The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-07


history was to be found an account Of
the population being nine-tentAs colored,
not to say downright black, and tenth
Spanish and French Creoles; that their strug-
giles were internal and eternal; that we knew
all about the climate, its insalubrity being
well attested by the fact that France lost in
the time of the first republic about 10000,
and Spain, only few years ago, some IL, 900
men by the yellow fever. Even as to the
frequency of ''certsin meteorological phe-
nomena, to adopt the phrase in the resolu-
ton, and which is simply fustian for 0Grtt-
qu0kes, and which the commission is also
charged to investigate, there is no lack of
knowledge. Earthquakes occur once or
twice every FIVE years, aud serious ones, de-
stroying whole cities and towns, once in about
twenty
But, then, the ignorant foreigner would
say, perhaps you want to know whether the
people there wish to be annexed Not at all,
would be the reply. There is not the least
doubt about that desires they annexed them
selvesin 1861 unanimously to Spain, and almost
unanimously to the United States in 1870.
The last vote would have been quite unani-
nous too, for all the opponents of the mea-
sure happened to be in prison for some cause
or another Just when the vote was taken or
had been sent out of the country.
At the last moment however, it was sug-
gested to President Baez by some shrewd
Yankee friend that an entire unanimity might
be rather looked upon as too suspicious, and
so Baez, on the election day, got some men
to cast their votes against annexation.
Indeed, it is hard to treat this commission
business seriously, and yet it may have very
serious consequences Some people, not the
people of the United States, want to annex
all of the West India Islands, after San ,Do-
mingo offers the best opening for that policy.
Ever since the eastern part-in territory the
largest, in population Q35,000) the
smallest--severed its connection, un-
der the name Of Santo Domingo, in
1914, with the western part, Hayti, contain
ing about 100000 of people, it has pre-
served only the semblance of an independent
existence. Internal conflicts and wars with
Hayti have kept it poor, disordered, and dis
organized. It's presidents, one and all, San
tar q, De Regla, Cabral, Baez, we're and are
needy adventurers, astute aud most unscru-
pulo1s men; and, despairing of sustaining
themselves IN power for any
length of time, aware of the
unftness of the people to govern them
selves TO be governed, have all tried at some
time or another to sell their country to any
power which would pay them best Mr.. Fish
is slightly mistaken in his late explanatory
letter when he speaks of the late Spanish
invasion. 1t was Baez who, as President,
in 1860, first proposed annexation to Spain.
But Santana, who desired to make the bargain
himself, ousted Baez and proclaimed aunexa-
| ton March IS, 1861), sustained, he as
serted, by petitions to that effect signed by the
voters unanimously Baez then played the
indignant patriot, and denounced the annex
alton as treason, but as there happened to be
few Spanish frigates on the coast his oppo-
sition became unavailing. That Baez was
wholly insincere and that his true intentions
were well known to the Spanish Government,
wreem made apparent by the fact that soon after
annexation Baez went to Spain, was well re-
ceived at Madrid, was made general of di-
vision, and was decorated with some order.
The annexation itself was by no means
popular in Spain, and even the Queens Gov
eminent hesitated long before it acceded to
! it. Indeed, it was charged that ii was origi-
nally an intrigue commenced by Baez, car
ried out by Santana and General Serrano,
then Captain General of Cuba, and that it
was surprise upon the home cabinet. But
as Serrano was the special favorite of the
| Queen, it did not dare to oppose it. Indeed,
the Queens speech from the throne (Nov. 8,
! 1S61), in which she announced to the Spanish
people the remuneration, shows, in spite of
her assertion to the contrary, evident marks
of doubt and hesitation, perhaps somewhat
increased by the formal protest against this
annexation which our Government had placed
on record in Madrid in the spring of 1861.
She said in that speech
'The island Of Hspaniola, the first discovery by
| which Columbus immortalized his name, has again
become part of the monarchy. The Dominican
people, threatened by external enemies, exhausted
by intestine disorders in the midst OF its conflict in
volved the august name OF the nation to which 1t
owed civilization and existence. To look upon its
msfortunes unmoved, to turn deaf ear to its
wishes, inspired by lofty recollections and by a
| -extingushed love for Spain, would have been
unworthy OF noble nature. Convinced that
they were unanimous, and acting on their free Will,
have not hesitated to receive them regarding tAe
honor still more than the advantage of my people,
But a little more than year after those
words had been spoken San Domingo was in
open revolt, assisted, as it always will be, by
an abundance of men and money from Hayti,
whose doom is sealed when San Domingo
passes into the hands of foreign power.
The best Spanish authorities state thst, even
before the insurrection, the acquisition
proved financial failure; that to subdue
a revolt of the people was impossible, on
account of the deadly climate of the in
terior that owing to several parallel
ranges of mountains, some of them
rising to the height of 1000 feet, forming
valleys full of marshes and swamps, exhaling
pestilential air, no troops could penetrate
into it, or could be supported for any length
of time. The best troops of Spain, their
rifle battalions, counted amongst the very
best light infantry in Europe, it is we'll known
were uselessly sacrificed, although most OF
them had previously stood the climate of
Cuba. After an effort of about three years,
costing many lives and about $40,0 900,
Spain gave up her ungrateful child in des
pair.
AS regards the commission, its report, nine
chances to one, will be favorable to the views
of the annexationists. Baez, who has the
reputation of being most willy politician
the titular General Cazeneau, whose talents
| for infrioua ora also wall known. our paU