New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-05-18

much less labor, nearly double that of the bes
sugar iands OF Louisiana. Tobacco, tropica
Huits, dyes, and all the imports Of the Eouato
| RAJ region, can be produced on these lands
me Island is the gate of the Caribbean Sea,
ana on the line of the transit 10 the Isthmus OF
Dailen' destined at no distant day to be the line
oi transit OF hall the commerce of the world.
dominica has but sparse population. repre-
sented 10 De In entire sympathy with our insti-
I tntions, and anxsous 10 ioin their for,nna. a.
ours; industrious. if made to feel that thu nro.
ducts OF their industry are to be protected. and
tolerant as to the religious or political view.
OF their neighbors. Caste has no foothold in
San Domingo.
glance at the map will show that Englsnd
has now Gordon of islands extending from
Southern Florida TO the east Of the island of
Cuba, with Jamaica and Grand Cayman south
OF that Island, and foothold upon the main
land OF Central America, thus commanding on
both sides OF Cuba the entrance to the Gulf of
Mexico, a gulf which borders upon so large
part OF the territory of the United States.
Again she has a succession of islands run
ming from the east of ST. Thomas to South Am.
erica with another foothold upon the mainland,
british 1usyna, thus nearly surrounding the
Caribbean Sea.
The coasting trade Of the United States be-
tween the Atlantic sesboard and all parts west
and southwest OF the Cape of Florida has now
TO pass through foreign waters. Ia case of war
between England and the United States, New
York and New Orleans would be as much
severed as would New York and Calsis,
France.
Our imports of tropical products and pro-
ducts OF slave labor exceed our exports to the
countries producing them more than the whole
balance OF trade against the United States
San Domingo can produce the sugar, coffee,
tobacco, chocolate and tropical fruits for
population of fifty millions of people Coffee
and sugar there can be produced, with free
labor. at but little more cost per pound than
wheat is now produced for in our great North
west With the acquisition of San Domingo
the two great necessities in every family
sugar and cofes-would be cheapened nearly
one half
san Domingo, IN the hands OF the Unit
States, would make slave labor Improbable,
and would soon extinguish that hated system
OF enforced labor. Today the United States 10
the largest trade patron Of that institution
More than 10 per cent. of the exports of Cuba
and large percentage Of the exports of Brazil
are to the United States. Upon every pound
We receive from them an export duty is charged
to support slavery and monarchy. A prohibito-
ry duty almost, is placed upon what we have
to sell. With acquisition this would all be-
changed.
San Domingo. from its exposure to the trade
winds and its elevation, is in large part, free
from the diseases Of the tropics. Ii is nearer
New York city and all the North Atlantic
seaports than any American seaport in the
Gulf of Mexico. Ii can be reached without
passing through the waters of foreign coun.
try. In case of maritime war it would give
US foothold in the West Indies of inestmsble
value. Its acquisition is step towards clear
ing all European flags from this continent.
We paid seven millions and two hundred
thousand dollars for the icebergs of Alaska.
Is 1t worth while to unceremonously and un-
equivocally slam our doors in the face of reput-
lican Dominica? Let the people take these
facts to their reflection, test them, study them.
Then if the Haytien incumbrance shall, by
further facts, prove TO be absolutely or COM
paratively unimportant, let the probable effect
OF this acquisition upon further acquisitions,
and the meaning and worth of the latter, be
attentivey regarded.