Centre Hall reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1868-1871, 1871-02-10
The San Domingo Question.
Admiral Lee of the N. A. feet. writes
officially 10 the Secretary Of war rs fol.
| lows, regarding San Domingo

Admiral Leo ot tho N. A. feet, writes
officially 10 tho Secretary Of war as fol.
lows, regarding San Domingo
President lacE aS statesman and a
patriot sincerely desircs the annexation
OF Dominica to America. Delay in ne.
complishing this is attended by financial
trouble. anxiety, and risk az insurrcction
There Is very rich AND large extent of
valley country ON tho western frontier Of
Dominica, watered 10y tie ailluents Of
the Antibonite, containing some small
towns bearing Spanish names, but Of
which the Dominicans have not had the
complete possession II Is here that ca
hrJll operates with small predatory
party, which President Baez believes Is
procured and supported hy HaYti Ca
hral is now at San Juan. say forty miles
east Of the boundary line between Do
minioa and Hayti. according 10 the treaty
between Spain and France, with his fol-
lowers variable in numbers, hut always
small, whence he makes raids and re-
treats as occasion reqdires. His last
operation noised about us movement 10
defeat annexation was very insignificant,
and amounted "a few persons killed,
wounded, and captured by his followers.
AZ Aqua, and Rt tho ports ON several
roads leading westward from il, the Do
mlnicans have some | 600 or |, 900 troops.
These seem 10 be in position for defence
against lncurSion from without or insur-
recion from within. They appear TO
form the main organization OF troops,
though there are some troops here ami
in other places, Though the ordinary
expenses of the military, which is the
chief administration, are estimated at
about 81, 600 monthly, the revenue is SO
small, and the paper money OF the coun-
try Is of so little value, that the en-
ployes of the government have been
long time unpaid. and measures are now
proposed looking 10 treating the paper
money like our continental currency and
the French assignats, and providing for
receiving some real money for duties
wherewith 10 carry on the Government.
There is a geological survey of Domini-
"a now IL progress under Professor Cab
for the government, for which some
New York capitalists supply the funds,
and for this they are 10 be repaid by
public lands There is a survey in pro-
gress by Mr.. Wilson, the English cngi-
neer, for railroad from Santiago back
of Peurto Plata 10 Samana Bay. II
leads through a rich and productive
valley country, and is considered practi-
cable. The capital for this enterprise
is expected from England and the labor
from the Island There is now steam
er making monthly trips between New
York and Puerto Plata, Samapa, and
Santo Domingo. This brings supplies
for this part Of our squadron, is cnltiya-
ting trade with the Island. and takes
our mails. The United States have the
capital and skilled labor OF every kind
which this island wants Under our
government Dominica can supply the
United States with cheap coffee and su-
gar, and increase our coast trade and
home market. The military defence
would be inconsid ,rAble, and no more
an object OF sAlcitude than that Of n
great part Of our own coast or that Of the
West India Islands genernlly. It's naval
defence would need no addition 10 our
feet The chief defence Of all these
islands is the maritime strength Of the
countries 10 which they belong. DO
miniea, from its capacity for the trophi-
cal productions which the comfort Of our
people requires, is necessity to Amsri-
ca, and never perhaps IN the tide Of time
have any people received the offer OF so
valuable possession for SO small q con
sideration. The prcjudicial cry Of spec
ulatiye interest in behalf OF annexation
seems entitled 20 small consideration.
since capital enterprise are Just what Is
want,d here, and the more the better
all being free 10 enter this great and in
viting field OF profitable investment and
production. Like objection would, with
much more force, have applied 20 the
acquisition Of California After all. il is
simply the sovereignty that the United
States really needs in the Interest OF our
people and those people, The popula-
ton Of Dominica is small. and confessed
ly excellent uf its kind With the an
nexation Of Dominica the boundary qucs-
ton viii be settled by an easy and natu-
nl revolution of opinion in HAyti for
annexation to America. The circum-
stances all seem favorable