of San
Domingo, natural, political and industrial.
Local self-government is bad, but there
are exceptions. The Spanish troops died
by wholesale, but they were badly cared
for. There is opposition to annexation,
built comes sfrom interested parties.
The people are honest, temperate, &c,
lut they have vices. They might raise
much on the island, bit they don't. They
might be educated, but they are not.
Horses ana cattle might be raised, ii they
steal from each other. As an
evidence, we suppose of the thrift of the
people we are to annex, it is stated that
sugar cane grows in the greatest abun-
dance, and that they use beet sugar from
France
The commissioners reveal astonishing
facts in regard to the fisheries. Every
year some black-fish are caught and tried
for oil Turtle and shellfsh are taken in
moderate quantities very moderate,
probably. Oysters grow attached to man
grove bushcs-and, strange to say, the
natives cat them When this report is
sues from the government office, it should
DC illustrated by picture Of San Do
ningo niger, sitting on the shore picking
md eating mangrove oysters, as q spec-
men of the inhabitants and productions.
In short, the deeper we 60 into this
business, the more apparent its humbug
becomes.