The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-16
70 st. Domingo scheme Revived
Under q New Phase.

Tho St. Domingo scheme Revived
Under . New Phase.
We publish in to-days HERALD some singu-
lar and startling information in regard to the
virtual annexation of St Domingo to the
United States through the medium OF mon
ster colonization scheme, in which it is said
President Grant is ''deeply interested" and
which, in fact, carries out through apparently
private arrangements the substance OF the
Presidents plan in his original st. Domingo
policy. A company, calling itself ''The
SANTANA Bay Company" with capital OF
twenty millions, of which such eminent capt.
talists and business men as Mr.. Stockwell OF
the Pacific Mail Steamship Company; Oliver
Ames, of Credit Mobilier notoriety, the
brother of Cakes Ames Colonel Thomas N.
Scott the great railroad magnate Henry
Clews, the banker broker and republican
politician William G. Fargo, Of Wells,
Fargo & Companys Express; Commodore
Garrison and Paul NJ Spoford are members,
has succeeded in obtaining from the St. Do
mingo government charter and privileges
unequalled in magnitude and importance in
the history Of the world.
The treaty claimed to have been made with
the St. Domingo government confers fran
chises and privileges which in fact hand over
to the corporation the whole power and au-
thority of the Republic. The company and
such persons as may be associated with it are
empowered to purchase property of all kinds,
to dispose Of it, to trade and carry on all de-
scriptions of business in St. Domingo, and to
exercise sovereign privileges, such as charter
ing banks, imposing and levying duties, Or
ganizing police and keeping in existence o
regular army A perpetual lease is granted to
them of oil the public land Of the Peninsula Of
SANTANA, with the water of the bay and the
islands and reefs therein. They may dispose
Of the same, collect for their own use all port
dues, wharfage duties and taxes. whether for
export or import, and, in fact, WELD oil the
powers of q sovereign State.
This stupendous scheme will attract univer-
sal attention and excite severe criticism. The
secretary of the company asserts that the
President of the United States is ''deeply in
terested" in its success Is it in fact annexa-
ton under mask? Vast interests and grave
questions are involved in the startling enter
prise. Can the government of the United
absolute government of American citizens in
st. Domingo, stand aloof from any compi-
cations that may arise2 Has the administra-
tion in fact any ''deep interest in the giant
speculation that can be separated from the
interest of the nation and of the people of the
United States? The memory of the st. Do
mingo agitation is still fresh in the public
mind the policy of the administration at
that time was disapproved by Congress, and
the people endorsed its condemnation and
defeat Is the will of the nation to be
thwarted under the guise of private
speculation? The fact is that job seems
to underlie every movement for the acquisi-
ton of territory. The administration may not
be serious in pushing movements of this kind,
but the spectators are determined in bringing
them about either directly or indirectly,
as is evident from these developments.
Notwithstanding the Presidents assurances,
like measures may be taken in regard
to the Sandwich Islands. We want no
new possessions in the Pacific or anywhere
else. Our territory is sufficient in extent, and
for years to come we shall have enough to do
in developing it It is better to expend our
energies on our own Continent than in bring
ing in new elements to distract our attention
and disturb the social and political relations
of the people. The Sandwich Islands, and
indeed any other insular possessions we might
obtain, would be an expense rather than q
profit, and in every way they would become
burden ON the Renl1hlic