New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-04-07

l8E0DUU3 nDAU3 HI 1Ioux.
President O1snt ~ spoken, and ont Of
the silence which be has hitherto main
tanned, even whom silence seemed to ina-
ply weakness, we hear - conclusions Of
man who thinks deeply and honestly
before he declares his determination.
The President has more than justified the
prophecy which we uttered when the San
Domingo commission sailed upon the
Tennessee. The REruB1lcAN, simultane-
ously with the departure of the commits
sioners, declared that the President would
be governed in his policy concerning San
Domingo by the report of the gentlemen
who had been dispatched to the island for
the purpose of obtaining information,
and that if the commissioners did not cup
port the treaty by argument and fact the
scheme of annexation would be relin-
quished. No conclusion was uttered as to
the result Of the labors of the commits
sioners, for though we had supported the
policy of acquisition, and though we still
support it, our information was not of
such q positive nature as to allow us to
say what decision the commission would
arrive at as to the desires of the Dominican
people, which was and is the main point
of difference between Republicans. We
simply maintained that the President
would abide by the arbitration which had
been selected as the means to discover the
truth. He has not only done this, and
done it in straightforward and courage
Gus argument, but he has done more. He
has solemnly ralinquished his own policy
in Difference to the opposition of his
friends, and has sublimely appealed to the
people for second arbitration between
his views and those of his opponents-
The legend which he uttered in his inaug-
ural he republishes in his message to
Congress, 81 have no policy in opposition
to the will of the people" He still be-
friends the suggestion to acquire the
island of San Domingo, but it is no part
of his policy. He has done his duty, and
now. the question is with Congress.
General Grant thus vindicates the good
opinion which the people entertain for
him, and which leads him now, as it has
done heretofore, to even do more in a
spirit of harmony than nigh: be expected
of him.
This message will 60 q long way to
make friends for the President, for it is
written in spirit that invites assistance.
It is probably good fortune that General
Grant is so quiet, for his reticence inyites
assertion concerning his actions and in
tentions. His adversaries rely upon his
taciturnity to suppress denial. Charges
are made with ease, because no defense is
expected. This gives the defendant,
when he is earnest and patriotic, an inn
mense advantage when he does turn upon
his pursuers. His denials are generally
accepted as the truth, and this is q pow
erful incident in any argument. In the
San Domingo negotiation the President
relates in q truthful and consistent man
ner the commencement, T rogress, and all
the incidents of the original treaty. It
was commenced in earnest, conducted in
earnest, and concluded in earn
est for the best interests of the
two countries. The Monroe doctrine
supported it, and the idea of our people
that thoir institutions were adapted to all
countries and populations urged its adop-
ton. It had long been the policy of the
country to acquire one of the West India
islands; then why not secure San Domin-
60 when it was offered to us by its own
people? If the treaty of annexation was
defeated by false representations, then the
President scarcely considers himself to
blame, but rather supposes the mistake
should fall upon those who invented the
mischief and those who listened to it.
In conclusion, the President deliber-
ately recommends that Congress shall
take no action in the matter, but leave
the question to be discussed and decided
by the people. Next year the merits of
the controversy will be better understood,
the country will have pronounced its
opinion and q solution of the difficulty
can be arrived at that all departments of
the government will acquiesce in. The
President informs Us in advance that he
will cheerfully accept the will of the. ma
ton, and he hopes that all who have felt
an interest in this matter will bear the