Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-03-13
SANTO DOMLNGO.

Whether San Domingo shall be annexed
to this country or not is an open question.
1t is question the merits of which are not
yet well understood. The first thought is
not favorable to it. We have an abundance
of territory already 1t is land separated
from us by a considerable body of water.
The people are said to be of a low order,
lazy, lawless, and ignorant, and the gov
eminent is like the people. 1t is said there
are debts and revolution and war awaiting
us if we annex it, and that fraud and vii
lainy are at the bottom of the project.
In order to see wha: force there is in
these objections. the President appointed
commission consisting of three gentlemen
of undoubted impartiality and integrity to
visit the island and there make an exam
ination into the character of the place, the
people, the government, soil, resources,
liabilities, and whatever might pertain to
the subject of annexation, and report for
our instruction at home. We think it
would be fair and wise to hear from those
gentlemen upon the subject before coming
to conclusion upon the matter. They
are diligently employed in their task, and
viii give an intelligent and honest report
in few weeks at longest. In the mean
time we have statements which are inter-
esting. In conversation with a cores
pendent at St. Domingo of one of our
papers Mr.. Wade is reported as making
the following remarks:
The President, by authority of Congress,
sent us down here to investigate the condition
of the country. We have pursued that inves-
tigation as fully and earnestly as possible.
First of all, we find Baez President of this
republic de facto-it is not our duty to say or
to inquire whether he is the de jure President
or not He is in peaceful possession of it,
directing its army such as it is; controlling
the finances, such as they are; performing all
functions of government. Then we find that
the people are all in favor of annexation; that
vote was taken on the question twelve months
ago; that the people were then unanimously
in favor OF it, and are more vehement and
enthusiastic in their desire to be annexed to-
day than they were then; that its debt will be
fully covered by one million and a half of dol
lars; that the country is a healthy country;
that concessions Of land were made to rail-
road company, which by the non-performance
of the contract, are utterly worthless; that
contract was entered into by the government
with company in New York to survey the
whole territory, in consideration of which it
was stipulated that one-fitth of the public
lands should be given to them and the con-
tract is not very clear on this point-one- fifth
of the mineral wealth--but we did not come
to adjudicate upon that. We find that San
Domingo is rich beyond all comparison-rich
and more fertile in soil than any of the sur
rounding islands; that in the interior are
large mahogany tracts, OF immense value, and
immense quantities of valuable kinds of tim
Der.
From the other two commissioners, Mr..
White and DR.. Howe, not much has been
heard. The commissioners understand
allow others to draw their own conclu-
sions, and hence they have nothing to say
for or against annexation. TO party of
Dominicans who serenaded the commits
sioners DIR. Howe made short speech, in
which he dwelt upon the delights of the
climate as follows
People too often overlook or forget the good
things they have and think only of their suf-
ferings and wants. Since / have been here
people have been talking continually to me
about the disadvantages under which they
labor-of the commissions, and civil wars, and
expressions, and all that. There is another
side of the picture. | And myself in danger
of having my reason carried away by senses
ALI my senses are, as it were subjugated by
the surroundings. | find the most beautiful
island have ever seen. Ike balmy atmos-
phere, the mind and even temperature-eyery-
thing addresses itself to my sense de biea et,e.
My eyes are dazzled by the beauty Of enchant-
ing scenery. My sense of taste is gratifed by
the luscious and abundant fruits that are
everywhere around us; and now comes your
music, and so charms away my sense OF hear
ing that find all my senses enlisted and car
ried away in your favor; and although may
not say what shall advise my countrymen to
do on the subject of annexing the Domican
republic, feel inclined to annex myself and
my family To this beautiful island.
The full report will be looked for with
q good deal Of interest. Should it speak
iavorably of the island and the people