The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-01-25
SAN DOMINGO.

SAN DOMINGO.
The Santo Domingo question which serv-
ed SO admirable purpose for Sumner and
that party of politicians who would be
leaders of the Republican party, whether
the people would follow or not, to make an
attack upon the President, in concerted
effort to hunt him down, has lately assum-
ed new and important phase, which will
not fail to prove of the deepest interest to
the people of this country.
After the wanton and scandalous attack
upon President Grant, by the conspirators
of the Liberal fiasco, in which Santo Do
mingo was made the convenient pretext,
the President reiterated his belief in the
sound policy and wisdom of annexing the
Republic of San Domingo, and handed the
question over to Congress for future dispo-
sition. The terrific onslaught, led by
Sumner in the Senate, which startled the
country by its monstrous mlsrepresenta-
ton of facts, raised doubt in the minds
of the people of the wisdom of the policy
of annexation, and the subject was virtually
dropped after the refusal of the Senate to
ratify the treaty.
The subject was not destined to rest how
ever. and the report of the commissioners
sent by Congress to visit the island and
settle the question of veracity between the
President and the opposing Senators; and
also the facts in relation to the resources of
the island, and disposition of the people
towards annexation, was so decidedly IA
vorable to the policy urged by the Presi-
dent, and sustained all the facts stated by
him, while the information which Sumner
professed to have, was proved the very
reverse of the truth. Brought so promi-
nently before the business men of the coun-
try, so rich treasure was not distined to
90 unimproved, and a company OF New
York and Boston capitalists set about Sc
curing what was SO foolishly rejected by
the Government A commission was sent
to Santo Domingo to negotiate treaty
with President Baez and the San Domingo
Senate and people, which has resulted in
the lease of the Bay and Peninsula of Sa-
mana, for SO years for a yearly rent OF
$500 in gold, payable to the Dominican
Government.
The organization will be known as the
"Samana Bay Company of Santo Domin-
60" This company of New York and
Boston capitalists have obtained almost
unlimited privileges over the Bay and Pc
ninsula of SANTANA, with further privi-
leges to construct railroads through any
part of the country, with large land grants.
The following extract from the terms OF
the convention will serve to show the char
acter of the grant the company have ac-
quired.
"For the purpose of increasing the COM
merce of the Republic as we'll as of estab-
fishing BY means of steamships and other
lines direct trade with all parts of the
world, and of developing the internal trade
of the country by means of railroads and
other works of internal improvement, and
encouraging emigration from other coun-
tries, SO that the population shall render
efficient aid to the Dominican Government
in preserving its independence and main
tanning order, it has been decreed that all
the rights, privileges, and immnnities of
every kind which by the treaty with the
United States, known as the Convention for
the lease of the bay and peninsula of Sa-
mana, dated Nov. 90, 1869, were coded to
the United States, are transferred by this
Convention to the "Samana Bay Com
pany' as fully as if the same were to be
granted to the United States. 1t is under
stood that the Company will hold all the
public lands of the peninsula, the waters
of the bay, the islands, and even the reefs
in the bay. 1t will also have the exclusive
right to construct wharves in the water or
on the islands of the bay, and to collect for
it's own use port dues, wharfage, and all
other charges or taxes on exports and i'm
ports, and levy such taxes on real and
personal estate as in its judgm ent will best
protect the interests of the public"
With a wealthy and enterprising com
pany to improve the grant and invite immi-
grafton, establish lines of steamships, and
offer such facilities for developing the re-
sources of the island, as Yankee enterprise
can command, a wonderful trade and COL
ossal corporation will doubtless speedily
develop themselves in the West Indies
That the views of President Grant of the
advantages which would accrue to the
United States in possession of Santo Do
mingo were sound, these shrewd business
men clearly saw, and that Summers boast
ed craftsmanship, with others at his back,
was the merest demagoguery, every one
now sees. In fact they choose to sacrifice
we'll earned regulations as statesmen on
the alter of the demagogue, to endeavor to
pull down man, of whom they were jeal-
Gus without cause, except that the peo-
pie had taken up and showed their deter
mipation to sustain him. The jealousies
of these men have succeeded in defeating
the Government in procuring San Domin-
go, but the people elevated above their
heads the man against whom they hurled
all the shafts of their malice.