New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-05-04

her former position in three respects, 1t Fort
au Prince is to be taken as sample of the
country generally. Her roads, her streets, her
fountains, her wharves, her dwellings, all
speak to the eye Of better days, and tell a sad
tale of decay and ruin.
In speaking of these things to that good man
and honest Haytian, Mr. SAMUEL DuPRE, he ad-
mitted the bad condition Of affairs, but said. ia
reply: "Gve US time, sir. Don't despair of
Hayti. Have patience with US. Hayti is free
and independent sir, and she will 80 remain"
Mr.. DUPRE said much more to the same effect.
He has lived many years in Hayti; is wealthy
and influential citizen. His enthusiasm for
his country was Of the warmest and purest
kind, and could not but feel the force Of the
plea he made for time when l considered how
slow and almost imperceptible is the progress
Of nations, and how many difficulties have beset
the pathway of this one in particular. could
not forget in talking with Mr.. DUPRE that the
colored people the world over are indebted to
Hayti more than to any other country for the
little respect melted out by the nations of the
Caucasian race towards those of African
descent 1t was she that first proved that the
colored man is capable Of the sentiment of
patriotism, that he can and will hazard safety
and life itself for the sacred cause Of country
aud freedom. That people was the first to teach
shareholders and oppressors that it is danger
Gus to goad the energy which slumbers in the
black mans arm /; and while long sufferng pa.
thence appeals to sympathy, and heroic achieve
ment awakens admiration, Hayti will never fail
to command respect.
But the question comes In what way will
the annexation of Santo Domingo affect un-
favorably the rights and the interest of Hayti
Why should she object to that measure when it
is shown to be a benefit, if not necessity, to
the very existence of that neighboring country ?
What right has Hsyti or any other nation to
prevent Santo Domingo from seeking any ad
vantageOus alliance with any other nation, if
in that way she thinks she can best secure her
own welfare! How far are the United States
bound to respect the rights and interests OF
Hayi as against those Of Santo Domingo
What right has Hayti to dictate to her weaker
but equal sister as to how she shall dispose OF
herself. If Santo Domingo owes Hayti any
thing, she is able and willing to pay the debt.
If there is any question of boundary between
the two countries, Santo Domingo is willing to
submit that question TO the arbitration Of able
and just men, oaght the United States to fail
to comply wild bewishss Of Santo Domingo
simply because Hayt prefers weak neighbor
to strong oncf Upon what possible ground,
then, is the feeling of Hayt to be consulted or
deferred to in this matter? All these questions,
it seems to me, answer themselves. They cover
the whole ground, and answer all material obec-
tons to the annexation of Santo Domingo
raised in the name and in the interests of Hayti
1t will not be pretended by any reasonable
and generous man that because Hayti prefers to
remain in isolation, that Santo Domingo should
pursue the same policy, or be debarred from
pursuing an opposite one, so long as she
respects the just rights of her neighbor. IIayti
is entitled to have her feelings respected only
80 far as her feelings are in accordance with the
equal and just rights of other nations. Ifshe lie
just, generous, and noble, she is entitled to all
honor but if she becomes naughty, domineer-
ing, and exacting chow much soever her great
deeds in the past may command admiration and
gratitude,) she must be prepared to have her
views and feelings disregarded. Upon one
condition only can any nation hope to have its
rights permanently respected. and that is by
perpetual and scru pulous respect for the rights
Of others.
But it may be said and it is said, that the
Island of Santo Domingo is one and indivisi-
BILE, and that all parts of it were once under
the same government and that one was the
Haytian Government. 1t is still further asserted
that Hayti has never relinquished her sovereign
ty over the whole island and that she would
assert her right to day but for the navy of
the United States. General GRANT is repre-
sented as interposing the strong arm Of the
American Government to prevent Hayti from
asserting her right to re establish her author
ity over Santo Domingo.
Well, let US look at all this. Facts are
stubborn things, and these are all against this
Haytan pretension to dominion over Santo
Domingo. A period of twenty six years has
elapsed since Santo Domingo asserted her in
dependence of Hayti, At no time during this
period has Hayti been able to re.establish her
authority over that country. Her own independ.
ence is not more fixed and acknowledged fact
than that Of Santo Domingo. If she ever had
any right OF authority over that country, or
any purpose TO assert it, the time has gone by
when either has any force or effect. The per.
feet independence Of Santo Domingo, if from
no other cause, has been secured by the quar-.
ter of a century during which she has enjoyed
that independence. The United States found
Santo Domingo thus free-having its own
Government and its own territory-wth no
foreign power claiming or enforcing any au-
thority over it, and had, therefore, a perfect
right to enter into any treaty or other arrange
ment with its constituted authorities, as it
would have to do the same with any other
Government on earth. If, instead of under
taking to annex Santo Domingo, the United
States had approached Hayti for the same
purpose, and Santo Domingo, had interposed
an objection on the ground of the indivisi-
bility Of the island or any other, Hayti would
have secuted the pretension, and justly. This
talk of the indivisibility Of the island is as
absurd as it would be TO talk Of the indvis-
bility of this continent During more than
two hundred years the country has been divided
by well-defned boundary. The eastern
part under Spain and the western part under