New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-02-24
SANTO DOMINGO.
Cortirucd from First Pm 70.

sar
IN speane of the shiftlessness of the people refer
only 20 the colored population of the middle and
lower clasaes-what would he called, We're il not u
,nisnomer the laboring classes. These people viii
NOT work under present circumstances. if they can
avoid IT, They Get their living easily, for every
thing il 50 bOuntful that little labor is required to
obtain mere subsistence and that is az present all
that sought. As at SANTANA aud vicinity. they are
merely waiting for the happy time of annexation \
feeling has got abroad that annexation VIII
bring them every happiness Comparatively lew oil
them speak English, many Of them speak French
and all Spanish. but very incorrectly. The ner-
chants and shopkcepers indoent and without the
business instinct. One or twO-I have one in my
mind particularly-are energetic and attentive "a
their business, and are getting rich. II annexation
takes place, Yankee capital and Yankee enterprise
will make revolution here. and the slow going
business men will DC forced aside. Many of them /
think begin to understand his and believe on
that account they are less favorable to annexation
than the labcring classes. There will be abundant
occupation for capital here, with large returns, if
this becomes part Of the United States territory.
This fact is impressed upon the mind of every visitor
There arc many fields for enterprise even
under present circumStSnces-thc most prominent,
as ! believe being agriculture and fruit growing,
but there are other branches Of industry open here
30 well directed labor which will bring riches. The
great drawback. just now, is the want Of market
and facilities for transportation. These, however
will come when capital becomes convinced that they
are needed. Honest men cannot get 1ich here with
ont work any moro than they can elsewhere. Al
though the soil Of the country is rich beyond eX-
preston il does not yield gold to be picked from the
surface but it win be generous to those who do 1t
Justice The present occupants Of the land viii GER
al IL foil notify IL
mature. and the indications are that they do not
know how ItcannOt be said that the people here are
an unhappy people they quite the reverse, but Of
course their happiness is in accordance with their
cauacity for approaching it, They are quiet "a little
100 oniet. imagined and orderly and would be the
last people in the world who from their appearance
wonld be charged with possessing revolutionary in
ttno-s They seem To be patient submissive, and
the easiest governed. Of any race in the world.
Their honesty cannot vouch for, but think they
arc as honest as the tradesmen, who cheating us
numerically. We are said 10 be objects OF deilSion
u the smartcst class Of Engsh-spealnng residents
on account Of the tranquility with which we
snbnit to the most monstTous extortonS'
Every person who arrived here on the
Tennessee. including the honorable Commits
sion itself. is charged two three prices for
everything he buys, and the proverbial reckless
ness with which Americans spend money, without
question is getting check in Santo Domingo,md IL
we remain much longer the shopkeepers will be-
come aware Of the mistake they made when they
sunposcd Americans were made Of money 4 gen
tleman Of our party the other day had shoemaker
sew a couple Of buttons on his shoe. The cobbler
charged 80 cents forthe job the gentleman demuued
At a such charge With shrug Of the should
on an elevation of che eyebrows, the turning down
of the corners of the mouth and the spreading out
Ia ~Ba oh and
Spanish-thc shoemaker said, "Sehor can take the
shoes for nothing" OF course the gentleman paid
the 50 cents he could not bear to have the American
name for generosity and pride assaulted i'll such
manner. The same species of tactics was attempted
on a party which took trip through the country
and stopped at a cabin TO obtain food. They were
charged - each for miserable dinner OF tough
chicken dry bread, and fruit. They refused 10 pay
rho price and were informed that they very well
come TO what they had had Each person left upon
the table dollar in CON- and the smiling host bid
them courteous gOOd-day from the door as they
rodeNf. Another gentleman, who was somewhat
familiar with the consciences of Spanish tIadesmen
offered So for Panama hat, the price of which was
So The offer was refused with both energy and
blasnhemy but moments controversy settled the
matter aud 50 bought the hat. 4 S12 paIrot was
sold for $? and a 81 linen coat for 50. A few days
longer and the American name for generosity viii
DC forever blotted in Santo Domingo.
Tie people here religions peOple-that is, they
have tie religion which usually prevails amOngno-
rant sYyltiji0us inhabitants Of tropical countries.
II,.,h writer in speaking of the religion Of the
pcoplc here many years ago, said: They have no
idea Of religion beyond the priests and images, 10
zach Of which they ascribe a magical virtue in them
,elves-minclng with the outward profession of the
Christian faith a worship which is pure idolatry."
And better description could not be given of their
condition to-day. They are temperate peoplo-that
Is they are not as Incorporate as the low price Of
lois and wine, would reasonably suggest. Rum
w -, land, Of course Of very inferior quail
-. ,e, n, Lorg,t 90, - cents gallon, and from
tlat 10 S. Gallon. A very good qualify can De
bought for so cent? or a dollar. ClaIet wine, bottled
and boxed, may De had for 81 a dozen, and good
French brandy, Notwithstanding the duty Of 40 per
rom, al rciqen. sells iQr so dozen, ard The best
7Ieuu,,-,ymay Dee Aadfor Sl2. Tsuspoct that brandy
an al case, does not pay cu,y, and that customs Off
tels arc 40 houeser here than elsewhere outside Of
New-loIk.
CHILDREN y1D BEGGAEs
Smuggling in brandy is ont Of the question, owing
20 the high wall which cncirclcs the city, and there
are but two gates through this insuImountable
tsrrier-the West Gate and the River Gate-at each
IF which are guards and officers. The people here
refer Of course 10 the blacks, for they really
abe populaton-are not, am sorry TO say, vrtuous
yeonlc as the report Of the Commissioners TO Con-
rross will probably show, for they have investigated
,be question and found the facts appalling, The
Number Of diseased children is very large, and
If grown persons being literally eaten up by disease
are not rare An intelligent apothecary from
Santiago stated that two-thirds Of the medicines
dispensed by him have been for private diseases
put the general healthfulness of this portion Of
the island is established beyond question. DR..
Newcomb of Cornell University, who is charged
rs