The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-03-28
TUESDAY. MARCH %, 1871.
MIR. SUMNERS ANTESAN DOMINGO
SFEHCH

MR.. SUMMERS ANTESAN DOMINGO
SI'EHCH.
WHATEVER may he the inherent value or
worthlessDess of Dominica, it is impossible
TO read Senator Summers speech without
coming to the conclusion that very irregular
and improper means have been resorted to in
the negotiations relating to that proposed
ACQUISITION. The sketch he gives of the
leaders of Dominica is anything but compli-
mentary, Our own politicians are bad enough,
but they are embodments of virtue when
compared with the rulers of the Spanish
American nations, and, more especially,
such men as Baez. He has figured
during the last eight or ten
years as the active ally of the Spaniards in
their efforts to establish their dominion over
Dominica, AZ a Jealous opponent of annexa-
tion to the United States, as a patriot of the
first water, as a cruel and sanguinary tyrant,
and, finally, as a gigantic real estate specula-
tor, who proposes to transfer his country
bodily to the United States Government.
The principal portion of Senator Summers
speech is made up of an exposure of the tyr
annies, perfdies, ard rascalities of 3aez, and
of series of complaints that the
naval power Of this country was
improperly employed to maintain
his authority while the negotiations with the
United States were pending All these points
seem TO be clear y established: There can
be no doubt that Baez cruel aud unprin-
cipled scoundrel; that the Dominicans, either
through their own inherent efforts or by the
aid of the Haytiens, would have deposed him
during the Last year, if American war vessels
had not propped up his shadowy authority
and that the administration issued
orders and rendered assistance to Bsez
of such a character that it is amenable to
caustic criticism. 1t is probable that some
of tn SO acts my be, in part, explained by
the defenders of tn Presidential policy; and
it is only fair that their responses should be
duly considered before fiual Judgment is
passed on this part of the controversy; but
as matters stand now, there are apparently
good grounds for the belief that American
fleets have been maintaining usurper in
Office for the purpose of en-
abling him to sell to us his
country. The alleged violations OF in
ternational law connected with such trans
action, upon which Senator Sumner lays
great BtT6kb, HT6 Ol oN6u lcSS GQHu
their probable bearing upon the practical value
of Dominica. We bonght Florida from the
Spapiards, but the long fight with the Semi
noles cost the nation more money than the
territory was ever worth; and ii the Domini-
cans, in consequence of a belief that Baez
has betrayed them, or from any other
cause, resist the enforcement of
our authority, they may prove as worthless
and as troublesome as the Seminoles. That
they do not lack the power, even when under
chicken-thief leaders ike Cabral, to wage
hostilities in an effective manner, is proved
by their recent successful resistance to Spain;
and it is not pleasant to contemplate the
prospect that we would be compelled to wage
O war like that continued for years in Florida,
or like the wars waged by Spain against the
Cuban insurgents and against the Domini-
cans. If our first step after annexation must
be the massacre of an insurgent population
capable of prolonging a struggle indefinitely
by o retreat into interior mountains or
swsmps, we may we'll shrink from
O policy that would entail such repulsive, dis
tasteful and cruel duties. The forthcoming
report of the commissioners sent to Dominica
may throw additional light upon the senti-
ments of the masses of that country; but it
will be hardly safe to place implicit reliance
upon their opinions. With the results of the
experiment made by Napoleon and Macmillan
in Mexico, and foreknowledge of the defeat
of the effort to re-establish Spanish authority
over Dominica which was apparently COM
menced with the unanimous consent of the
people interested, we may we'll pause, in
view of the complications described in sam
ner's speech, before we acoept the black ele-
phant rendered by Baez.