Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-04-12
Commissioner White on st. Domingo.

At COtay, in San Domingo, President White
made an address to the natives, which is made
public We give the following extract
The agricultural and mineral resources Of
your country astonish US its possibilities of
commerce amaze us; the story Of its beauty,
and especially Of the charms Of your own
Vega Real, has not been half told. But why
are your people poor in the midst Of riches
There IS something wrong-what is it Is it
the fault of government, or people ? will
not attempt to answer the question. leave
1t to yourselves only let me say that if au-
nexation shall ever take place trust that you
will free yourselves from the demagogues and
destructives who make these incessant revolu-
tions. We, too, get bad governors. Our
people are by no means saints and they do
not choose angels. But when we find that
we have made a mistake and chosen bad
governor, or when the other side has outvoted
us, We wait until his term expires and then
try to elect a new one. We do not plunge
the country in blood and misery because we
cannot have our own way at once,
Besides this, in case of annexation let me
urge you to do everything to promote the edu.
cation Of the children and young men. We,
in the United States, have come to the conclu.
sion that there is no permanent safeguard for
free institutions unless the people acquire suf-
fcient education TO enable them to form an
intelligent opinion regarding political ques.
tions. 1t gives me great pleasure to state
that the government of President Baez have
responded heartily to the representations of
the commission on this subject. An article
has been drawn up which hope may be in
serted in any treaty Of annexation between
the United States and the Dominican repub-
lie, to the effect that each government shall
give large tract of land for the creation Of
a fund to make and maintain a thoruuph
school system.
i am told that some objections have been
raised TO annexation. | am not here to plead
for annexation. Not at ALL The United
States has arisen from three millions TO thir.
ty-and what its standing among nations is
you know as well as |. 1t has got along
thus far without the possession of Santo Do.
mlngo and valuable as your island is, could
continue to get along very comfortably and
to improve very rapidly without it but |
will 80 step out of my way to answer some
Of these objections for the truths sake, if for
nothing else.
First Of all, understand that some have
expressed fear that the colored people here
might be plunged into slavery. Let me saw,
my friends, that that is utterly impossible.
Our country has fought out the greatest civil
war the world has ever known to DESTROY
slavery. 1t has destroyed it forever, and
planted in its constitution provisions which
forever forbid a slave existing under the
American flag No! Should an attempt
be made to enslave the poorest man under
our protection, million of men would spring
TO arms TO forbid it.
A man once slave sits to-day in the Sen.
ate OF the United States, another in the
House OF Representative, and still another
accompanies this commission as one of its
Secretaries. These facts alone show what an
entire change has been wrought in the GOV.
ernment Of the United States.
Again, it is said, perhaps, that indspend-
ence is better than annexation. But are you
independent Can you be With territory
encroached upon by your neighbor, without
even an excuse; without any guarantee
against any insurrectionist who rises in your
midst your coast cities liable at any moment
TO be fired into by the Telegraph your in
terror towns liable to be plunderod at any mo-
usut BY guerillas not minister Of any