New-York tribune., 1871-01-13
SAN DOMINGO.

I,ni,l dependency OF spain. then partly Spanish and
pary o French colony, sometimes enc republic some
times governed 10y separate rulers the two divisions of
the Island Of Hayt have almost always vaclated be-
tween su unwilling uTity and hostile separation. The
history OF these Two republics l. the old story of nation
alcs spriuging from demoralizcd colonies-coionics
slowly but surely innOculated with tendencies 10
anarchy by the selfish policy Of faT-oG Governments
whose only desire extract from their dependencies
every possible benefit and advantage without conerrng
any il return.
The Island Of H1yti OF San Domingo lies between the
islands Of Cuba the northwest, Porto Rico on tho
southeast and Jamaica the southwest and has an
area Of 1860 square miles, and population OF 7Os9o
The area OF san Domingo proper or tho Dominican lc
pubic is II 500 square miles and its population according
to the GeoTdphischts Ghr5uoh is 13ecOO The island
was called Hayti the Highland Country, by the ma
tives and Hlspaniola, or EsPanola and also San DO
mngo by the spariard The outline or the coast uhu
sualv bold and strikilga continual succession OF bau
rugged lime stone mountains, sometimes retresng INTO
the interior, sometimes rising high and preclpVous
over The sea, bat lacking the one great oe"u'S
of other mountans-snow Three great ranges OF noun
ins traverse the island from west TO east in parael
d.ectiou; MontobcC, the highest summit OF the cch
tra range rising 200 feet above the level OF the sea-
The island was discovered by Columbus IN i4'@' III.
Spantlrds establishing their frstpefmahe III "
Cana isabella 9 bold and mountainous headand stfelch
ing out from the extreme northern ana eehtal Po4 -
the island Disappointed however in ne yleIu VI ho'
which they had been educated to believe vas uhiiou
many OF the SpaIiards left the lsahu in sea.o" u
fields and toward the middle of the lith century
bod, Of French colonists who had long been
., boring island of Tortuga succeeded in obtain
inc Ann footing on the west coast OF Hayu ana were
eventually confirmed in its possession 10y inc treaty
which Louis the Fourteenth made with Gcrmahy' En-
Gland Sran ana Holland, at Ryswick, In 16T In l0s9
an association called tho Royal Company OF san Do
lninro with capital Of 600 hvres, was formed III
France Tor coonzlng the southern and northern dvl
sicns Of the colony. But the company neglected
their cConi,t making their needs subseryient TO thef
own selfish interests and, their privileges being cur
tailed by q succession of Government edicts they IN
100 ceded back to the King all their rights and prvl-
legos their charter BY far the larger portion oi
the island. now known San Domingo was, however,
in the possession of the Spaniards, the boundary hhe
running less In conformity with the Outline VI
the coast from the Bay OF Mansanilla the north 70
the mouth Of the River Auses Pre, the south coast
The colony, however, did not thrive, and the |
decree Of the French National Convention In 179 giving
10 the colored people the rights Of French citizenship
nrorobt ahout the terrible interneCine in which
Toussaint TOuverture played so conspicuous part |
AGAINST the whites and their British allies In l's0 the
Standards had by the Treaty OF Basel cedea the por-
tio OF the island to France consequently, when Ihe IN
surrecton OF the blacks and colored people terminated
successfllv in lsOl the Independence OF the enure
island was proclaimed under one Government But on
the signing of the peace Of Amiens, between Francs %
England. in 1902. Napoleon dispatched ID" Ne ~ M
o coo men for the recovery Of san Domingo DaparouS
and ploody war followed, which, though involving inc
captivity and death, in France, Of the patriot IosSa'
resulted in the capislaton of the French army anu
their departure from the island in lS03
The blacks and creoes, however could not agree aos
Themselves Civil war ensued and lasted till the year
1s1o ending in the proclamation Of Christopher as hs
Of Hsyti with the title Of Henry l. European p.i
eotiatons again divided the island the opalI -.
being restored TO Spain. But the re'ouuonai' 'P
- sn,.,,o,, the isand was 200 strong to contend
,ost and ON the 2lst January, 1921 the Whoe lsahu
was reunited under Of the Republic of Hayt.
Qa frat
republic agreed 10 pay to France the OF 6Ooooooo
francs certain annual nstallments in exchange for
their recognition nation by France CThs was the
transaction TO which Senator Sumner referred in his late
speech opposing tie appointment Oh the san Domingo
Commissioners.
Boyer presided the island till 1s49, when he
displaced by revolution headed by Riviera and driven
from the island. Shortly after this event the inhabitants
OF the eastern part the island the old Spanish DIVISION
against Government and proclaimed the separate
Republic Of San Domingo and in spite Of AL the efforts
OF Soulouque (afterward the Emperor Faustin l. OF
HaytD they eventually succeed in achieving their fnde
pendence IN ls49 permanent truce was arranged be-
tween the republics, and the island has ever since
remained divided. The Provisional Government Of the
republic at o3ce sent commission, of which Cabra
was a member TO CuraeOa to offer the Presidency TO
Baez But sooner was Baez installed in office
than Cabral began successfully TO intrigue for
his overthrow. and Baez soon left the island
I'm disgust. Cabrals reign shorter than that Of
Baez Baez was recalled by the people, and remained
President till continual Dtgues and political and COM
mercia led the republic TO become voluntarily
once more Spanish colony. Spain could not learn
nations duties 10 its colonies Totally misapprehend
ing their relative situations, she established in San Do
,ninRe an expensive and oppressive machinery Of gov
ernpept for which the unhappy Domincans were ex
.d to nav For tho year 1860 the preceding the
sib occupation the island, the total expenditure
~ the republican Government was s94ls47 The annuat
,dat was rapidly raised by the Spanish Government,
n n 1855 IL amounted TO the enormous sum OF A4760OO
or nearly 81 every man. woman, and child in the
coony Msrule and oppressive taxation brought about
the revolution 1862 the restoration Of the republic in
1865 Of President but cessation OF the
intrges OF Cabral who though much inferior in intel
gence 10 Baez who educated in Paris has many par
interior the principal strength Of Baez be-
ing at the capital and the large seaports.
Domingo Of the richest in natural resources
tho West India Islands, though thus Ear little has ever
been done TO develop them, notwithstanding the
usual mildness Of its tropical climate and its fine
harbors soil is generally fertile in the highest de-
gree the soil Of the mountain slopes being almost fer
tile as that Of the plains and valleys The south part Of
the island is intersected and watered by many rivers
which only increase the natural produetyenesso OF
the sol, hut afford means OF communication wltb the
sngSrcane, coffee and tobacco grow in the greatest
Iuxurancc, but the natives not so successful In
cOttOnplanting The tobacco Of San Domingo Is almost
e0nal i'm qualify that OF Havana, and Though not com
nsnding high price IN the market Is nevertheless
when manufactured sold ia considerable quSntlues as
Havana tobacco. Tho Bremen and Hamburg steamers
carry about 5000 Of San Domingo tobacco TO
ceToon Weighs 1i2 pounds and is worth about N2, 80
that the export trade to those ports in tobacco alone
dgenos TO the island. 1t is generally OF good quality,
deteTorated from want OF proper preparation for
market and packing. The best quality Is grown on the
great plains near La Vega and C0turg IL Is sold In San
tsgo whence it is transported over the mountains 20
Puerto Plata where it shipped for NewYork en- route
Prpru