The New York herald., 1871-03-28
st. DemIngo-SuWncr-Di -Disrupeiou OF the
Republican Party and Prospect for th,
DcmOrrufa.

tion, which we publish in another part of the
paper, may not be exactly the last nail in the
coffin of General Grants administration and
the radical party, though it will 60 far to seal
the fate Of one or both. Rarely has there
been delivered in the halls of Congress
speech marked with as much ability or carry
ing more important political consequences in
its train. Though long one, 1t is terse,
argumentative, statesmanlike and confined to
the subject embraced in the resolution submit
ted by the Senator. He does not discuss
the general question of annexation or others
bearing upon the merits of that, and only
makes a few incidental remarks to show that
he is not favorable to the scheme, but he
attacks the administration in the severest
manner for usurpation of power and unlawful
employment of the forces of the United States
in foreign country and to uphold foreign
usurper. He proves by incontrovertible evil
dence-and that taken mostly from the official
acts and records of the government-that the
President has, in the language of the resolu-
ton, without excuse or apology for interfe-
renee, resorted to belligerent Intervention and
acts of war on the coasts Of the island OF St.
Domingo after the failure of the Dominican
treaty in the Senate, and that this was uDau-
thorized violence, utterly without support in
law or reason, and proceeded directly from
that kingly prerogative which is disowned by
the constitution of the United States. In fact,
Mr.. Sumner makes out case for impeach-
ment Of much more serious nature
than that worked up against President
Johnson. There need be no fear that General
Grant will be impeached, however, except in
political sense, and no one desires to see
him brought to trial in any other way : for his
errors, grave as they may have been, arise
from his ignorance of public affairs, his mill
tary education and the mischievous influences
around him, more than from lack of patriotism
or desire to be usurper.
The evidence adduced by Mr.. Sumner cor
roborates what our correspondent with the st.
Domingo Commission stated as to the usurpa-
ton, tyranny and precarious condition of the
Baez government and the armed Intervention
of the United States to keep Baez in power.
Indeed, it is doubtful if the Commissioners
will venture to deny this, favorable as may be
their report for annexation, and much as they
may desire to help General Grant out of this !
st. Domingo dilemma. Mr. Sumner might 4
have used stronger arguments against an
nexation, though he could hardly have made
more forclble ones against the conduct of the i
administration, had he not been trammelled |
by his negro sympathies. No American |
unbiased by radical negroism and blessed |
with common sense could desire the incorpo-
ration into our political and social life of such
a debased and semi-barbarous population as
that of St. Domingo. The annexation of that
island, or the Dominican portion of it, could
not, for many reasons, be of any advantage to
the United States. 1t would lead in all
probability, to 'tdance of blood" to use Mr..
Summers graphic expression, and to great
cost. The native people could not be brought
to cultivate the soil to much profit, the whites
burning tropical sun, the immigration of |
colored races would hardly be practicable, and |
if practicable, whether of Chinese or others, n
they would not be desirable element in our
social and political life. No; St. Domingo
would be an utter failure in our hands, and the l
with the experiment that they would turn their |
faces against any tropical acquisition, however
valuable, for long time to come. !
Yet we have destiny to fulfil |
to the southwark of our present limits. |
But let US begin with the countries on our bor-
Ior xho<1 "a fD MoyioO hot
is so rich, or with Cuba, which has vast pro-l
duction, large commerce, great cities, railroads,
telegraphs and all the elements of civilization.
Let us not commence at distance and on the
outer verge Of the Antilles to take in q wilder
ness and race Of negroes that are fast going
back to barbarism. The scheme of annexing
ST. Domingo is visionary and impolitic every
way, and must be unpopular with the people
of the United States. General Grant has made
a serious mistake in this matter and one that is
doing much to break up the republican party.
We have been disposed to sustain General
Grant on account of the services he rendered
the country in the war, and believing he
was honest having hope at the same time that
with experience he would show some capacity
for craftsmanship; but he has failed and we
see little else but blunders both in our
domestic and foreign affairs. Public SEN
timent in every direction, and even in New
England, the stronghold of radical republi-
canism, is turning against him. At the very
time the tide Of public opinion was thus turn
ing, as clearly shown by the elections, the
President quarrelled and attempted to whip
into his measures Mr.. Sumner, the foremost
man in the Senate and one of the oldest and
most efficient men that built up the party
which put him in the White House. We see
the immediate result though We have not yet
seen all the consequences Of this mistake
Then look at the wretched failure of the ad-
mipistratiou policy toward the South. The