The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-04-13


trade is rapidly becoming German mo
nopoly. The Commissioners found that |
the number of German subjects in impor
tant business operations and agencies in |
the north of the island exceed those of
any other foreign power, and their infu-
ence is extending steadily up to the cen
trail districts.
THE SLAVERY QUESTION.
The influence which Santo Domingo,
under astable government, would exerci &c
upon the institution Of slavery, has not
escaped attention. Geographically, 1T
lies between the two last strongholds of
slavery in North America, Cuba Oh the
west, and Porto Rico on the east. In the
present impotency Of its government, it
exercises little influence, but the inhabi-
tants are earnestly opposed to slavery,
and, under more favorable circumstances,
their moral influence would be felt in the
neighboring islands Tt would be all on
the side of freedom Nor would that in
fluence be merely moral Commercial in
fuences work in the same direction.
Santo Domingo is capable of supporting
millions of people; land is cheap in fer
tility it certainly equals, and probably
exceeds, the neighboring isles, and it is
even better suited to the production of
sugar and coffee. 1t could supply the
whole market of the United States with
these great West India staples. During
the year above mentioned, II per cent of
all the imports of the United States were
the production of slave labor. This trade
is the main support which the slave sys-
TEN has, With liberty or free labor, and
1 ho xr,1,, oh L
ed by these, with vast advantage in the
West India trade, arising from the fact
that any duties laid by the United States
on West India productions for revenue
would be a discrimination against slave
products, and would inure to the protec-
ton of Dominican free labor, it is not too
much to expect that Santo Domingo
might be developed into powerful
State, which, by the inevitable course of
trade, would make slave labor in the
neighboring islands unproftable and by
the spead of its ideas render the whole
slave and caste system odious.
HAYTI
/ The Commissioners of course felt deep
interest In the experiment of self govern
rnent which the blacks are trying in Hay
I'll. They stated to the President of the
republic that they should be glad to be
put In the way of asceriaining what
were the claims of Hayti upon San Do.
mlngo what were the views and wishes
of the Haytien people with respect to
any changes that might be brought about
in the peighboring republic, but they re.
ceived no encouragement to pursue their
inquiries. They asked verbally, and
throne h Mimic or for
mission 60 explore the In erior of the is-
land, but this was met in spirit equiya
lent to refusal. They contented them
selves therefore, with taking such testi
mony and gathering such information
upon matters bearing upon the question
of annexation as they could, without Civ
ing offense.
| CONCLUSION.
In reviewing the whole field oftheir in
vestigations, looking to the interests of
both divisions Of the island, they are firm.
ly persuaded that the annexation of San
to Domingo to the United States would
be hardly less beneficial to the Haytien
than to the Dominican people. This ben
eht would arise-F'irst, from the example
which would doubtless be afforded, Of a
Well-regulated, orderly and prosperous
State-the great need Of that part of the
world, and which it has, as yet, never
seen. A second and more direct benefit
would arise from the equitable establish
ment of boundary line between the
French speaking and Spanish speaking
natives upon that island, and its guaran-
tee by strong power. This would end
the exhausting border warfare which has
been one of the greatest curses of Hayti
as we'll as Santo Domingo, and would en-
able both to derore their energies thence
forward to the education of their people
and the development of their resources.
Respectfully submitted,
B. #. WADE,
ANDREW d. WHITE,
L. G. HOWE.
| To the Prasidop+ oe AZ. Tr.;I.5 ca.