Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1871-04-05
ST. DOMINGO,
sumner-Disruptlon of the RepublIca
Party and Prospect for the Democrats.

sumner-DisruptIon of the Republican
Party and Prospect for the Democrats.
The able speech of Mr. Sumner in
the Senate on the st. Domingo qucs-
tion, which we publish in another
part of the paper, may not be exactly
| the last nail in tho coffin of General
Grants administration and the Radi.
cal party, though it will 60 far to seal
the fate of one or both. Rarely has
there been delivered in the halls OF
Congress a speech marked with as
much ability or carrying more impor.
tant political consequences in its
train. Though a long one, it is terse,
arrumentative, statcsmanlikc and
confined TO the subject embraced in
the resolution submitted by the Sen.
ate. lie does not discuss the general
question of annexation or others
bearing upon the merits Of that, and
only makes lew incidental remarks
10 show that hc is not favorable 10 the
scheme, but be attacks the admins
tratiOn in the scverest manner for
usurpation of power and unlawful
employment OF the forces Of the
United States in a foreign country
and to uphold a foreign usurper He
proves by incontroverlible evidence
and that taken mostly from the Off.
cial acts and records Of the govern
mont-that tho President has, in the
language of the resolution, without
excuse or apology for interference,
resorted to belligcrent intervention
and acts OF war on the coasts of the
island of st. Domingo after the failure
Of the Dominican treaty in the Senate,
and that this was unauthorized vio-
lence, utterly without support in law
or reason, and proceeded directly
from that kingly prerogative which
is disowned by the Constitution OF the
United States ln fact, Mr. Sumner
makes out a case for impeachment OF
a much more serious nature than that
worked up against President johnson.
/ There need be no fear that General
Grant will be impeached, however,
except in g political sense, and no one
desires to see him brought to trial in
any other way for bis errors, grave
as they may have boen, arise from his
ignorance Of public affairs, his militia
ry education and the mischicvous IN.
| hueuccs around him, more than from
lack of patriotism or desire TO be a
usurper.
The evidence adduced by Mr.. Sum
ner corrohorates what our correspon-
dent with the ST. Domingo Commis-
sion stated rs 10 the usurpaiion, ~.
ranny and prccari0us condition OF the
BGz government and the armed inter.
vention OF the United States TO keen
Bmz in power Indeed, it is doubtful
if the Commissioners will venture to
deny this, favorable as may be their
report for annexation, rs much rs
they may desire 10 help General
Grant out Of this St Domingo dilem-
ma. Mr.. Sumner might have used
stronger arguments against annexs.
ton, though be could hardly have
made more forcible ones against the
conduct Of the administration, had be
not been trummelled by his negro
sympathics. No American unbiased
by radical ncgroism and blessed with
common sense could desire the incor
poration into our political and socia
life OF such debased and somi-barba
rous population as that Of St Domingo
The annexation Of that island, or thJ
Dominican portion Of Il, could not
for many reasons, be of any advan.
tarc 10 the United States. Il would
lead, in all probability, TO "dance O
blood" TO use Mr.. Summers graphi'
expression, and 10 great cost. Ths
native people could not be brought u
cultivate soil TO much profit, the
whites Of our own race could not I'll
the earth under a burning tropics