Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-04-19

Gulf, Aaygain there would be either 20 much
positive loss at home OF a gain Of numbers with
a loss Of character. We postpone the great
destinies Of Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska, Of Co
lorado and Montana and the youthful States on
the Pacific, until We can hatch out new brood Of
states in distant seas.
COMMERCE STATISTICS or the ISLAND
Admitting that in 1883 the trade Of the island,
including Hayti, was quite large the commerce.
has now iorsaken il, and history has shown that
when once such is the fact, it never returns The
total value of the exports of the island in 1853
were only 81 ,s2j ,625, or only trinc more than
the city OF Portland now annually sends over the
Grand Trunk Railway This was in the height
OF the prosperity of the island The greatest
number Of people in Santo Domingo at the time
OF the greatest amount of commerce was 100, 900
slaves, 20 900 whites, and 2j 900 mulattoos The
United States in 1890 contained population Of
2,s66 ,020, No one will deny our own activity,
whether as to production or trade, and yet our
whole exports then amounted only TO s73 $40 sos,
OF less by more than twenty-six millions dollars
than $4,000 working tatterdemalions in Santo
Domingo are represented 10 have exported in
l1o0l With population Of II 0Gg ,ij3 in 1910,
our exports amounted 70 only : l0i ,505 SCI and
yet Il is assumed that in proportion TO numbers
the Domincans in 1883 exceeded the United
states in its products exported in the ratio Of
Mirfy-eign 10 one. Need | say more touching the
dominican bubble, or the hundred millions of cx-
ports which would gush forth by only hosting
the American flag?
In ls6s the imports Of Santo Domingo from the
United States, according 10 our own records, were
Ss3363, and the exports 10 the United States
S6l, ,ll0l Yet, with these bcggarly but indispu-
table facts before us it is seriously argued that q
few dashing Americans would work out the mir
acle OF giving US trade only surpassed at pres
ent in its vast magnitude by that OF the [ nited
States with Great Britain
He opposed the annexation on the ground that
It would heavily increase the national debt and
taxes No revenue would be derived from the
island but while it had not an acre of public
land and It's people would not labor, We would
have tO provide an expensive civil service per-
manent navy squadron and station regiments
of soldiers there River and harbor improve
ments would have 10 be made and railroads with
subsidies (laughter) would be postal or military
necessities. The unhealthy climate would pre-
vent immigration from the United States. In
stead Of 81 100000 in gold, the whole debt was
quite likely 10 be very much more. The case Of
Texas was cited, whose debts cost the United
States $40, 600 600, after q Joint resolution of
Congress provided that IN no ercRt iocrc He dejfs
and liabilities 10 become a charge upon The G0rern-
meHt Of the United States.
No Dominican can be legally bound by any
compact which carries with it territorial soyer-
elgntny. Their latest constitution declared that
> neither the whole nor any part Of the territory
not even the conscience of Baez, nor that of any
other Dominican, can be in the way of repudia-
ting an act so manifestly illegal and constitu-
tionally indelensible.
He proceeded TO show by statistics that the
mortality in SantO Domingo was very great and
that the climate was Incompatible with labor.
In closing the speaker recapituated some Of
the warnings Of history respecting the perma-
nency Of nations, remarking that the founders Of
our Government gave no direct authority in the
Constitution for annexatiOns, but they were So
berly and silently renounced be continued " 1t
will not be pretended that there has been any en-
| lightened public judgment in favor of the annex
alton Of Santo Domingo. There has been all that
IN favor Of President Grant and his well-earned
popularity. in spite of his Dominicanism, consti-
tutes the entire strength, the backbone of the
measure. Unindorsed by him. may not venture
TO say it would not have had or have corporal :
guard of supporters? To me, as well as 10 some
others, it would have given peculiar pleasure to
have been able TO support the measure because of
the eountenance lent to it by the present admins
tration, Of whose integrity Of purpose have not
shadow of doubt but it was and is a question
IN its scope beyond the life Of any party and far
above all parties, and my responsibility began at
the point where that Of the executive most prop
erly leaves off.