New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-01-23


it kindles enthusiasm in all.
To stand upon that part of American son
where Columbus first stood; to breathe tue
American air that Columbus first breathcd; 10
view those grand oldmountains covered Wi'h
the rich verdure of perpetual summer, ilIIihS
the air far out over the sea and Intoxicating
the sense with a delightful fragrance, lifting
their soft, grayish blue submits seven thous-
and feet between sea and sky; and to kno"
that they were the first lands TO soothc ana
gladden. the strained and fevercd eyes OF the
great discoverer, might kindle emotion IN 'he
most stolid American Of whatever color o'
race!
Standing there, one saw the head "l ina,
mighty Caucasian column, in its pondero"s anu
portentous march from east to west, shaEln@
the earth by its pondcrous tread, beho!uihS
and scattering the nations before it, sweep
ing down all obstacles in its track, making
The lichtninc its courier to announce It's
coming around the world!
In Santo Domingo were first planted the
virtues and the vices, the beauties and de-
formtics of European civilization, and here
they may still be seen in startling antthcsiH
and, unhappily, the vices prcponderate.
Here were first unfolded to the new world
the solemn mysteries OF the Hebrew Scrip
lures and the Christian gospel. Here, under
these beautiful skies, "wherc every prospect
plcascS and only man is vile, the Ef'i
American Christian church was built, ana
was first displayed that wondrous symbol "i
religious power, the cross OF Christ.
CHRISTIANITY FIRST noME.
Long before old Plymouth Rock had yet
Christian tongue; long before the Psalms OF
David were heard on the wild New England
shores, Santo Domingo was the living ana
active center of American Christianity, with
ramifcations extending far into South ana
Central America.
The foundations of society III SaEto Do
mingo were laid in deep religious fifth. HE
evidences of this are even now conspicuous
to every traveller. At the time OF its coloil-
cation, Spain, to whom it belonged, was the
leading nation of the Christian world, and
was as remarkable for her picty rs she was
for her cruelty. Proud as she was OF TINS
stepping-stOnc to 4 continent, and Jealous Tor
the true Catholic faith, she sent here her
most famous scholars and her most eloquent
divincs, gave it her own name, and made II
the center of vast system FOX the propaga-
ton of the Christian religion.
1t is literally
A LAND OF SAINTS, CROSSES Il CITURCIil>;.
The rivers and towns are namcdt0r saints,
and the land is studded with crosses. They
meet you at every stream, in every valley.
and at every turn of her narrow roads. and
wherever met they arc objects Of respect and
reverence by her people. Whether exposed
upon the highway or incloscd, they are al
ways safe. They are hedged by a divinity
more vigilant and powerful than that which
doth hedge the lives of kings, for they some
times fall by the hand of violence; but no
wantOn or impious hand will be raised against
these sacred symbols. Wherever human
lives have persisted and human bones reposc,
there they stand to comfort the pious and
warn the thoughtless.
CHURCHES.
The churches which were carly erected in
some parts of this island were upon a scale
II magnihcence and grandeur hardly sur
PASSED by ecclesiastical architecture in Spain
tself. Even to-day, in the period of her des-
these churches are quite imposing.
out some Of the oldest and srandcst have
gone to decay.
One of the most conspicuous and splendid
Of the latter class is the old church OF San
Francisco, in the city of SantO Domingo.
Three centuries ago this was the most splcn-
lid and spacious church in all the island. 1t
5 now shapeless ruin, and has been so for
more than half century. 1t conveys an i'm
,ressive lesson of the transient character OF
he most enduring and sacred works OF men:
from the thickness of its walls and the broad
Icres which it covers and the material OF
which it was built, it looks as if meant by its
builder to stand forever. but less than four
CENTURIES have touched it, and 10! it is gone.
is domes, its towers, its turrets, its affairs,
Is pulpits, its galleries, have fallen. 10th
is priests and its many sounding bells are
lent.
Here and there you may see, amid the gen.
raj destruction, something Of the former
bride and glory of this once sacred old struct-
lre-a grand old Roman archway, majestic
pillar, an angle in the inner wall strongly
quilt, which have in some degree resisted the
destructive artillery and the elements. But
.hese imply no hope of resurrection. Ihey
ire only gloomy monuments over the shape
ess graves of the dead, and destined to fail
soon to the dust like the rest. They only
bring to mind something of the pride and the
ambition and energy that called them INTO
existence.
THE POWERS OF CONTRAST.
II is impressive and solemn in any case 10
walk among the ruins of former greatness,
but the very vigOr Of tropical nature ntue
this place more impressive than ordinary
runs Ill OtIleT ldtltuuSS' ~
effect of positive contrast. 1t was theatre
upon which life and death, youth and age,
yiror and decay, struggled for the mastery.
Favored by all her forces OF climate ana son,
nature. among these mOuldcrins walls, rev,
clcd in ruin. danced in the jaws OF death, ana
cont forth delicious OdOrs from the crumolihg
efreteness. The banana, the palm-trce, 'he
cocoa-nut, the zapodelia, the coiiee-piaht y
the orange and lemon, the graceful oieahaef,
with various other tropical growths, twlhed
about by many vines and creepers OF beaG-
tifnl flowers, all fOurlshed here. Many OF
these have shot up thirty or forty feet above
the holy affairs, where, two hundred years
900. the wealth and splendor OF Santo Do
minso knelt in pride and pomp,t to pray;
There are still several fine Old churches III
this ancient city; but even they are marked
fnr destruction. Tropical heat and insuiai
Moisture. as mighty in destruction as III ere
alton" are already making sad havoc with
these venerable piles, and they will soon be
IN 1bc dust with their sister, already de-
scribed. o,,rs
;a ,,,;s desolation that no restoring hanc
: ~ ,.;s;hie above these grand old structures
20 ,1 ,ua instinctiyely wish We could bfea'h'
ana :., W. ~ American life into the people.
In the United States we may c1hs. ,,,p.;"'
da.av with coniplacency. for her des'rt'c.loi
and creation 60 hand in hand. lhiie 49, !,
nm. my. burn foods and famincs sweep away II