The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1871-01-31
SAN DOMINGO.

SAN DOMINGO. #.
ITS EARLY HIsToRN-A SERIES on REyOLU-
TIONs--BAEz AND CABRAL --- EXPORTS,
DEBTS, AND REyENuEs-THE TREATY or
1866 AND THE COMMISSION or 1871.
The Dominican Republic, from the
time Of the discovery Of Hayti, has been
so interviewer with the Isytien Republic
that in discussing the one it is almost IN
possible to avoid discussing the other,
Originally one colonial dependency of
Spain, then partly Spanish aud partly a
French colony, sometimes one republic,
some times governed by separate rulers,
the two divisions Of the Island of Hayti
have almost always yacilated between an
unwilling unity and hostile separation.
The history Of these two republics is the
old story of nationalities springing from
demoralized colonies slowly but
surely innoculated with tendencies to
anarchy by the selfish policy of far-ofl
Governments, whose only desire is to ex-
tract from their dependencies every pos
sible benefit and advantage without con-
comforting any in return.
The Island Of Hayti, or San Domingo,
lies between the islands Of Cuba on the
northwest, Porto Rico on the southeast,
and Jamaica on the southwest, and has an
area of q $50 square miles, and a popula-
ton of 70s,5 800. The area of San Domin.
90 proper or the Dominican Republic, il
1880 square miles, and Its population
according to the Geoqraphisches Jahre
oach, Is 100, ,4o0u. Tlis island was called
Hayti, OF the Highland Country, by the
natives, and IIispaniola, or Espanola
and also San Domingo by the Spaniards
The outline Of the coast is unusually bold
and striking-a continual succession o.
bald, rugged limestone mountains, some
times retreating into the interior, some
times rising high and precipitous over thu
sea, but lacking the one great beauty o
other mountains-snow. Three grea
ranges of mountains traverse the island
from west to east in a parallel direction
Montichiboo, the highest summit of tn,
central range, rising 1920 feet above th'
level of the sea. The island was discov
cred by Columbus in 1892; the SpaniardI
establishing their permanent settlement a
Cape Isabella q bold and mountainou
headlaud stretching out from the ex
treme northern and central point of th,
island. Disappointed, however, IN th
yield Of gold, which they had been edu
Gated to believe was unlimited, many o
the Spauiards left the island in search o
richer fields, aud towards the middle 0
the 18th century body Of French colo
nists, who had long been established Il
the neighboring island of Tortuga, sue
ceeded in obtaining firm footing on tn
west coast Of Hayti, aud were eventual
confirmed in its possession by the treaty
which Louis the Fourteenth made wit
Germany, England, Spain aud Holland
at Ryswick, in 1897. In 1893 an assoc
alton called the Royal Company Of sa
Domingo, with capital of 10000
livres, was formed in Fra nee for coloni1
ing the southern and northern division
of the new colony. But the compan
neglected their colonists, making the
needs subservient TO their own selfish il
terests: and their privileges being Gu
tailed by succession Of GovernmeI
edicts, they, in 1880, ceded back to Il
King all their rights and privileges und'
their charter. BY far the larger porto
= Of the island, now known as San Domi
;, 90, was, however, in the possession
+ the Spasiards, the boundary line runnir
more or less ia conformity with the ou
n line Of the coast from the Bay Of Mansa
q lila, on the north, TO the mouth Of u
c River Auses-a-Pitre, on the south coast
The colony, however, did not thirty
d and the decree Of the French Nation
. Convention IN 1871, giving TO the oolor'
!, people the rights Of French citizenshi
e brought about the terrible interneeil
Is war la which Toussaint rOuyerture pla
J. ed so conspicuous part against u
whites aud their British allies. la III
e the spauiards had BY the treaty Of Bas
g ceded their portion Of tie island
IS France; consequently, when the insu
g rection Of the blacks and eolored peop
terminated successfully, Ia 1901 the ind
d pendenee Of the entire island was pr
4 claimed, under one government. But, (
$ the signing Of the peace Of Ameniens, b
u tween France and England, ia 1900, Nap
i icon despatched feet and ~, 900 men q
{ tbe recovery Of san Domingo. A ba
% barous and bloody war followed, wfiic
II though involving tbs captivity and deaf
% 10 France, Of The patriot Toassalnt, :
{, suited 10 tho eaptalation Of the FreB'
o army, and their departure from the Islar
IN 1903.
,e The blacks and oreoIes, however, eou