Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-04-18

was most unsatisfactory and oppressive
in its results, both civil and religiously
threatening danger to the Masonic lrater'
nifty. large and influential order in the
island, and le-rStablished slavery, either
by Importation or hy the reduction OF the
inhabitants u bondage. The people re
VOTED and drove the SpaniardS into their
StrongholdS on the coast. where ihe sol
dierS died by the wholesale of malignant
fcvers. engendered 10y close and filthy bar
racks. devoid OF all sanitary Appliances.
The Spaniards numbered in all about
5000 hoops, of whom between 5000 and
5000 Were los by deSertiOn and disease.
The desire Tor annexation to the United
States, the Commissioners say. was lound
very widespread and out spoken i'm MI
parts OF the island. and Wa, based appar
emily upon a thorough and Intelligent dis
cussion. This desire was also ardcntly
shared BY, and sustained by all the colo.
nies OF colored people formerly from the
United States, whose attachment To their
native land seems To have deepened with
time and distance. The people said they
would prefer TO continue independent 1t
it were possible. but it they must lose
their nationality they would rather merge
II with the American Union with It's tree
institutions, friendly people. and common
Interests The principal par OF the OPP
position which does exist, appears among
certain traders in the ports, some oi whom
in case of anu, nation would lose control
OF branches of business OF which in its
present narrow channel they have mon
Opoly The Commissioners entirely dis.
credit the reports that annexation would
he resisted by desperate measures IN any
part OF the island. and cite at length their
own experience and entire Immunity from
harm OF every kind. while on the island.
as evidence OF the correctness OF this
conclusion. The people oi san Domin'
90 are OF mixed blood, honest, temper
ate. and inofienSive. and destitute OF pre-
iudice OF class or color. pauperism. beg
gary and high crime being practically un'
known. Among the popular vices i pet
" gambling, which i extensively indulg-
ell by the Spanish portion OF the popula-
tim. All are Roman Catholics except
the American emigrantS who are MeIho-
dists or BaptistS. though no Intolerance
or religious persecution can be discover
ed. The people generally own land.
which they cultivate. though agricultural
operations are limited by the lack OF
market. and frequent political disturb
ances, thoughlhe Dominican is not averse
10 work when sure OF reasonable re-
ward Labor is now in abundant supply
at $40 or less per month. Iron ore is
abundant and easy of acceSe, and will
doubtless be made available Tor the cheap
production of pig iron. The copper ore
is OF a fair degree OF richness. and beds
have been opened 10 slight extent. The
reported coal of the SANTANA peninsula
and in the neighborhood of Peurto Plata
Sound. is bignite, and is OF little value as
fuel. compared with Pennsylvania or Eng
fish coSl. The gold region i. extensive,
aud though worked anciently is At pres
eut bat little known. The salt deposits
in the mountains near Neyba, are believ-
Cd 10 be extensive and valuable.
Few schools exist and the people gen.
orally arc uneducated. though the Com
missioners believe that opportunities for
education would be eagerly improved,
the DOminieans being possessed of pro.
verbal shrewdnesS and much native abil-
lily. Only one small and poorly equipped
printing office exists in the Republic The
general political capacity of the | eople j.
regarded favorably, there having been tor
many years neither Sla:ery nor caste
spirit TO deprive them OF manlinc>s The
courage and devotion wasted in iusurrec.
tons, abundantly prove their capacity for
ielfgoyernment and regular political at.
ton. The Commissioners estimate the
actual population OF the Republic at 80.
200, more than nineteen tweniieIhs being
native Domiuicans. The white blood
prepondelates largely. the majority being
much nearer white than black Geolo-
gistS find the existence OF ores: iron, cop
per and gold, with deposits OF Ignite
rock, salt and petroleum. Iron ore is
abundant and easy oi access
There are five classes OF lands in San
Domingo The mountain slopes and val
leys are uniformly rich and productive;
the extensive prairie region OF the llano,
is admirable pas ure land; he rolling
plain OF Vega generally wooded and the
finest agricultural hand on the island the
TRY lands where rain is partially OF whol.
~ wanting, which can be made fertile by
irrigation. and the red clay timbered lands
lying along the coast There is hardly
any portion of the island not capable oi
cultivation, and taken rs 4 whole it i, one
of The most fertile regions on The face OF
the earth.
The agricultural products include all
the tropical fruits and vegetables, as well
as commercial staples. Sugar cane is
grow most proftably on low land. and
the yield is much greater than in the is
land of Jamaica. even though aided by
artificial irrigation. Fifteen annual cut
tings from the original root are common,
and an abundance AZ fuel. gives addlIinn-