Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-03-15
WEDNESDAY. MARCH Is. 1871,


Itappears to be the opinion of most ofthose who
send letters and dispatches from Washington, that
the San Domingo annexation scheme can not now
be made live, open question. 1t is sure to fail
in any case, they say, for the general opinion is
against it. 1t did not come from the people;
aud those who have seemed to favor it appear to
be influenced more by desire TO "stand well
with the appointing power" than by convic-
ton that the measure ought to succeed. Their
interest in the matter is, to large extent, a
manufactured interest, which would disappear
at once, should the appointing power" cease to
urge annexation. The reasons against this
scheme are too manifest TO be overlooked, and
too strong to be disregarded.
l. In the first place. it will not promote the
welfare of this country TO add TO our popula-
ton such community as that in San Domin-
go. The people of Dominica are Ignorant and
degraded. They are entirely destitute of the habit
of submission to law and order, and conse-
quently are not in condition TO organize re-
publican institutions We have in the country
now more disturbing elements of this kind than
will be successfully trained to a higher style of
social and political life during two generations.
Just concern for own national welfare will move
us to do faithfully the work we have in hand,
without being in haste to add to our population
the demoralzing influence Of such communi-
ties as that in Dominica. The time may come
when such additions can be borne without dis
turbance or apprehension, but we do not want
them now.
2, In the second place, the annexation of Do
minica would involve the expenditure of vast
sums of money. We should begin by assuming
the Dominican debt, which is invariably stated
with that indefniteness which is so convenient
for those who are planning jobs in connection
with it. What it would really amount to should
we assume obligation TO pay it, no one can tell
The ''incidentals" connected with the prelimi-
nary proceedings would amount to large sum.
1t is stated that the president requires a contin
gent fund of million and half dollars to cover
these Should annexation be accomplished,
there would he an immediate demand fer mil
lions, for buildings, Notifications, and improve
ments of every kind. A great amount of money
must be expended TO make SANTANA Bay avail
able as a harbor for our navy. The Tennessee
could not use it, without anchoring miles from
the shore. 1t can not be used with any degree Of
advantage by any of our larger ships. until a
large amount of expensive work shall be done
there.
The demand for public buildings and works
of all sorts, at various points on the island,
would be eager and Unsuitable. There would be
multitude of Jobbers and contractors ready to
undertake all sorts of improvements" and
this would go on so long as anything could be
devised as the basis for plausible argument in
support of any demand for can appropriation"
Is this time when we can afford to add such
demands on the treasury to the present neces-
sary expenditures Of the government? How are
we to lessen taxation, if in addition to what is
required annually to carry on the government
and make some reduction of the national debt,
we assume obligation to make such payments
of money as are involved in this scheme for an
nexing the Dominicans2 Wisdom bids us wait
until we are in a condition to afford such an in
crease of our expenditures.
What the commissioners will discover in San
Domingo, we shall know when their report is
made; but we know already the actual charac-
ter of the Dominican people; and we know, also,
that annexation would be very expensive
undertaking. The commissioners can discover
nothing to change what we already know on
these points. Doubtless the island made
strong impression on their senses, when they
first arrived there from the north. Passing out
of northern winter into the atmosphere of the
tropics, would not fail to make an impression;
but this could be understood without going
there, and their report will necessarily tell us
something else, although it can not change the
facts which show so clearly, that annexation
would be very doubtful and very costly ex-
pertinent.