New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-04-13

uistflcIS, ana toWDS nave SuHereu RFeatiy. II
appears to the Commissioners that under gov
eminent guaranteeing liberty and order, these
municipal bodies, scattered through the coun,
try, might become centers of better system
than the Dominican Republic has yet known.
DESIRE FOR ANNEXATION.
To the surprise Of the Commission. in almost
all parts of the country, even the remotest, the
people were found to be familiar with the ques-
ton of annexation to the United States, and to
have discussed it among themselves with IN
tellgence.
All classes in all parts of the Republic were
Observation-Disclosures and ecclesiastics OF
every grade officials, civil and military citi
zens of all professions and occupations, In
town and country-and everywhere there was
a general agreement in the declaration that
their only hope Of permanent peace and pros
perity is in annexation to and becoming part
OF the people of the United States.
AMERICAN coLoNIsrs.
Their love of the country of their birth seems
to have deepened with time, and they all look
upon American institutions as the only means
of rescuing the country from its present inse-
curity. Very touching expressions of this met
the Commissioners at various points.
THE POPULAR DISPOSITION.
When asked if they would not prefer to re-
main an independent nation, the people gen.
orally answered that they would be glad to pre-.
serve their independence if it were possible,
but since experience had shown that the nation
could not sustain itself, they were compelled to
look abroad for support, and, if they must sink
their nationality, they preferred the American
Union, with free institutions, friendly people,
and common interests.
They seem to us to be more nearly unani.
nous upon this than we have ever before known
| people to be upon any political question which
they were called on to consider 1t was only
by diligent search that the exceedingly small
proportion who opposed annexation could be
found at all. The principal part of the oppo-
sition which does exist appears to be among
certain traders in the ports, some of whom, in
case OF annexation and competition with Anne
rican enterprise, would lose control of branches
of business,of which, in its present narrow chan
nels they have monopoly; others are but
agents OF houses abroad, and in the event of
these branch establishments being Withdrawn,
would be supplanted.
Soon after the treaty of annexation was
negotiated a popular vote was taken in the
manner usual in that Republic, as required by
the treaty, which resulted in an almost unani-
nous expression in favor of annex alton to the
United States. The great mass of the evidence
before the Commission goes to show that this
people; and in all the expeditions, either of
members OF their own body or their agents,
ample confederation of this opinion met them
at every point.
CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE
The physical, mental, and moral condition of
the inhabitants of Santo Domingo was found to
be much more advanced than had been antici-
pated. The population is generally of mixed
blood. The great majority, especially along
the coast, are neither pure black nor pure
white; they are mixed in every conceivable
degree. In some parts of the interior conside-
rable numbers of the pure white race are to
be found, and generally in the mixed race the
white blood predOminates. The Dominican
people differ widely in this particular from the
Haytlan, among whom the black race is in
complete ascendancy. The cultivated and edu-
Gated, such as the President, members of his
Cabinet, Senators, judges and local magis-
trates, compare we'll with the same class in
other countries; and the uneducated appear
equal to the same class in any other country
with which we are acquainted. Thew seem to
be practically destitute of prejudice of class,
race, or color. In their intercourse with each
ether and with strangers they are courteous in
manner, respectful, and polite. In all their re-
lations with them the Commissioners found
them kind and hospitable. The testimony
people, among whom, in the rural districts,
person may travel alone and unarmed all
over the country, with treasure, without dan
ger. The judicial officers stated that high
crimes, such as murder, arson, burglary and
the like, are nearly unknown among them No
pauper class exists, and beggary is almost un-
known. They are temperate. people, and
drunken men are rarely seen. Among the popu-
lar vices is that Of petty gambling, which is in,
dulged in openly and extensively, especially by
the Spanish portion of the population.
They are all Roman Catholics, except the
American emigrants sent out in 1924 and sue.
ceeding years and their descendants. No in
tolerance or religious persecution can be dis
covered among them.
The evidence taken shows that the Domipi
can people are not averse to work when certain
of reasonable reward, but are good ard faithful
laborers. An abundance of labor can now be
had at about $40 or less per month Appear
ances make it probable that the elements neces
sary to physical persistency exist among the
people, especially in that large proportion in
whom Spanish blood predominates
EDUCATION.
There are few schools in the Republic. and
| consequently the great majority of the people
are uneducated. But one printing office exists
within the Republic from which newspapers OF
books are issued.
GENERAL POLITICAL CAPACITY
The people at large are not degraded. They
are willing to work when the result of then
labor Is made secure. From among them, al
various times, many noble and capable mer
have arlsen-men combining craftsmanship
and generalship with patriotism. Many of the
people possess very clear ideas of liberty and
show Willingness to make sacrifices for it.
The data furnished by the authorities as te
| population are very meagre and unsatisfactory
An estimate was recently made "by the eccle
siasticai court, counting by parishes which
gave a total of 207, 00e. Comparing these
! figures OF the ecclesiastical court with certain
known facts, and with all the evidence we car
gather from intelligent witnesses and personal
| observation, the Commissioners estimate thai
the actual population of the Republic does not
exceed 100000. This does not include the many
who have voluntarily expatriated themselves on
account OF the continual disturbances nor the
few who have been banished
1t seems probable that more than nine
tenths, perhaps nineteen-twentieths are native
Dominicans The others are, first, colored
| immigrants from the United States !; secondly
European traders, who do not settle anywhere
but soJourn at commercial points.
REsoURCEs-MINERAL PRODUCTS.
The resources Of the country are vast ant
various, and its products may be increased
with scarcely any other limit than the labo,
expended upon them. There is evidence o.
mineral wealth in various parts of the island
The biologists of the expedition report tn,
| existence of the ores of iron of eopner and 81