The New York herald., 1871-03-20
The st. Domingo Commissioners In ia.
maicn-Tbe Annexation Epidemic.

The Sc. Domingo Commissioners In Ja-
maica-The Annexation Epidemic.
BY special telegram from the HERALD's cor.
respondent at Kingston we have interesting
particulars regarding the visit of the st.
Domingo Commissioners to Jamaica. Their
reception appears to have been of the most
enthusiastic character, not only by the OFF,
cials, but by the community at large. Excur-
sions to the interior were organized and car
ried out, picnic parties were arranged to the
principal places of interest, dinners and
receptions were the order of the day, and
everything was done to render their stay
agreeable. all OF which must have been most
pleasant and delightful to those who were
visiting a foreign tropical cline for the first
time. The people of Jamaica always had the
reputation of being most hospitable. their
attention to strangers Of respectability
has been proverbal and in former times
wealthy citizens and planters considered
themselves honored by the visits of those who
could appreciate good bottle of wine, we'll
spread board and a welcome given without
reservation whatever. From what we hear Of
the Commissioners visit it is evident that the
reputation Of former years holds good at the
present time, and we are glad that our officials
have had the opportunity to view the differ
ence between a civilized tropical colony of
Great Britain and q semi i-barbarous Spanish
American republic.
The annexation fever is evidently spreading
IN, ca Ind; i1o IN, 10
mingo it exists in Martinique and it has
broken out in Jamaica; and, from present ap-
pearances, it is likely to become epidemic. 1t
is early in the season for fevers, even in that
unhealthy climate, but then the cause has
never existed before this year; and we should
not be surprised if it prevailed among all Of
the islands before the season is over, from the
southern portion Of Trinidad to the Western
end of Cuba. and become of SO violent u
character as to throw yellow fever entirely in
the shade The expressions in favor of coming
under the protection of the United States were
so very strong in Jamaica as to cause surprise
on the part of the Commissioners, and they
commenced asking questions, and the replies
were certainly of anything but compliment
tary character TO Exeter Hall and those British
philanthropists who for years past have been
laboring so earnestly to benefit the condition
of the colored inhabitants of the English colo
nial settlements in the West Indies. They
certainly will feel ssre when they learn of the
estimation in which they are held by those
they desired to improve, and when they know
that all they have done, or striven to do,
is charged entirely to interested motives.
Seriously speaking, the project for the an
nexation of the republic Of Dominica has
resulted in more than we bargained for. The
subject has been considered by others than the
Dominicans, and the benefits accruing by
reason of becoming part and parcel of the
great American republic have been fully con-
sidered, and the result is evidently in favor of
annexation. What is now only gentle
breez. may become in short time hurri-
cane that will sweep everything before it-an
irresistible torrent that will not be subdued
until the influence Of the Stars and Stripes
aud the control of the United States are felt
over sll the islands OF the Caribbean Sea. 1t
is manifest destiny that at some future day
they will become States of our republic, and
the time may be sooner than we expected. II
st. Domingo is annexed Hayti will soon
follow, and then the others will fall into the
line rapidly, and a result will be arrived at in
few years that centuries might not have ac-
complished if annexation had not been inau-
gurated by the present enterprise. England
may object for time to part with her West
Indian estates; France may gruInble at part
ing with hers, and so may Denmark and Hol-
land; but they will get over this feeling with
little persuasion of the right kind. Spain
will sell after while, and then the project
will be complete. We shall become possessors
Of territory that should belong to us, and
new era Of prosperity will dawn upon those
who have experienced much Of adversely by
reason of their coming under the care and pro-
tecron of the great North American republic,
the government of their choice.