New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-02-25
,CdNTO DOMINGO.

Tho strong lgaments of Nationality, like
those of Marriage, should neither be lightly
knit nor lightly discarded. Lcyity or haste in
assuming them is as unwise, if not as culpable,
as recklcssness in dissolving them.
The Republic of Santo Domingo has made
formal application to our Government for adj
mission into our Union. President Grant at
first hesitated but was at length convinced
that interest and duty cOunseled our acceptance
of the proposition. He communicated it to
Congress. by which it was cooly received and
not defnitively acted on. At its next session,
tho President again called attention TO the
subject, and proposed a Special Commission to
visit Santo Domingo and ascertain the truth.
That proposition, though desperately fought,
was affirmed by both Houses, and the Commits
sion thus ordered.
Gen. Grant designated as Commissioners the
Hon. Benz. +. Wade ex-senator from Ohio,
President Andrew ID. White of Cornell Uni
yeIsitv, and DR.. Samuel G.. Howe of Boston
all widely known and highly esteemed. We
believe that no other three men i'll our cOun-
try command more fully the respect and con-
iidcnce of the American People.
Those Commissioners, with a strong corps of
scientific and other assistants in collecting and
cOllatng information, are now traversing the
island and industrously collecting facts illus
trative Of its natural resourccs-its Public
Lands, Mines, Timber, Water-POwer, Soil,
Climate Products, Public Debt, &c, &c. But
the one topic 10 which the Commissioners
more especially devote their personal atten-
ton ia that of the feelings of the Do
minicans wi regard to Annexation. TO
~, AFT
every section md every considerable village,
conversing freely with all who will meet them,
no matter how humble or ignorant. and pur-
posing to confer with Cabral and his adher
ens as freely and cordially "a with Baez and
his supporters. Then they will visit Hayti,
and seek there the grounds of her alleged
hostility to the annexation of her sister republic
to the United States. and to what extent the
mcnacing utterances reported as from her rulers
reflect the views and feelings of the Haytian
people. Though SantO Domingo is not very ex-
tcnsve, and is supposed to have less than
100000 inhabitants, six or eight weeks are to he
faithfully devoted to these inquiries. Hence,
if the tropical fevers of the island are so gen.
eral and 40 fatal as they have been represented,
we shall doubtless have abundant confirmation
of the fact in the sickness unto death of at
least a part of the Commission and its aids.
We call the attention of Europe and her
statesmen to these facts, and to the expectaDt
passiveness of our own people, The report Of
the Commissioners we will not anticipate; but
of one point we are certain If they shall
find majority of tho DOminicans adverse to
Annexation, they will not favor it, though the
island provo richer than the widest dream of
Cortez or Pizarro. And, even were it possible
that they should recommend an act Of aggres-
sion apacity, or bad faith, the American
People would veto it.
Whatever may be the future of Santo
Domingo, do not these facts deserve general
consideration