The New York herald., 1871-02-25
--latest from St. Domingo.

Latest from St. Domingo.
We gave our readers yesterday another
batch of interesting letters from our corre-
spondents in ST. Domingo, touching the move
ments and discoveries of the High Commis-
sioners sent down by General Grant to spy out
the land, the beauties Of the island and Its
people, and the advantages and drawbacks of
annexation. AS to the tropical products,
beauties and fertility of the island. they can
hardly be exaggerated. From all that we hear
from this exploring expedition, and from all
that we have heard and read heretofore Of the
marvellous fertility of st. Domingo, we have
no doubt that with anything approaching reg
ular system of cultivation, this island, hardly
larger in its area than South Carolina, could
be made to yield subsistence equal to the ne
cessities Of the whole population Of the United
States In bread, three crops Of tropical corn
year, in rice, beans, potatoes, yams, bananas,
pork, beef, poultry, fish, milk, sugar, choco-
late, coffee and tobacco. We dare say that
half million of Industrious people on that
island could in ten years raise Its exports in
the three articles Of sugar, coffee and tobacco,
to two hundred millions of dollars year. SO
far so good.
The Dominicans, in the next place, want to
be annexed to the United States, in order to
be protected against the ferocious niggers Of
Hayt at the other end Of the island. The popu-
lation Of Dominica, the Spanish mixed republic,
is about one hundred and forty thousand,
while the population of the little French coal
black African republic Of Hayti is over six
hundred thousand; and those Haytien niggers
are constant source Of apprehension to the
Dominicans, just as the Russian Bear is to
Turkey. The Haytiens occupy only third Of
the island, and they want it all. They have
several times invaded Dominica, only to be
driven out again, and now it Is said they are
at the bottom Of Cabrals insurrection. OF
course the annexation of Dominica to the
United States will bring at once those Hay
tien niggers to terms of peace, and next to
annexation, and thus both ends Of the island,
under law and order, will begin new career
of industry and prosperity. So far, we say
again, very good.
| But it appears that the land jobs and water
lots and railway schemes, and the debts and
liabilities in which the Dominican republic is
involved, are so amazing and outrageous as to
be positively preposterous. squad Of specu-
lators, for instance, have secured all the valu-
able water lots of Samana Bay, and another
coalition are to have one-ffth of all the lands
Of the State in payment for scientific survey
Of the republic, and they are to choose their
lands themselves. These enormous jobs,
it is feared, will be too much for
Congress, unless the parties concerned
know how to work the lobby, and perhaps
they do. At all events, the Commissioners,
in going actively at work upon all the
inquiries with which they are charged, have
stumbled upon these stupendous jobs and
speculations, upon which President Baez can
give no very definite statistics. Aud 1t
appears to be the same with the debts, obliga-
tions and liabilities of his government. The
Commissioners will have to bring him 10 some
specifications and limitations upon all these
things, or we fear that honest ''Old Ben
Wade" will be apt to 60 for postponemsnt of
the annexation to more convenient season.
The worst Of it Is, however, that all the prin-
cipal water lot and land Spectators concerned
have mysteriously disappeared from the island,
such as Fabens, Cazneau, Madame Cazneau
and their old associate Dominican annexation
diplomats Of these last twenty edd years.
Having at length gained over the Admins
tration at Washington and Congress to this
preliminary exploring expedition, they per-
haps think that General Grant, without further
trouble, will carry it through to the ultima
tum Of annexation, and that until it is carried
through it will be best to keep in the back
ground with all their little bills. In week
or two more, however, we expect to have
more light upon the subject. From all the
information 80 far obtained the case looks
rather smoky