Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-03-27

Mr.: Sumner proceeded to enumerate our ~
vessels in the waters vi San Domingo and their
armament.
TWELVE MIGHTY WAR SHIPS,
including two IL not three powerful monitors,
maintained At the cost OF millions OF dollars
being part of the price Of the pending negota-
ton, Besides what we pay 10 BaeZ here are
millions down. Rarely have we had such fleet
in any waters-not in the Mediterranean, not in
the Pacific, not in the East Indies 1t Is in the
waters of St Domingo that our Navy finds it
chosen field. Here is its flag, and here also is IL
frown. Andwhy this array? flour purpose =
peace, why these engines of war? Ii we Sc X
annexation by the declared will OF the people
spontaneous, free, and unanimous, as was the
boast OF Spain, WHY these floating batteries 10
overawe them? If we would do good to tue
African race, why begin with violence to the
Black Republic?
The Commissioners are announced AZ minis
tiers of peace; at ali events their declared d. ty
i TO ascertain the real sentiments of the people.
Why send them in war ship? Why cram toe
dove in lannon's mouth There are good
steamers at New York, safe and sea-wortLy,
whose presence would not swell the array OF
war, nor subject the G -eat Republic to the
grave imputatlon OF seeking to accomplish its
purpose by violence.
TRAGICAL END OF SPANISH OCCUPATION.
If while negotiating with the DOminicans for
Their territory, and what is more than territory,
their national life, You will not follow Spanish
example and withdraw your war-ships with
their flashing arms and threatening thunder, at
least be taught by the tragedy which attended
volumes o. authentic documents from which
have read show how, notwithstanding the appa-
rent spout lncOusness, freedom, and unanim ty
OF the invitation, the fOrbearance of Spain was
followed by resistance where sun and climate
united with the people. An official report laid
BEFORE the COrtes describes 1000 Spanish sol
diers dead with disease, while the Spanish oc-
cupafion was reduced to three towns on the
sea board, and il was perilOus for small parties
10 go any distance outside the walls OF the CITY
OF ST Domingo. The same report declares that
% for
months, would be required to penetrate "the
heart of Cibao." which is the very region now
occupied by Gen. Cabral, who disputes the
power OF BleZ. AT last Spain submitted The
spirit of independence pre- vailed once more on
the island and the proud banner of CASTLE
which had come IN pence, amid general cor
EXAMINATIONS. and with the boast Of not Span
Ish bottom or Spanish soldier near, was with
drawn.
Ar ENGLISH PRECEDENT.
The example of Spain is reinforced by An
English precedent, where may be seen in the
light OF analogy, the true rule OF conduct. BY
a statute of The last century, all soldiers quar-
tered al the place OF an election for members
OF Parl1ament were removed at least one day
before the election to the distance of two miles
or more, and though this statute has been mod
ned iatterly, the principle has been preserved.
NO soldier with in two miles of place of cleo
on is allowed TO 60 out of the barracks or
quarters in which he is stationed, unless to
mount guard or TO vote. In accordance with
this principle, az early as 1893, a committee of
the other House of Congress reported apainst
the seat of a Representative on the ground that
United States troops were quartered near the
pace OF election and were marched in body
round the court house. And now that an cleo
ton Is 10 occur in St. Domingo, where national
lnde pendence is the question moth no ia rIearer
than that II should be, in the language Of Black
stone. absolutely free" and to this enI an
naval force should be withdrawn al least urt.I
the election il determined.
SEIZURE OF WAR POWERS BY OUR GOVERNMENT.
All this l. preliminary, although pointing tie
way 10 a just conclusion. IL is only when W.
enter into details and consider what has been
Done by our government, that we recognize
the magnitude OF the question. Unless the
evidence supplied by the agents OF our gov
ernmeUt Is at iault-unless the REPORTS of the
State Department and Navy Department are
dscTedlted IL is obvious beyond doubt, most
painfully plain and indisputs able, that our gov
eminent has seized the war powers carefiIriy
guarded by the Constitution. and without The
autLOIiy Of Congress has employ ed them -
trsmple on the Independence and equal rights
OF two natons, coequal with ours, unless 20
carry out this project OF territorial ACQUISITION
you begin by setting at defiance a first pTiDciu's
Of International Law. This is no ha@fv or he
allegation, nor is il made without immeasurabla
regret And the regret is increased by the verv
strength of the evidence, which IL strictly on
clai beNO nd II question.
EABZ, TIE UsURP8R.
In this melancholy business the central figure
Is Buenventura BaeZ, unless we except PTesi-
dent Grant, TO whom some would accord the
place of honor. The two have acted together
az cCpartners. To appreciate the case, All
law, you must know something of the former,
and how he has been enabled to play his part
Dominican by birth, with much of Spanish
bood and with French education, he l. =
cross where these different elements are some
what Tudely intermixed. All his life he has.
been adveDtuTer, conspirator, and tricks,er
uncertain in opinions, without character, with
out patriotism, without truth, looking out su-
pTemely for himself, and on any side sccordiug
TO imagined personal interest, being once
violent against the United State. as he now
p.ap a than
Nr. Sumner proceeded at considerable length
TO give an exceedingly uncomplimentary re-
view OF the career OF Baez aud says that duriu.
his enforced exile by direct vote OF the people
Of Dominica he found his way TO Washington.
TEE BAkZ-sUMEER INTERVIEW.
Mr.. Sumner says that Secretary Seward de
cllned TO see BaeZ but referred him TO him. He
had several conversations with BaeZ At hl.
(Sumner's} house. The svowed object of BaeZ
was 10 obtain assistance OF money and arms 70
aid him in the overthrow OF the existing Gov
tanned no encouragement from me, although /
did not hesitate to say, as | always have said,
that hoped my country would never fan 10 do
all possible good to Dominica, extending 10 IL
helping hand. II was al a later day that our
belhgerent Intervention began.
Meanwhile Cabral, embarrassed by financial
dihculties and dead weight of paper money.
the legacy OF tue fugitive conspirator, turned
TO the United States for assistance, Offering
lease OF the bay of SANTANA. Then spoke tez
from his retreat, denouncing what he called
1.-THE sale OF his country TO the United States
adopting the most inttammstory language By
his far reaching and INSCRIPTIONS activity a
hostile force was organized, which, with the
help of Sainave, the late ruler of Hayti. com
PEELED the capitulation OF Cabral, February y
1865. Convention was appointed, not elected
which proceedC TO nominate Baez for the term
OF four years, not as President, but as Dictator
Declining the latter title the triumphant con-
splTatOr accepted that or Gran Ciuddddno or
Grand Citizen with unlimited powers. At the
same time his enemies we're driven into exile or
executed. The prisons were gorged, ana the
most respectable citizens were his victims. Ma
tUrally such q man would sell his country
Wanting money he cared little how it wavyot
Anything for money, even his country.
ORIGIN OF THE SCHEME.
Cabral withdrew to the interior, keeping up
a menace of war, while the country was indig-
Dant with the INSCRIPTIONS usurper. VINO for
the second time had obtained power by violence
Power thus obtained was naturally uncertain,
and BaeZ soon found himself obliged 40 invoke
foreign assistance. HELP me, Cassius or |
sink" cried the Grand Citizen. European
Powers would not listen. None OF them wanted
his half island-pot Spain, not France, not
England. None would take it. But still the
Grand Citizen cried, when at last he was re-
heved by an answering voice from our Republic.
young officer, inexperienced in life, ignorant
OF the world, untaught in the Spanish language
unversed in international law, knowing abso-
lutely nothing of the intercourse between
nations, and unconscious OF the Constitution OF
his country, was selected by the r rasiCent IN