New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-05-25


OF President Grant sustained-Beautyan and
Fertility Of the Island-E ndorsement OF
the CommisstonerS Report - Powerful
Argument for Annexation.
The lecture on San Domingo delivered in the
Congregational Church by Hon. Fred. Douglass
drew together very fine audience. After
prayer by Bishop Loguen, of the A. M. E.
Church, Mr.. John NJ. Langston introduced the
lecturer, who spoke substantially as follows;
He had come very willingly. but with very
inadequate preparation to give bis views upon
the annexation of San Domingo. He alluded
first to its relation to the Republican party,
holding that however important the subject
might he in itself, it was of far less Importance
than the ascendancy Of this party, In our
own national affairs He pictured briefly the
situation of affairs in the Ku-Klux districts Of
the South. and asked, aft such things are done
in the green tree what shall be done in the dry
IL the Constitution and laws Of the United
States cannot be enforced by an Administra-
ton friendly TO their enforcement, what might
we expect If the pro-slavery, dsunion Demo
cratic party should be again placed in power
This, then, he held was no time to put in
jeopardy the ascendancy of the Republican
party for San Domingo or any other object
however desirable in itself.
The question OF annexation had now been
handed over, very sensibly. as he thought, 10
the people of the United States for their de
cisOn He thought it would be we'll if our
Official authorities would hand over many more
knotty questions to be settled in the same way.
He alluded to the severe censure to which
President Grant had been subjected in con-
nection with the San Domingo project He
| (Dou glass; lived ut a great distance from the
/ President, and could therefore speak OF him
/ without reserve Regarding his action in re-
lation TO San Domingo he had no words but
words of praise. Nobler language was never
uttered than that of President Grant when at
the outset Of his administration he announced
that he should have no policy to enforce against
the will of the people. The President was
learned man. He had learned that the ocean
is greater than the sprlng-the American
, people greater than the President. People
said he is not a wise man, but where could be
! found greater wisdom than in his San Domingo
message.
! He had watched the course of our political
history for many years, and could say from
! close study Of events that none of Grants
predecessors had better fulfilled the expecta-
/ tons of the American people.
| The speaker here paid glowing tribute to
| the character and services of Charles Sumner,
but held that in his opposition to the annexa-
ton Of San Domingo he was wrong-honest,
| but mistaken.
He next noticed the heterogeneous character
OF the materials of which the opposition to San
Domingo was made up. Upon this question
Sumner, Schurz, Davis, Bayard, and Salisbury
come together, but only touch the ku-Klux,
and they fy apart like the fragments of an ex.
ploded shell.
Mr.. Douglass was once opposed to extending
the sway Of the Government anywhere. That
was when its power was used to uphold human
bondage. But BOW he was in favor Of extend.
ing it any and everywhere. He held that
nation had no right to withhold its succor and
relief from those who needed aid when it was
able to extend such succor. He saw no good
reason why all the nations Of the American
continent should not one day be gathered under
the wings Of this Republic. He thought we
had as yet no adequate conception Of the ex-
pansion hereafter in store for us, and spoke Of
the aptitude for such destiny which our COM
| pick Government, consisting Of many States,
! independent for local purposes aud retaining
their peculiar characteristics, give TO our
nation.
He contrasted the present opposition Of the
! Democracy to the annexation of San Domingo
with their former rage for the acquisition Of
foreign territory. He believed their sole reason
for this opposition consisted in their dislike Of
all association with the colored race, and he
believed that if the United States were now the
! prOpagandists Of the lash and the thumb screw,
instead of freedom and equal rights, or if the
! island of San Domingo was inhabited by men
with straight hair and blue eyes, these Demo.
Gratis would all be the other side Of the ques.
/ ton.
| After an allusion to the opposition of Rev.
Henry Highland Garnet, and to certain criti-
cisms upon himself, he said he went to San
Domingo unbiased, impartial, and without any
tie of interest or friendship. He had seen the
country and studied it and it's people, and his
Judgment was that the American Government
would commit a grave mistake il it should fail
to annex the island. We have bought Alaska,
which he thought of but small value, but here
was rich and beautiful country Offering itself 10
us as gift, and he thought we ought to take it..
lie described very fayorably the situation, eli
mate. scenery. and products of the island and
the character Of its inhabitants The latter
were peaceable in disposition and little addict
ed to boisterous conduct. They were small in
stature, graceful in their movements, Of clear
compilations, the prevailing tint being light
copper color, have fine eyes and teeth, and
were remarkably free from disease. judging
the climate by the health of the people he
might pronounce il eminently salubrious. He
believed that an honest days labor could be
done in San ID ,mingo during the summer
months as well as in Washington. lie said be
liked the country because he saw that it was
friendly TO old people, and described them sit
ting in the shade Of an evening, hale anC
hearty, even ut an advanced age, their com
plexiOns fresh and clear and faces free from
! wrinkles.
During his stay on the island he met abou,
a dozen OF the colony Of colored people tina
went from Baltimore forty.seven years ago.
There were sixteen of the original colonistt
still living, who had not only survived the eli
mate, but all the revolutions that had swept
over the country. The colony now numbered
about seven hundred, retaining the English
language and the Methodist religion--tbe lat
ter such as we knew il in the coed old times
Here, he said, We had got out of the old fashion
bat these oolonists still sing the good old tunes
OF long ago, and shout as Methodists used tc
do before they had colleges. The member,
OF this colony are now anxiously awaiting an
nexation. They had heard Of emancipation
and the enfranchisement Of their race and O.
the efforts put forth for their education anG
now that the old flag had become the symbol o
freedom they we're eager to get back under it
folds.
Speaking Of the extreme fertility of the sol
{ he said that in the vicinity of SANTANA, tw,
acres, well cultivated, would abundantly sup
ply an entire family, and the country in tina
region was not exceptionally good. He fully
and heartily Endorsed the report Of the Com
mission, which he said had been aughed at BY
some and by others characterized as a white
washing report. But the man was either 8
knave or a fool who believed that BENJAMIN F
J Wade would put his name to lie
At the conclusion Of an eloquent passage. de
scrptive of the beauties and resources Of The