The New York herald., 1871-01-11

tain and banana trees. ana the grape vines, which
twlne their tendris around the trunks and branches
Of their staiwart brothers. All these things waste
utterly now. They grow, bring forth ana die
neglected and uncared for. II any statistics we're
possible 1t would be found that for every article OF
food which now grows spontaneously In st. D0min-
60 and Is used by the natives nifty ripen and decay
for want OF the enterprise to utilize them.
MINERALS.
But it is not alone In her vegetation that st. Do
mingo IL naturally rich. II we turn to her mineral
resources we will ind that nature has dealt lavishy
with her. Gold and silver abound In the country,
but the same Ddolence which has left the soil virgin
of the plough has lett these precious metals undls
turbed in the bowels OF the earth. Ir0n to0 s pent
full, and lead and other minerals are to be found.
There are scarcely any mines, however. The noun
tain regions OF st. Domingo. wherein lie concealed
all the mineral treasures Of the country, are still
covered by magnificent tropical forests the telling
Of which would, from the sale OF the TIMBER prove
source OF great profit. These mountain ranges at
tain elevation or 5000 to 5000 feet. In these re-
gons the climate Is notably fine and healthy. An
Italian sky and Italian breeze greet the traveller,
white the Wild ptcturesqueness Of the country is a
source OF ncverlailing pleasure and enjoyment
81 APPEARANCE OF THE COUNTRY.
We cannot do better while on this subject than
quote the language Of Lieutenant Porter, who made
the tour Of the island. Writing from Port Prince
in 1s4S he says:-"ln many OF the provinces through
which have passed the country may be said to be
almost In the same state as 1t was when Columbus
first discovered the island, and In these places the
population cannot be said to be much superior in in
tellect TO the unpublished Indians who were the first
p0ssessors Of the soil, although they have many OF
the same traits Of character by which those un-
happy people were distinguished, and that are so
nt.t .lv,nt~a rv,a
places through which I have travelled appears TO
me Like beautiful dream, and no one who has not
seen can form the slightest idea Of what nature
be, arrayed In all the beauty OF hills and daes
rocks and waterfalls, ana mountains piled up one
upon another In such beautiful and fantastic shapes
that the mind IS completely bewfldered py the
majesty or scenery 1t could never have dreamed
OF. For those who have the ambition
to labor the soil is 0yerfow.ng with wealth,
the hillsides are full Of the richest minerals,
and they have only to gather In the gifts which ma.
ture has placed at their disposal There is scarcely
spot over which l have passed-excepting about
two hundred miles along the seashore on the south
sde-where the most fastidious would not be happy
to rest himself forever with full security that he could
never be without the necessaries and could always
have at halld the comforts OF life. 1t all seems like
land Of poetry and flowers, and more 1T for the
of the avarcious race VINO worked them to death in
pursuit OF the wealth which the Indians alone de-
spised." Enthusiastically Lieutenant Porter wrote
ne did not exag crate the beauty and fertility OF the
country. Our own correspondent, who travelled
through the island, ana whose letters were pub
lished in the HERALD Of last year, witnessed the
same scenes o loyeliness the same natural wealth,
and recorded what he had seen.
POLITICAL HISTORY OF ST. DOMINGO.
Until 1895 the present republic OF ST. Domingo was
spanish colony. BY the treaty Of Base made with
France in that year Spain ceded to her the terri
tory, and the entire island fell under the power OF
the French. After Hayti had waded through oceans
of blood to independence the tyranny Of Dess anes
drove the Dominicans into revolution, and they vol
unfairly resumed the Spanish yoke in lsOS. Spain,
however, did not long retain the recovered colony.
During the following year the fever Of revolution
again broke out and independence was declared.
This was granted, when the people abolished slavery
and proclaimed the equality OF oil races, without
any qualification in favor OF the blacks, as was the
case In Hayt. But for fourteen years The Domini-
cans were the prey to civil strife. Insurr ection
after insurrection broke out until complete anarchy
reigned. In 1929 however, the entire island was
united under republican form Of government and
Boyer, at that time ruler OF Hayt, was chos en-
President for life. Twenty-Five years of comparative
quiet followed, and had this interval been employed
In developing the resources Of the country ST.
Domingo would have become thickly populated and
prosperous. Unfortunately the indolence OF the
people, undoubtedly the result Of the ease with
which they could and still can obtain the means Of
subsistence without laboring, kept the country poor
and thnly settled. In ls44 q revolution In Hayu
elevated Rviere to the Presidency, and the DON'T
means, encouraged by the French Consul, formed q
separate government under the "liberator,n Pedro
Santana, who indicted q severe defeat upon the
forces Of Rivere on the 9a Of April Of the same year.
and thus secured the Independence Of the country
Although the war lasted for some time longer the ei
forts OF the Haytiens to conquer the country We're
futile France was the first to recognize Its separate
existence. and Great Britain followed soon after
both countries concluding treaties of amIty, CON-
merce and navigation with the new republic.
: TnE TnElcHEnY OF JIMESEs.
In 1s49 the Presidential term OF Santana expired,
aud he was succeeded in the Presidency by JimeDes
THIS man, although or Caucasian origin, at once
entered into a conspiracy with that grOtesque
monarch Sououquc. who invaded the republic at the
head of 10000 meH--the famous "Grand ARMY
aud defeated the Domncans near Aqua and Las
Matas. Santana was now recalled to power. With
great energy and rapldi,y he organized and rem
forced the Dominican army, and on the 22d OF
April, at Las Carreras, on the river Ocoa, at
tackled and routed, with great slaughter the forces
OF soulouque. The result Of this battle completely
ended the invasion Of lS49. Sousuque and the rem
nant OF his forces ned to Haytl, accompanied by
Jimenes, who was soon after made duke by the
negro emperor.
BAnz's 'ELEcrroN AND sANrANA's REELECTION.
Tnc war over, Santana resigned the dictatorship
IN favor OF Buenaventnra Baez, the newly elected
President. During the following year Soulouque
again invaded the country, but was easily driven
out. Peace, not prosperity. followed until 1888,
when BaeS. having during the latter part Of MS
administration. favored the policy OF the clerical
party, was rejected by the people and santana re-
elected President Almost the nrst act Of the
"nperator'' was TO coNpel the ArcabMhoo " swear