, 1872-12-28

EXTENDING THE Area.
The Baltimore 1rae1iecn, which opposes Civil
San Domingo, complains TINT the opponents Of
the latter measure do not treat the subject fairly.
It cites the repeated declaration Of the Comn1is-
sioners, that annexation would bo q good thing
for San Domingo. It quotes from the report Of
Messrs. White, Howe, and Wade, as follows:
In reviewing the whole field Of their investigations,
looking to the interests Of both divisions Of the san
they firmly persuaded that the annexation OF Santo
Domingo to the United States would be hardly less
beneficial to the Haytien than to the Dominican peo-
pie. This benefit would arise first, from the example
which would be afforded Of we-re.1llated, orderly,
aud prosperous State tic great need Of that part Of
tie world, and which 1t has never yet seen.
There but chance for thai Republic ever to re-
cover its nGeEendsnce-to become, after proper
period Of probation, one Of union Of 6ates, the
freedom and substantial independence Of each being
guaranteed IL the strength Of all.
It is beyond the province Of the Commissioners, IN
der the resolution Of Congress, to recommend that
such course he odopted atstsined from. They
simply state, their belief, founded upon all the oh
servacns they could make, and Of all the facts they
could learn, that this is the only way in which Don
lean independence be secured and that If it be
judged best not to adopt that course
shadow OF independence will he taken away. Tho
Dominican territory is ct the fai1cst and richest
earth.
There is no controversy, 1Fe suppose, upon tho
point that the material and political prosperity
Of the Dominican Republic would be greatly
promoted by annexation to the United States.
But the question which the people Of this coun-
try have to consider is, how it would affect our
interests. However much We may sympathize
with all those portions Of tho human family that
do not enjoy the luxury OF living under our
Government, it is not our particular business to
so around buying them up, and dragging them,
willingly or unwilingly, into our family. Friar
Burke, in his controversy with Froude, insists,
II On eloquent and elaborate argument, that the
condition OF Ireland, moral, social, and political,
can never be 90 substantially and permanently
improved as By the admission OF that island
as State Of the American Union. On our
Southern border is Mexico, with her sixty or
eighty States, SID the several sick1y and 70 volu
tionary States of Central America, all suffering
greatly for the want Of o stable government and
really free institutions. It is possible that
any Board OF Commissioners sent to these
countries would report that the best and short
est means Of elovating their condition and Civ
ing peace to tho people would be to annex them
to the United States. There have been those
who have assumed that extending the area OF
freedom is part of the Emission OF tho United
States; that it is OUT duty to encour~
age republicanism in Ill parts Of
the world, and that, when znny Government
shall undertake to repress democratic move
monts, or crush out revolution, we should draw
the sword and champion the cause Of the peo~
pie. Kossuth, twenty years ago. appealed in
person to our Government and people for inter-
vention in behalf Of Hungary against Austria
and Russia; and had Mr. White Nr. Wade, and
DR.. Howe been sent rs Commissioners to Pesth,
they would unquestionab1y have reported that
the condition of Hungary as u State of tho
American Union would be infinitely bottor than
in her subjcction to Austrian dcspotism. Some
people imagine that ali that is need
ed to improve tho moral, industrial,
physical, and political condition of any
people is to have them become part OF
our Republic, and we hayo taught our selves to
believe that all those not living under our flag
must be enduring unhappiness, oppression, and
suffering to u terrible degree. Na7ertheloss,
the only part OF the habitablo globe which at
this time is even seemingly asking Us to tako
them under ouc protection is comparatively
few negroes living in San Domingo.
After the war, number Of co1ored persons
living in Louisiana moved with their families to
San Domingo, in hopes Of finding there that per-
feet social and political equality which is vainly
sought under coercive laws ct home. These
| families, after q. short residence, returned.
They represented the Africans in Sun
Domingo as moro ignorant and de-
| graded than the worst-treated slaves OF
this country had ever been. They found
them unaccustomed to labor, and wholly unwi1-
ling to perform any; they found them incapable
of being interested in any measure for their own
improvement, and, consequently, having no con-
ception Of any better political or moral state than
their present. A few intelligent men used the
| mass OF the people as they pleased. Now, Cabra1
/ Was the popular hero, and now, Baez. The latte,
has enjoyed longer lease of power than usual
| because protected by an American squadron dur