The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-01-17
TUESDAY, JANUARY II, 1871.
SIN DOMINGO.

render San Domingo such a specially inter
esting object of investigation that everybody
who wishes to keep pace with the times must
book himself up, after some fashion, in the
history, characteristics, resources, and pros
poets of the proposed new sable sister. The
commission of inquiry is at last
duly authorized, appointed, organized, and
prepared to sail in few days to bring back
world of information about the new Eldorado,
and meanwhile Secretary Fish has elabo-
rateIy rehearsed the story of its intercourse
with our own and other nations from a diPlo-
matte standpoint for the immediate instruc-
tion of Congress and their constituents. The
leading and most material facts involved are
substantially as follows-
Down in the Caribbean Sea there is an
island variously called Dominica, or San
Domingo, divided politically into the
Republic of Hayti and the Dominican
Republic, by line identical with boundary
established many years ago between the
French and Spanish parts of the island. The
Haytien Republic represents the territory
formerly owned by France, and it is not en-
braced in the proposed annexation scheme.
1t is the portion of the island formerly owned
by Spain, comprising about three-6fths of
the whole surface, or II, 900 square miles of
territory, and only a comparatively small
population, that President Grant is anxious
to acquire and annex, and that Senator
Sumner vows should not, must not, and
shall not be incorporated into the American
Union.
The inhabitants of the Spanish portion of
the island, or the Dominican Republic, have
had a rough time of it. In past times they
have been subjected to the rigors of Spanish
rule-for nearly twenty years, from 1895 to
1914, they were under French domination;
after Napoleon's downfall they were traus-
ferred back to Spain; subsequently they de-
olared their independence and set up q gov
ernment for themselves as the Dominican
Republic, and since then they have suffered
alike from internal revolutions, occasional
hostilities with the neighboring power of
Hayti, and (only few years ago. from an
attempt of the Spanish Government to resume
its ancient sway. Out of this attempt, with
its difficult complications, on the one hand,
and series of overtures of various descrip-
tions for a purchase of portion of their
administrations, the present project for a
complete union of this great Republic with
the little Dominican concern has gradually
been developed until it excites as much in
terest among politicians as sensation match
making among the gossips.
Grant, in dabbling in the Dominican bust
ness, by 40 means adopted a new idea. He
merely continued labors previously begun
by Seward, under Johnson's administration.
Nor was Seward the first American statesman
to cast longing eyes on San Domingo. The
coquetting commenced with Polk in 1915
He was elected on an annexation platform,
and not satisfied with gobbling up the
"Lone Star" of Texas, together with many
leagues of outlying Mexican territory, he
took sufficient interest in the condition of
Dominica to send down to it special agent
to inquire into its condition, etc., and to
despatch thither d. d. Porter, then a lieute-
tenant of the navy (now Admiral), to travel
over and report upon it, Subsequently,
under the Pierce administration, George B.
Mcclellan, then a captain, and sub
Sequently major-general in the
army of the United States, was
sent down to Dominica to look out for
harbor, etc., and on the heels of his report
efforts were made to negotiate comprehen-
sive treaty with that republic, embracing a
oession of harbor in the Bay of Samans,
coal mines, etc., to this country. These
efforts were thwarted, however, by the jeal-
GUS interference of the Spanish Minister,
aided by the representatives of other foreign
powers, and by a popular revolution which
deposed government that was apparently
inclined to consummate such treaty in spite
OF European aversion to it. The popular
feeling against annexation at that time pro-
badly arose from a dread that this Govern
ment, under the then existing rule, would
endeavor to re-establish slavery; and as jeff.
Davis took leading part in the project, this
fear was only too well founded.
After this early negotiation was broken off.
nothing further was attempted in the same
direction until 1865. Our consular officer
there wrote that the influence
of our Republic in Dominica was
well-nigh onnipotent, and in No.
vember, 1866, the Dominican Secretary of
State addressed confidential letter to Mr..
Seward, then the American Secretary of
State, stating that money and arms were
badly needed to continue the fight against
Spain, which was then progressing, and he
desired to know on what terms our Govarn-
ment would furnish such material aid Ont
of this application grew formal offer on tba
part Of the United States to give O., ,OOO, 600.