Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1871-04-26

this certainly is no longer the case. On
The other hand. it 10 charged by the pres.
ent Dominican government that he has
received supplies through Hayti, and that
Havtien soldiers and arms have been at
his disposal.
Among the other
DOMINICAN DIFFICULTIES
is the jealousy between the north and
south sides of the island, a number OF
military chiefs, heading small clans 10
various districts and in convenience to
the nsighboring islands.
All thess difficulties the commissioners
believe would disappear should the Do
minican Republic be etfectuaily protected
by connection with a strong nation. Lo-
cal self government in the island has been
greatly obstructed by internal difficulties
and disturbances; yet many town coun
ellis still preserve efficient existence, and
are composed of members of good char
acter aud ability.
THE SPANISH OCCUPATION.
of the island in 1861 was found to have
been consummated by fraud and was
most unsatisfactory and oppressive in its
results, civil and religious. threatening
danger to the Masonic fraternity. a large
mud influential order in the island, The
re establishment Of slavery, either by i'm
porta;ion or The reduction of the inhabi-
iants to bondage.
ANNEXATION.
The people were found TO be familiar
with the question of annexation to the
United States. and have discussed it
among themselves with intelligence. All
classes, in all points of the republic were
consulted, magistrates and ecclesinstics of
every grade, official. civil and military !;
citizens of all professions and occupations,
IN town aud country, and everywhere
was a general agreement IN tho declara>
ton that their only hops of permanent
peace and prosperity is in annexation TO,
and becoming part of the people of
the United States. They generally de-
clared their belief that the strong arm Of
this republic, taking them under its pro-
lection as part of the nation, would at
once end the efforts and hopes of every
sedtious revolutionary leader, and cstab-
lsh law, order and prosperity.
The commissioners found that the ma
joriIy Of the population were composed
of honest, mixed bIoodsd Catholics. The
Spanish INDUCED in petty gambling
Labor was abundant at $40 or less per
month. The people are generally ignor
ant aud uneducated, only one small print
ing office existing on the island. The
population is estimated at 100000.
TIE RESOURCES OF THE COUNTRY
are vast and various. Its products may
be increased with scarcely any other lin
it than the labor expended upon them
There is evidence of mineral wealth in
several parts of the island. The Geolo
gist's expedition report the existence Of
ores of iron, copper and gold, with de-
posts Of Ignite, rock salt and petroleum.
Iron ore is abundant, of easy access. and
will doubtless be made available for the
cheap production of pig iron. The re-
ported coal of SANTANA peninsula, and
the neighborhood of Porto Plata was
examined and found to be Ignite Of little
vHlue as compared with Pennsylvania or
English coal.
There are five classes Of lands in San
Domingo, viz: LIST The mountain slopes
and valleys. Cd. The intensive region
of LIauos. lying east and north of San
Domingo city. 81. The rolling plain of
Vega, which is generally wooded, and is
the finest body of agricultural ground on
the island 4th. The Dog lands, like a
portion Of the plain of Azcd and the val
ley of the Togia, where rain is partly or
wholly wanting from typographical
causes. 5lh. Tile red clay lands, mostly
along The coast, unlerlsid by corraIion
limestone.
Hardly any portion of the island is
incapable of cultivation, and, taken as 8
whole, it is che of the most fertile re-.
gions on the face of the earth.
THE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
include all the tropical fruits and vegeta
bes, as we'll rs commercial stapIes-sug
arcane, coffee, valuable fibrous plants,
WAX, honey, ginger, indigo, Indian corn,
tobacco and rice. Cattle, swine aad goats
abound, and the forests are made up of
all sorts of valuable woods The once
flourishing fisheries have fallen into neg
lect.
THE CLIMATE.
Of the island is generally considered
healthy. especially in the interior, where
white men labor safely and successfully.
The report goes on at great length to
state the resources of the island. The
debt Of the government is put down at
SI56, 583,l59. The financial condition
of the government is treated at much
length.
The New York Iri6nne, 10 noticing
some rather disparaging remarks of the
late Abraham Lincoln, says:
Now the good natured zany described
ia these romances ltor the above is only
one of hundred which are current)was
man over fifty yeaas of age, who had
practised law successfully all his life, who
had been tie leader of bis party in
Illinois for twenty years, who was the