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

ton with strong nation.
Local self-government i'll the island has been
greatly obstructed by internal difficulties and
disturbances, yet many of the town councils
preserve efficient existence and are composed
of members of good character and ability. The
Spanish occupation of the island in 1861 is
found to have been consummated by fraud, and
was most unsatisfactory and oppressive in it,
results, both civil and religiousy, threatening
danger to the Masonic fraternity, a large and
influential order in the island, and re-cstabliSh
ed slavery, either by importation or by the re-
duction of the inhabitants to bondage. The
people revoled and drove the Spanards in to
their stronghods on the coast where the sol
diers died by the wholesale of malignant fevcrS,
engendered in close and filthy barracks, devoid
of all sanitary appliances.
The Spaniards numbered in all about 1000
troops, of whom between 5000 and 5000 We're
lost by deserton and disease. The desire for
annexation to the U. 5. the Commissioners
state. was found very widespread and out,
apparently upon thorough and intelligent
discussion. This desire was also ardently
shared by, and sustained by all the colonies Of
colOred people formerly from the U. 5. whose
attachment to their native land seems to have
deepened with time and distance. The people
said they would prefer to continue independent
if it possible, but if they must lease their
nationality they would rather merge it with the
American Union, with its free institutions
friendly people and common interests. The
principal part of the opposition which does eN-
ist, appears among certain traders in the ports.
some of whom in case of annexation Would
lose control of branches of business of which III
its present narrow channel they have monop-
oily. The Commissioners entirely discredit the
reports that annexation would be resisted bN
desperate measures in any part of the island,
! and cite at length their own experience and en-
tire immunity from harm of every kind, while
on the island as evidence of the correctness of
this conclusion. The people of San Domingo
are of mixed blood, honest, temperate, and in
offensive, and destitute of prejudice of class or
color, pauperism. beggary and high crime be-
ing practically unknown Among the popular
| vices is petty gambling, which is extensively
| indulged in by the Spanish portion of the popt-
| lation. All are Roman Catholics except the
| American emigrants who are Methodist9 and
Baptists, though no Intolerance or religious
persecution can be discovered. The people
generally own land, which they cultivate,
| though agricultural operations are Iintrh hN
the lack Of market, and frequent political dis
| turbances, though the Dominican is not aversy
| to work when sure of reasonable reward
| Labor is now in abundant supply at so OF les
| per month. Iron ore is abundant and ea>T of
| access, and will doubtless be made available
| for the cheap production of pig iron. The COP
per ore are OF fair degree Of richness, and bcds
| have been opened to slight extent. The re
ported coal of the Samana peninsula ami IN the
| neghborhOod of Peurto Plata sound. Is llgnlte.
and is of little value as fuel, compared with
| Pennsylvania or English coal. The gold region
| Is lilOu8u NOIhcu dHtltHiiN - at
| present but little known. The salt deposits in
| the mountains near Neyba, are believed to hr tN-
| tensve and valuable
Few schools exist and the people generally
| are uneducated, though the Commissioners be-
| lieve that opportunities for education would hl
| eagerly improved, the DominicanS being pos
| sessed of proverbial shrewdness and much ma
tive ability. Only one small and poorly equip
ped printing office exists in the Republic. lhr
| general political capacity OF the people is rc-
garded favoraby, there having been for many
years neither slavery nor caste spirit to deprive
them Of manliness. The courage and devotion
wasted in instructions, abundantly prove their
capacity for self-government and regular Rolitl-
cal action. The commissioners estimate the
| actual population of the Republic at 100000,
| more than nineteen-twentieths being native
| Dominicans. The white blood preponderate>
| largely, the majority being much nearer white
than black. Biologists find the existence of
ores; iron, copper aud gold, with deposits Of
Ignite rock, salt and petroleum. Iron ore is
abundant and easy Of access.
| There are five classes OF lands in San DOmn-
go. The mountain slopes and valleys are UNI
tOrmy rich and productive; the extensive
prairie region of the Llanos Is admirable pas
ture land; the rolling plain OF Vega generally
wooded and the finest agricultural land on the
island; the dry lands where rain is partially on
| wholly wanting, which can be made fertile by
irrigation, and the red clay timbered lands ~
ing along the coast. There is hardly any por-
ton of the island not capable Of cultivation aud
taken US whole 1t Is one OF the most ltrtl'
regions on the face of the earth.
