New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-04-20
What Jamaica Thinks Of Annex
alton.

What Jamaica Thinks Of Annex
alton.
The Kingston (Jamaica) Nornino Journal
of March IA. 1871 has the following editorial
on the San Domingo Commission:
Now that the United States Commissioners
to Santo Domingo are in this city, the time
seems propitious to say a word or two on the
object of their mission-the annexation of the
Dominican republic to the United States. Time
was when such measure would have appeared
to us fraught with calamity to these islands of
the West Indies, or at least to that class OF
their population comprising the great majority
of their citizens. That time has passed by
however. A mighty revolution throwing into
the shade all other revolutions that had ever
taken place on the American continent, not
even excepting that which eliminated in the
erection of the United Colonies into the United
States of America, has recently been effected
in those States, by which some four millions
of the human race have been raised from
state OF chattelism to the position OF men-oi
freemen and not only of freemen, endowed
with the bare privilege of calling their lives.
their limbs, and their tangible property their
own, but freemen in the highest sense OF the
word, eligible to the elevated offices OF emolu-
ment, trust, and honor in the land OF their
nativity.
United States composed of such material.
Never before has any man with the least unge
of negro blood in his veins been considered
eligible to fill the positions held by the two
Messrs. Douglass, father and son. Thus new
era has opened up for the black and colored
race in America, 1t will be seen that the COM
mission has lost none of its importance, the
United States none of their prestige, because OF
these two gentlemen being included in that
ov,ar- ol- - in
gotiations. The Americans are shrewd peo
pie They have given evidence of the fact in
the composition of the Dominican commission.
They have displayed tact worthy of all admi-
ration in including the Messrs. Douglass among
the representatives of the great Republic sent
to treat with the people OF a race to which
these two gentlemen are kindred, in matter
so vitality affecting persons OF that race in their
own country.
1t is an act of concession to that race that
will be appreciated by every individual belong
ing to it, in both the United States and the
Dominican republic, and why not throughout
the entire West Indian archipelago? For the
first time in the history of North America we
md colored gentlemen associated with white
citizens of the United States-citiZens of the
first rank more than one of whom might justly
aspire to the Presiaency-on that ultra aristo.
cratic platform of American Democracy, the
quarterback OF a vessel of warm a mission,
the most important that can be conceived--a
mission, be it remarked, having for its object
the reception into the Union of magnificent
territory, containing population of hundreds
OF thousands Of black and coered persons
persons Of the whilom prescribed race-em
braclng equal rights of citizenship with any
citizen OF the "Old Dominion" itself, with the
bluest of cavalier blood in his veins, or of any
Yankee of Massachusetts, claiming descent
from the most und-headed Briton that ever
fought or prayed in the ranks of Cromwel's
lronsides.
We trust the mission will be found to have
been most successful one. There is guar
antee for that in the personnel of the commits
sioEers. Than Mr.. Wade, or Judge Wade, as
the people of America delight in calling him,
we know of no one who could have been more
properly intrusted with a mission, at once so
delicate and so important We are not SO well
acquainted-we mean by reputation-with the
other gentlemen associated with the distin-
guished Senator and Judge, save the elder Mr.
douglass. We may be sure, however, that
they have been selected with care, for their
scientific attachments. In fact, their assOcia,
ton with the distinguished Senator-himself
no mean SCHOLARS a guarantee of their pro-
hclency for the high mission on which they
are sent. We have been informed that some
sensitiveness has been expressed on the part
OF the Haytlans at Port-au Prince in regard to
the objects of the commission. We do not
think they have anything to fear on the score
OF having the Americans as their near neigh |
bors. On the contrary, we have reason to be- !
leve that the vicinity of an energetic, enter
prlslng, and intelligent people will be of benefit
to them, as furnishing them examples by which |
they can profit, not only in the art of govern |
ment, but In those other arts, the knowledge |
of which denotes a civilized and enlightened
people, In proportion that knowledge APP !
proaches perfection.
For our part we have not the least appre- !
hension because of the probability of the Uni |
ted States flag waving over territory so near
to US. We have no fear of molestation on the
part of our neighbors that are to be. On the
contrary their proximity to this island cannot
but be beneficial in the revival of trade. and
the strengthening of the friendly relations which
exist between the American people and the /
people of this island in a commercial point Of |
view. And commercial friendship can hardly |
exist without good political understanding be- |
tween two peoples of different nationalities. |
Not only may we look for an increase of Anne |
rican visitors to this city and the island at
large but our own people may be induced to /
return such visits, partly in the interests of
trade and partly for pleasure They and our
people may be brought to interchange ideas |
they are familiar, and which it may be profit |
able for us to know, while they can learn from
US those things in which we are proficient such
as the growth of the sugar cane and the manu- /
facture of our great staples
At any rate, we see in this mission of Sen /
ator Wade great movements solution Of the |
problem OF self government by the Dominicans. |
They will be soon taught that by their CONT /
mental fellow-citizens, and thus they will soon
become progressive people, and ere another
generation shall. have passed away, the Do
miniean Republic converted into the State Of
Dominica, may shine as not the dimmest of the
galaxy OF stars in the great American firma.
ment while she may become the exemplar and
pattern of other States, to be added in due time
to the universal Western constellation We
trust that Senator Wade's mission has been so
lar successful as to afford an earnest that our
provision into the future may result in com
plete accomplishment.