The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-29
DISRUPTION OF THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY

From the N. z. Herald.
The able speech of Mr.. Sumner in the
Senate on the st. Domingo question may not
be exactly the last nail in the coffin of Gen.
eral Grants administration and the radical
party, though it will go far to seal the fate of
one or both. Rarely has there been delivered
IN the halls of Congress speech marked with
as much ability or carrying more important
political consequences in its train. Though
q long one, it is terse, srgumentative, states
manlike, and confined to the subject embraced
in the resolution submitted by the Senator.
He did not discuss the general question of
annexation or others bearing upon the merits
of that, and only makes few incidental re-
marks to show that he is not favorable to the
scheme, but he attacks the admin
istration in the severest manner for
usurpation of power and unlawful en-
ployment of the forces of the United States
in foreign country and to uphold foreign
usurper. He proves by incontrovertible evil
dence-and that taken mostly from the official
acts and records of the Government-that the
President has, in the language of the resolu-
ton, without excuse or apology for interfe-
renee, resorted to belligerent Intervention
and acts of war on the coasts of the island of
st. Domingo after the failure of the Domini-
can treaty in the Senate, and that this was
unauthorized violence, utterly without sup
port in law or reason and proceeded directly
from that kiDgly prerogative which is dis
owned by the Constitution of the United
States. In fact, Mr.. Sumner makes out q case
for impeachment of a much more serious
nature than that worked up against President
johnson. There need be no fear that General
Grant will be impeached, however, except in
a political sense, and no one desires to see
him brought to trial in any other way; for his
errors, grave as they may have been, arise
from his ignorance of public affairs, his mill
Anxx
around him, more than from a lack of patriot
ism desire to be a usurper.
The evidence adduced by Mr.. Sumner cor
roborates what our correspondent with the St.
Domingo Commission stated as to the usurpa-
ton, tyranny, and precarious condition of the
Baez Government and the armed Intervention
of the United States to keep Baez in power
Indeed, it is doubtful if the commissioners
will venture to deny this, favorable as may be
their report for annexation, and as much as
they may desire to help General Grant out of
this st. Domingo dilemma. Mr.. Sumner
might have used stronger arguments against
annexation, though he could hardly have made
more forcible ones against the conduct of the
administration, had he not been trammelled
by his negro sympathies. No American un-
BIASED by radical negroism and blessed
with common sense could desire the incorpo-
ration into our political and social life of such
a debased and semi-barbarous population as
that of ST. Domingo. The annexation of that
island, or the Dominican portion of it, could
not, for many reasons, be of any advantage
to the United States. 1t would lead, in all
probability, to ''dance of blood, to use Mr..
Summers graphic expression, and to great
cost. The native people could not be brought
to cultivate the soil to much profit, the whites
of our own race could not till the earth under
burning tropical sun, the immigration of
colored races would hardly be practicable,
and if practicable, whether of Chinese or
others, they would not be desirable ele-
ment in our social and political life. No;
St. Domingo would be an utter failure in
our hands, and the American people would
become so disgusted with the experiment
that they would turn their faces
against any tropical acquisition, however
valuable, for a long time to come,
Yet wei have destiny to fulfil
to the southwark of our present limits. But
let us begin with the countries on our border
or that lie near to us-with Mexico, that is
so rich, or with Cuba, which ihas a vast pro-
duction, large commerce, great cities, rail-
roads, telegraphs and all the elements of
civilization. Let us not commence at dis
tance and on the outer verge of the Antilles
| to take in a wilderness and q race of negroes
that are fast going back to barbarism. The
| scheme of annexing st. Domingo is visionary
and impolitic every way, and must be un-
| popular with the people of the United States.
| General Grant has made serious mistake in
this matter, and one that is doing much to
break up the Republican party.
We have been disposed to sustain General
| Grant on account of the services he rendered
the country in the war, and believing he was
honest, having hope at the same time that
with experience be would show some capacity
for craftsmanship; but be has failed, and we
see little else but blunders both in our do
mestic and foreign affairs. Public sentiment
in every direction, and even in New England,
the stronghold OF radical Republicanism, is
tuning sgainst him. At the very time the
tide of public opinion was thus turning, as
ole ally shown by the elections the President
quarrelled and attempted to whip into his
measures with Mr.. Summer, the foremost man
in The Senate and one of the oldest and most
efficient men that built up the party
which put him iii the White House. We see
the inmt date result, though We have not yet
seen sll the consequences of this mistake.
Then look at the wretched failure of the ad-
ministration policy towards the Sonth. The
people of that section showed such a ready
disposition to repair the damages of the war,