The agricultural products include all the tru-
pica fruits and vegetables, rs well as CONNER
| clal staples. Sugar cane Is grown most proht-
| ably on low land, and the yield is much greater
than in the island of Jamaca, even though aid
ed by artificial irrigation. Fifteen annual
cuttings from the original root are common,
| and an abundance OF fuel. gives additional all
vantages over neghboring islands, in this
branch of industry. The mountain region Is
I f,f IlItl
cocoa, and valuable tbrous plants. The pro-
duct Of wax and honey is surprisingly large
thousands of hives of honey being destroyed
| for the sake of the wax alone. Wild ginger ami
indigo grow everywhere in greatest prOtu>on
and cotton is raised near Azua. Cincona Is
successfully raised on the higher mountains,
and many vegetables and fruits of the temperate
| zone. are also produced in abundance As an
evidence of the present undeyelored condition
| OF dominican agriculture, 1t may he cited a> 70
| fact, that the Commission during expeditions
through the interior of the island. often me-
! with beet sugar, raised and refined in France
butter and cheese imported from Denmark. and
milk condensed in the United States but seldom
with similar articles manufactured on the island,
The country everywhere is adapted to the
cultivation of tobacco, and three crops of Indian
corn are raised annually, though the most val
: liable natural grain is species OF rice. More
than forty distinct varieties of tropical fruit
were found growing wild The grasses of san
, Domingo furnish abundant forage Of the beSl
, quality. Immense herds of cattle feed on the
great sayannas, and though they We're multi
, piled ten-fOld, they could not exhaust the
, abundant pasturage. They can be bought for
, | a cent pound on the hoot. Goats abound in
I the more arid districts and in the forests swine
thrive in great numbers. Sheep are very few
, poultry is plentiful-wild Guinea fowl being
seen in many parts of the Island, Horses are
raised in great numbers, and only maraudiug
! expeditions have prevented great development
, , of business Of stock raising One OF the mos
, remarkable agricultural features of san Domin-
, go, is the diversity Of natural growths in the
different localities, which will give rise 10 the
) existence Of internal commerce.
, Insects and noXious reptiles are not toun,l
more abundant than in our Old States. In the
forests the products are astonishing, the variety
including the choicest cabinet woods of OAK.
pitch pine, lgnumVitr and an immense stock
| | of medicinal and commercial woods, many of
| the houses being built of mahogany. The fish
cries of the island, which were once tlOuriShn@
f have fallen into neglect though great schools
Of funny fish are still abundant on the southern
f shore. Black fish are found on the northern
| shore and every year some are caught and tred
| for oil. Turtles and several varieties of she'll
t fish are taken in moderate quantities. A small
oyster is very abundant III certain localities,
growing attached to mangroye bushes. They
are eaten by the natives but are not so pala-
i table rs the oysters of more northern lati-
tude.
San Domingo according to all testimony, l.
I generhlly Il heailly country, cSpetlallN III thr
interior among the mountains, where whit
men labor safely and successfully. The accl-
nation of strangers present no greater obstacle
to immigration than i'll several of our own
States The eastern portion of the- island i,
continually swept by the trade winds, and is
therefore, much more healthy than IIayti to
which the ravages of yellow fever are chiefly
confined. The losses Of the Spanish army from
illness was largely due to the lack of sanitary
care, and the Commissioners are satisfied thai
their losses have been largely exaggerated.
| The commissioners have given special atten-
ton TO the matter Of health, and besides are
getting information from other quarters. They
have charged the medical gentlemen to report
specially upon it, and their conclusions are
that the popular Idea that the Dominican terri
tory is particularly unhealthy, and that person,
visiting it are preliabe TO yellow fever is en-
tirey erroneous
The average general health and longevity Is
quite equal and probably greater than that of
the United States a whole. Immigrants are
not liable to any more disturbance of general
| health in the process of accmaton than per
sons who pass from the old to the new States OF
the United States. Taking the year through,
| as much agricultural work can be done with