New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-05-04
SantO Domingo.
FROM The Mle.l..lopi E.unl Rirhts

From the MiC.,ssiQpi Equal Rights
If there be any readers Of this journal who
| recollect it's editorials they will remember
that several months since 1t advocated the
| annexation Of Santo Domingo TO the United
States Now that we have the light thrown
upon the subject by the report Of the Commits
sioners sent to examine the island, we are
more decidedly in favor of it than we were at
the time we 6rst favored il. The Commission
visited the island at a time when winter is
coolest here, and when it was colder there than
at any other portion of the year, yet over a
larger portion of the island the temperature
OF midsummer was prevailing With sugar
cane growing which produces fifteen successive
| crops without being rrTlaRted Large planta-
tons of cOhee-trees in full bearing, the trees
commencing to bear when four years old, and
continuing to do so for 1fty years. Oranges,
plne-apples, lemons, guava, plantains, bananas
mangoes, and all other tropical fruits in
profuslOn, with wheat, corn, melons, and other
vegetables.
The people are anxious for annexation, and
IL will cost the Government bat one million
and half dollars. It has healthy climate
and one Of the best barbors in the world
With all Of these advantages it is surprising
that any serious opposition should be made TO
It's acquisition And still more that it should
principally come from Mr.. Sumner, who so
cost of eight millions Of dollars in gold-a
cold and barren region, inhabited where hab
liable by very low race Of savages Does
Mr.. Sumner fail To perceive what is patent to
others, that he is playing into the hands OF
Democrats by his course, and panderlng TO an
insane prejudice Of that party against the nc
QUESTION upon the sole ground OF its pOpula-
ton being mostly negroes, and their deter
mlnatlon not to permit any recognition OF that
racer Mr.. Sumner will not convince the friends
of that race that his opposition 70 annex alton
proceeds from friendship to them.
Owing to the fact that, from reported revolu.
tons and foreign invasions, the people are re-
duced almost to beggary, they have not adj
vanced as they would have done under gov
ernment capable of a5ording them protection
Believing that security for persons and prop.
erty is all that is necessary TO bring about q
rapid improvement we believe 1t would be
the best for them. But, aside from any benefit
to them, we think it would prove highly adyan-
tageous to the people of this country, who are
paying millions for the pToduc lions of tropical
countries The island is rich with its forests
of mahogany, and cinchona or peruvian bark
tree, from which quinine is made. Aud this
latter article alone costs millions of dollars
each year.
Admirng as we do Mr.. Sumner, we feel real
regret that he should from any cause allow him
self to he placed III opposition TO principles he
has devoted his life in mpshing--the re-
cognltlon OF the negro a. man with the rights
OF man. Does he not know how holow is the
praise of such men as are now smiling upon
him2 In other days would he not have felt it
to be an Insult to be praised by them? Does
he not know that it is the price paid by them
for what they believe to be his recantation of his
treasured objects? And will he for such unsub.
stantial and vapid pretensions allow himself to
beused as means Of bringing about discussions
into the Republican party? Cannot he perceive
that every blow he strikes at the Administration
may weaken it little, and in the same proper.
ton gid the opposition And can he be will
ling to trust the cause OF human liberty and
rights civilization and progress, into the keep.
ing of their bitterest foes If our words could
reach him, or have particle of influence with
him, we would beseech him to pause. He may
injure the Republican party and retard the ac-
complshment of great objects for awhile, but
he cannot destroy it, or long arrest it's march.