The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-03-10

| isles, gems Of the western world, are
chiefly held by European Powers with
out the will of their people-Great
Britain, France, Spain, Denmark, Swe-
den, and others. Great Britain holds
them by the score. The United States
Of America, the first Power on this con-
tinent and destined to become the first
Power on earth, OWLS not one of
thousand. We, who should have all,
have none. In none Of these ilowery
lands are our citizens at home. In none
Of their harboYs is our flag supreme.
We are now invited by the free will
Of an Independent people, possessing
the greater and better part Of San Do
mingo, to consider whether we shall
accept threo.G0hs of that island, which,
save Cuba, is the largest, lairest, and
most fertile Of the islands Of the gulf
It measures seventeen thousand five
hundred square miles ii is rich in gold
and silver, copper and tin, iron and
lead, coal and salt The precious metals
ones yielded at the rate of $50, 100000
per year. The mountains and plains
are covered and adorned with magniG-
cent forests of mahogany, satin.wood,
lignumvitW, palm, ard many other va
rietics of high value. Ships have sailed
from the island built of its timber. Ma
hogany trees are found which, landed
in Boston, New York, Philadelphia,
ST. Louis, or Cincinnati, would be worth
from five to ten thousand dollars each.
The soil is exceedingly fertile, produc-
ing sugar, cotton, coffee, indigo, rice,
tobacco, and other tropical staples
which have become articles Of common
use in every civilized country.
st. Merry, a French author, il his able
and exhaustive book on this part Of
San Domingo, published in the last
century, estimates that there might
have been then established, on lands
well adapted t. lis growth, more than
one thousand sugar plantations, em-
ploying over two hundTcd thousand
/ hands. The sugar. cane grows and
yields fruitfully for six years without
. replanting. He says:
"Thc coffee tree hourishcs well in
, every part of the Island and produces
in abundance, particularly in certain
D elevated parts Of the mountains The
t coffee is everywhere good and there
= are some lands which produce as good
/ a. even that Of Mocha.
: "robacco is u native OF the island,
S and is to be met with everywhere. Val.
G verde observes that its leaf exceeds in
Z largeness that Of the tobacco of every
= other part Of America that its quality
e which is good in almost every part o
IS the island, sometimes equals that o
II Cuba or the Havana; that ii is rs mucl
0 esteemed as these latter in the manu-
Is preferable in cigars.
's "Cacoa II also a native, aud is found
= in a great number Of places, In the
Is sixteenth century there was NJ other
It cocoa than that of San Domingo, and
l. this island then provided all Spain with
d that article.
/ " Indigo, from its natural luXurianct
il and numerous roots, is an obstacle il
o the fields, where it grows spontane
d ousiy."
e We might produce on the soil of th
e Dom MEAN republic more of these anC
T. other such articles than we now import
IT and this would restore to Us the balanc
Il Of trade and give cur people these pro
.- ducts Of taxation. The same autho
r says:
e cotton grows naturally in San DO
70 mineo and Is OF nn excellent quality
e even when 1t comes without the leaS
'c care. Ii iiourl-hc5 IN stony, land II
o. that which IS the most barren, ana II
Ic 'i'e very vieNicrs "i inc roch7.
)l tropical fruits grow spon'onoou'l !.
10 ana III aDuh''a6ce' ST. Merry says IN
l. lsIanH-
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