The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-03-30
The West India SwindIe.

mingo business. And we say again that
on no reasonable grounds can the rejec-
ton OF the Danish treaty for the cession Of
st. Thomas, and the hot chase after San
Domingo, be explained. If General Grant
and his annexation friends are determin-
ed upon acquiring island property in the
West Indies, why do they prefer San Do
mingo to St. Thomas They are bound to
obtain the best bargain possible for the
nation, when the peoples money is to be
used. For seven millions and a half of
dollars Denmark agreed to cede to the
United States the islands of st. Thomas and
St. John, containing forty square miles of
land and fifteen thousand people. The
harbor of St. Thomas is admirably fitted
for coaling station The man-of-war
Texas, received there, in August, 1869, a
hundred and thirty-five tons Of coal in two
hours, the time being counted from when
she first started from her anchorage in the
harbor for the coal wharf, to the moment
when her lines were cast loose ready for
sea. One corner, the western one of the
inner harbor is almost natural dry
dock, and an outlay of $500 900 would
suffice to make it capable of taking up the
largest vessel afoat. The United States
government now pays $1,000 year for
the rent of shed at St. Thomas, in front
of which is wharf at which our largest
vessels can lie in perfect security from all
winds; and for this rent we can deposit
there, under cover and receive the same
on board our men-ofwar without further
charge, two thousand tons of coal per
annum. In SANTANA Bay vessels are COM
PEELED to anchor so tar from the shore,
that it recently took six days to coal the
steamer Tennessee, and then she did not
take full supply. The port of San Do
mingo City is merely an open roadstead,
which cannot be used at all for coaling
purposes Now, as the senate rejected the
St. Thomas treaty, why should they favor
that to acquire San Domingo? Is it be-
cause a monster land speculation lies coil
ed in the latter proposition? This is the
allegation and there are abundant facts to
support such proposition. Fabens and
his associates are known to be interested
in land grants in San Domingo, and they
are but the catspaws to pull chestnuts out
of the fire for bigger people. If the pur-
chase and annexation of St. Thomas were
not desirable, why should we spend money
and risk a war to gobble San Domingo
The United States cannot afford to buy
a useless island simply to please a lot of
spectators in New Y ork, Washington and
other places. Such a transaction will not
pay-the people.
But these are not the only adverse con-
siderations that enter into the matter. The
whole history of the island, from the day
when Columbus set foot upon it, is one of
war, violence, robbery and revolution.
The French rule was extinguished by one
of the most bloody and cruel revolts in
the history of the world. The power Of
the French army and the genius of Napo-
leon were unable to conquer the ferocious
blacks in its mountain Businesses. Nor
has it Jared better in independence than in
its colonial state. There has been no
security for person or property. Agricul-
ture, commerce and manufactures have
been overwhelmed in successive waves of
even if those industries had an
existence at all Her rulers have each
held sway until some more successful
chief dnnnsad him ne~~~l;~~" Potion
Boyer, Herard- Riviere, Pierrot, Solouque,
Geffrard, Salnave, have each passed from
the throne to Punishment or death. The
island is now rent into two communities,
with one of which war is inevitable, if we
take the place Of the other. The people
are alien to us in everything-in manners,
in industry, in language, IN blood. In
purchasing the island, we should buy
trouble, anxiety, expense, quarrels, war
and disgrace. Neither interest, humanity
or patriotism call us to the sacrifice, and
the whole scheme is wild and chimerical.
MORE ABOUT CAIN. Mr.. Joel S. Rich
ards writes q long communication from
Camden, setting forth his views of the
question concerning which Rev Mr..
Beecher was in doubt, viz: where did
Cain get his wife,
Mr. Richards takes issue with us on the
statement that Cain found his wife in the
land Of Nod, and wants to know where
it is so expressly stated. We quote from
the 4th chapter OF Genesis
And Cain went out from the presence OF the Lord,
and dwelt In the land of Nod on tho east of Eden.
And Cain knew his wife, &c.
If the woman hadn't been native Of
Nod, but had been brought there as q
wife, is it reasonable to suppose that her
husband wouldn't have got acquainted
with her before he emigrated? OF course
he would. And did he find her there !?
Cain, like every other man who embarks
in matrimony, was obliged to provide his
wife with certain food, raimont, etc.
She was to be Mrs. Cain and found. We
think the expression justifiable that Cain
found her in the land of Nod Any wom-
an of spirit would have resented the neg
lect of a contrary course, and applied for
a divorce-a proceeding Of which the his
tory of the times furnishes no record, so
fas as we know. Cain killed his brother
and offended the Lord-but he was never
mean enough to know his wife in the land
of Nod and refuse to find her. How is
that for commentary, Joel?
Railroad Management.
A writer in Kentucky paper, contrasting
present railroad management at the South with
that in vogue at the time when the roads were
new, tells some rich anecdotes. 1t was the
practice in those days to select the President
and Superintendent from among successful
business men without regard to special qualifi-
cations or practical knowledge of ralroading.
The result was that while some few became
distinguished i'll their new vocation, more dis