Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1871-04-20


monopoly. The Commissioner found
the number OF German subjects IN
important business operations, and
agencies on the north Of the island
to exceed those OF any other foreign
power, and their influence is extend
ing steadily up into the central dis.
tricts.
THE SLAVERY QUESTION
The influence which Santo Domin-
60, under stable government, would
exercise upon the institution OF slav-
cry has not escaped attention. &c.
graphically it lies between the two
last strongholds Of slavery in North
America, Cuba on tho west, and
Porto Rico on the east, In the pres.
ent impotency of its Government it
exercises but little influence, but the
inhabitants arc earnestly opposed to
slavery. and under more avorable
circumstance their moral influence
would be telt in the neighborlng ,s-
lands. 1t would be all on the side
of freedom. Nor would that infu-
ence be merely moral. Commercial
influences works in the same direc-
ton. San Domingo is capable OF
supporting millions OF people; land
is cheap; in fertility it certainly
equals, and probably exceeds the
neighboring isles, anu it is even bet
lnr suited to the production OF sugar
md coffee. 1t could supply the
whole market OF the United States
with these great West India staples.
During the year above mentioned
II per cent. of all the imports Of the
United States were the productions
Of slave labor. This trade il the
main support which the slave system
has. With liberty or free labor. and
the immigration which would be at
tracted by these, with vast advan-
,age in the West India trade, arising
from the fact that any duties laid by
the United States on West India
productions for revenue would be a
discrimination against slave products,
and wonld inure to the protection OF
Dominican free labor, it is not too
much to expect that Santo Domingo
might be developed into a powerful
State, which, by the inevitable course
of trade, would make slave labor in
the neighbororing islands unprofita.
BILE, and by the spread Of its ideas
render the whole slave and caste
system odious.
The Commissioners Of course felt
a deep interest in the experiment Of
seIt.government which the blacks are
trying in Hayti They stated to the
President of the Republic that they
should be glad to be put in the way
OF ascertaining what W re the claims
Of Hayti upon San Domingo, what
what were the views and wishes OF
the Haytian people with respect to
any changes that might be brought
about in the neighboring Republic,
but they received no encouragement
to pursue their inquiries. They asked
verbally, and through our Minister
in writing, to explore in the interior
Of the island, but this was met in a
spirit equivalent to Il refusal They
contented themselves, therefore, with
taking such testimony and gathering
such information upon matters bear
ing upon the question OF annexation
as they could, without giving otfense
CONCLUSION.
In reviewing the whole field Of
their Investigations, looking to the
interests OF both divisions at the is
land, they are firmly persuaded tia,
the annexation OF Santo Domingo te
the United States would be hardly
less beneficial to the Hay.ian than t
the Dominican people. This benefit
would arise: First, from the exam
pie which would doubtless be afford
ed, OF we'll regulated. orderly anc
prosperous State-the great need O.
that part of the world, and which i,
has, rs yet, never seen. A second
and more direct benefit would arts,
from the equitable establishment o
a boundary line between the Frencl
speaking and Spanish speaking ma
tives upon that island, and its guar
antee by strong power. This would
end the exhaustlng border wariar,
which has been one OF the creates
curses to Hayti as we'll as to Sar
Domingo, and would enable them tc
devote their energies thenccforward
to the education OF their people anG
the development Of their resources
Respectfully submitted,
3. +. WADE,
ANDREW d. WHITE,
l.. G. How.
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