The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-04-18

could be learned, distinguished himsel
in any regular manner, his mai exploit
being in sundry robberies and practice
: operations on the coast-the latter b.
f means of d steamer furnished him b.
, insurrectiou brokers on neighborini
) island. The disturbance Of which Ca
bral is the head has its seat in the ives
tern part of the Republic on the Hay
: tien, frontier. The force immediatel.
; at Cabrals command does net exceed
| few hundred men, who, in case of emer
, gency, force into their service all tn
male population upon whom they cal
lay their hands. 1t has been claimet
that.he has controlled the Dominica
partlo of the Barohora and received sup
plies through it, but this certainly is nj
longer the case. On the other hand, i
J, is discharged by the present DosniAicaI
/ Government that has, received supplies
through Hayti, and that Haytien sol
d diers and arms have been at his dispo
sal. The Commissioners obtaiaed evi
dence Of this fact from many sources
They also examined Haytien prisoners
speaking only the language Of the Hay
items and having in their hands mnsket:
bearing the Haytien stamp. The Com
4 missioners believe that had the revokr
tionists welded only their own forces
and resources they would long ago have
been put down. Their whole impor
tance is derived from. the help of for,
eign intrigucrs, and from the fact thai
behind them stands the Haytien nation
which has nearly three times the popu.
lation and Revenue of the Dominican
Republic, which has never relented in
its aggressivep policy, and at, whose head
is President elevated by a bloody in
Lrrectioninvolv;ng the murder of bis
predecessor, binds Haytien2 aggressions.
Other causes aggravate the difficulties
Of the Dominican Republic, among them
are the provincial jealousy between the
north and south sides of the island. "A
number of military chiefs heading small
clans in the various districts, and the
convenience of the neighborly islands
afford for the fevolutionist and the in
surrectionary operations. All these
difficulties the Commissioners believe
would disappear should the Dominican
Republic be effectually protected by con-,
nection with strong nation. Local
sell. government in the island has been
greatly obstructed by internal difficulties
and disturbances Yet many of the
town Councils still preserve efficient ex
istence, and composed of members of
good character and ability. The Span
ish occupation of the island in 1861 was
found to have been consummated by
fraud, andsmost unsatisfactory and OPP
pressive in its results, both civil and re-
Notwithstanding danger to the Ma
sonic fraternity, large and influential
order id the island, and the re.establish-
ment of slavery, either by importation
or reduction Of the inhabitants to bon.
dage. The people reyolted and drove
the Spanish into strongholds on, the.
coast, where the soldiers died by whole
sale of malignant fever, engendered in
close and filthy barracks devoid of all
sanitary appliances. OF the Spanish
losses no exact data could be obtained.
The best opinion seemed to be that the
Spaniards sent in all about 81, 900 troops,
of whom between 5000 and 5000 were
lost by desertion and other causes. AL
though bitterly disappointed in its re-
suits Of the Spanish annexation, the peo.l
pie, who were soon involved in a new
revolution. cease not to look abroad in
the hope of relief To the surprise of
the Commission, in almost oil parts of
the country, even the remotest, the peo
pie were found to be familiar with the
question of annexation to the United
States, and have discussed il among
themselves with intelligence -all classes
in al parts OF the republic were consul
ted Magistrates and ecclesiastics Of
every grade, official, civil and military,
citizens, all professions and occupations,
in town and country, and everywhere
there was . general agreement in the
declaration that their only hope of per
manent peace and prosperity is in an
nexation tc, and becoming part Of, the
people of the United States. They gen.
orally declared their belief that the
strong arm of this Republic taking them
under protection as part of the nation
would at once end the efforts and hopes
Of every seditions revolutionary leader,
and establish law, order and prosperity.
Z The Incorporation into the public sen.
timent of q feeling strongly favorable
to annexation with the United States. 10
preference to any other power, is par
tally due to the presence in various
parts of the country of small colonies
of colored people formerly from the
United States, Fe i2s
The Commissioners entirely discredit
the report that annexation would be re
sisted by desperate measures in any
part of the Island, and cite at length
their own experience and the entire i'm
munity from harm of any kind while on
the Island, as evidence of the correct
ness of their conclusion. The people
of San Domingo are of mixed
sOtOOu, HOACoes tCmPCi"tO, iuShShSHS,
destitute of prejudice of color, pauper-
ism, beggary, and high crimes are prac.
tically unknown. Among the popular
vices Is petty gambling which is extern
sively INDUCED in by the Spanish opor-
ton of the population. ALI are Roman
Catholics except the American emigrants
who are Methodists and Baptists, though
no intolerance or religious persecution
can be discovered. The people general
ly own land, which they cultivate. though
agricultural operations are limited by
the lack of market and frequent sdistur-
Dances !; though the Dominicans are not
adverse to work when there is sure
and reasonable reward, labor is in abun
dant supply at ten dollars or less per
month. Few schools exist, and the
people are generally uneducated, though
the Commissioners believe that oppor-
tunities for education would be eagerly
improved, the Dominicans being pos.
sessed of proverbial ahrewdness and na-
f;vo oliEtx, Glnlu ono ANAL ond noOr.-