The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1871-04-06
Ina..,n,eni q t,,o rresident.

On the 27th ult., Senator Sumner
poured 4 broadside into Grants San
Domingo annexation scheme, in a
speech in the Senate which occupied
three and half hours i'll its delivery.
He arraigns General Grant for fragrant,
scan dalous violations of duty, and
charged him with an open, palpable
violation of the Constitution and the
plainest and universally recognized
principles of international law, sup
porting mis- charges with the testimo-
ny of the agents of the administration,
and the authentic orders of the Navy
Department. III commenting. on this
mastery effort the JKo,2d says:
Mr.. Sumner shows that, since the
inception of this scheme, the Presi-
dent has kept the greater part of our
effective vessels of war stationed in
the waters and towering about the
shores of Santo Domingo, as a means
of influencing the negotiations. The
object of this system of menace and
terror is to uphold the usurper, BaeZ,
who is plotting to sell his country, and
to maintain him in power against the
wishes of the Dominican people. The
evidence adduced by Mr.. Summer on
this chief head of accusation is con-
elusive and irresistible. The unprin-
cipled usurper, Bae z, has been kept in
power for the last eighteen months by
the intimidating presence ofthe United
States navy in Dominican waters, and
the open threats of our naval officer.
The bare fact that dozen of our
most heavily armed vessels have been
stationed in Domican waters is, of
itself, even without any explanatory
documents, damning evidence of un-
justifiable coercion. Wlly should the
best part of the American navy be
concentrated around that island? We
have hardly any commerce in its ports !;
we have no merchant vessels there to
be protected we have no interests in
the affairs of the island, beyond the
fictitious interest of annexation. A
great naval force has been kept there
for the sole purpose of intimidation.
Baez, whose history AIr. Sumner
sketches, and whose character he por-
trays with truthful coloring and seorn-
full eloquence. was the only ruler
through whom annexation was posi-
BILE and the navy of the Z nitedj States
has been prostituted to maintain him
against the detestation of the Domin-
ican people. What right had Presi-
dent Grant to use the navy for such a
purpose? None whatever; and his
intimidatiDg interference with the do
mestic affairs of q foreign people is as
gross violation of the Constitution
as it is of international law. Our ma
val officers acting under peremptory
instructions from Washington. have
not scrupled to practice the most open
intimidation both against the people
of Santo Domingo and against the
government of the neighboring re-
public of Hayti. For the last eighteen
months there has been no freedom of
action in either end of the island. The
Haytien President has been insolently
bullied by Rear-Admiral Poor, and
threatened with vengence if any of
his vessels should be found in Domin-f
ican. waters, or if his government
should attempt to ,thwart the aequisi-
ton of the other end of the island by
the United States. This unrighteous
and unseemly display of insolence, ar
rogance, and force, is national dis
grace: and it is not only depicted by.
Mr.. Sumner in strong and vivid colors
but, what is more to the purpose, it is
proceed by an accumulation of evidence
which defies all contradiction. One
of the chief witnesses is Babcock him
self, the little incompetent fool, and
tool of General Grant, who negotiated
the rejected treaty. Another import
ant witness is Mr.. Hatch, respectable
American citizen who was kept in
prison by Baez on false charges lest
his truthful exposures should defeat
the protector annexation. Other au-
thentic proofs consist of the scandal
Gus orders issued by the Navy Do-
partment to officersin the West Indies.
Unless Mr.. Sumner has forged the
documents from which he quotes
(Which nobody will believe), tine evil
dence against General Grant is abso-
lutely overwhelming. He has usurp-.
ed powers which belong to Congress.
He has violated the most important
and sacred principles of international
law. Whatever may be value of
0anto Domingo, its acquisition by
such methods would revolt the ma
tional sense of Justice and be an in
delible stain upon the national honor.