The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1871-04-07
OTHER CAUSEa


Republic, among them are provincial jeal.
onsles between the north and south sides of
the island, number of military chiefs
heading small olans in various districts, and
the convenience that neighborlY islands
| afford for revolutionist and insurrectlouary
operations. All these difficulties she Cons
missioners believe would disappear should
the Dominican Republic be etfectually pro-
tected BY connection with strong natloh'
| Ibe local selfgovernment OF the island hHS
heen greatly DISTRACTED by internal dithcuI-
ties and disturbances, yet many town ooun,
nils still preserves efficient existence, ana
are composed of members of good character
and ability. The
SPANISH OCCUPATION
of the island in 1861 was found to have been
consummated by fraud, and most unsatis
factory aud oppressive in its results OWL and
religious. threading danger 10 the Masonic
fraternity, which is a large and influential
order in the island, and the re.estab ishment
Of slavery, either by importation or the
reduction of the inhabitants to bondage.
The people revolted and drove the Spanish
into = stronghold on the coast, where sold
lers died by Wholesale of mahgsnt levers
engendered in close and filthy barracks,
devoid of all sanitary appliances. OF the
Spanish losses, no exact date could be OBJ
tanned. The best opinion seemed to DO that
the Spaniards sent in all about
50, 600 troops, of whom between 5000 and
5000 were lost by desertion and other
causes. Although bitterly disappointed in
the results of Spanish annexation, the peo-
| pie, who were soon involved in new revolu
IioLs, cease not, to look abroad in hope of
relief.
To the surprise of the commission, in al
most all parts of the country, even the
remotest, the people were found to be
FAMILIAR WITH THE QUESTION
of annexation to the United States, and
have discussed it among themselves with
intelligence. All classes in ell parts of the
| Republic were consulted-maRistrates and
| eccIesiastics of every grade. official, civil,
and military; citizens of all professions and
occupation in town and country; and every
where there was general agreement in the
declaration that their only hope for perma-
uent peace and prosperity is in annexation
| to, and becoming part of, the people ofthe
United States. They generally declared
their belief that the strong arm of this Re
public taking them under its protection es
part OF the nation would at once end the
efforts and hopes of every seditious revolu
sonary leader, and establish law, order, and
prosperity.
ANNEXATION.
The incorporation into public sentiment
OF q feeling strongly favorable to annexa-
Ilon to the United States, in preference to
any other power, is partially due to the pres
| $ -
colored people formerly from the United
States The Commissioners entirely dis
credit the reports that annexation would be
resisted by desperate measures in any part
of the island, and cite at length their own
| experience and entire immunity from harm
of every kind while on the island as evi
ience Of the correctness of their conclusion
The people of San Domingo are of mixed
blood, are temperate and inofensiYe, anc
destitute of prejudice of race or color. Pau
perism, beggary, and high crimes being
practically unknown among them, The
popular vice is petty gambling, which ii
extensively INDUCED in by the Spanish por-
ton of the population. All are Roman
Catholics, except American emigrants, who
are Meshodists and Bsptists, though no in
tolerance or religious persecution can be
discovered. The people generally own the
and which they cultivate, although sgri
cultural operations are limited by lack
of market and frequent political distur b
Ances. The Dominicans are not averse tc
work when snre of reasonable reward. La
Dor is in abundant supply at $40 or less, g
month. Few schools exist, and the people
are generally uneducAted, though the Com
missioners believe an opportunity for edues
non would be eagerly improved, the Domin
cans being possessed of proverbisl shrewd
ness and ability. Only one small and poorly
equipped printing office exists in the Re
public. The general political capacity OF
the people is regarded favorAbly, there hav
ing been for years neither slavery nor caste
10 deprive them of manliness and courage
And the devotion wasted in insurrectior
abundantly proves their capacity for self
government and regular political action
The Commissioners estimate tho ac,ua
population of the Republic - 1900 NOR,
than nineteen twen.ieths being 4-tiYe.
To be continued