National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-02-14
Saut0 Domingo. .

first colony Of Europeans was planted
in the island Of Santo Domingo by thu
Grand Admiral of Spain. The mos
beautiful, delightful, and bounteous o
all the islands of the Western Main OF
which his eyes had looked, il was called
"The Cradle Of he New World" Her,
he fondly hoped to found an empire fol
his sovereign, whose glories woul1
eclipse all the splendors of the East
The hope was not extravaganza. No
where has Nature been more lavish ol
her gifts. A mild ana salubrious eli
mate, soii which produces spontane
ously richer harvests than are forced b,
skillful husbandry in 'nther lands. ricl
in the precious ores, the island seemed
designed to be the abode of happiness
and prosperity. At the time of its dis
covery it was inhabited by peaceful
docile race, naturally indolent, but
when reused, capable of energetic nc.
ton, who might have been educated by
just treatment to take their place among
civilized peoples.
The rapacity and cruelty of the inva.
ders prevented the realization of these
lofty hopes. Years of bloodshed and
/ opPItSbiOh Slusutu WIG iNSC out
Of existence. The second century after
the discovery of the island had scarcely
begun when the last of them disap-
peared. The conquerors thought only
of present gain. Their policy was to
squeeze as much as possible for them
selves out Of the island, leaving poster
| ity to shift for itself Wars and revo-
lutions lent their AID il the work of
desnlation, and made the Paradise of
the New World" n pandemonium of
cruelty and hideous wrong. So far
from reaching the splendid development
which Columbus hoped for it, the isl
and is at this day almost as backward in
the arts of civilization and peace as it
was when the harmless race of savages,
less savage than their conquerors, idled
away their aimless lives under its genial
skies. It's fertile plains lie untitled.
There is not plow on the whole island,
and the only steam-engine ever erected
there was destroyed by the Spaniards in
1865. Immense forests of mahogany
and other precious woods sink, unused,
to decay.
An idle thriftless population, debased
by superstition and ignorance, encum-
ber the soil they know not how nor care
to cultivate. Yet the island itself is
still paradise. Nowhere in the world
is to be found more delicious climate,
more beautiful landscapes, more
bounteous soil; and now that American
enterprise has been directed thither, the
dreams of the Grand Admiral may yet
be realized. Though lying within a
weeks voyage from New York, its de-
plorable condition has kept it an almost
unknown country; and when, in 1871,
down to ascertain the sentiment of the
people with regard to annexation, and
report upon the capabilities of the isl
and, they may be said to have redis-
covered the island.
Coasting along the shores where Co
lumbus found populous villages, a cor
respondent saw but scanty signs of
human activity. Luxurious forests rise
between the sea-shore and the mountain
ranges which divide the islands The
magnificent bay of Samana, at the east
ern end, presents scenes of marvellous
tropical beauty, but of comparative sol
itude. The old city of Santo Domingo,
one of the earliest European settle
ments in the New World, stands on the
shore of this bay Here is the grand
old cathedral, where the bones of CO.
lumbus rested fOrtmore than two CEN
t,lries; the massive walls built by Ovan-
do; the ruins of the house erected by
Diego Columbus, the admirals son;
and. curious well, constructed by his
brother Bartolome. 1t is a place which,
in it's decay, brings back the memory Of
many stirring episode in the history
of Spanish conquest, and there is GER
tainly no place in the New World of
greater interest. In its fallen state it
retains its nnrivaled beauty; but long
years of adversely and revolution have
impoverished the old city, killing all
enterprise, and destroying all sense of
security. al.t s..' eF' '-a--7i
The correspondents account of the
Vega Real, or Royal Plain, lying be-
tween the twc mountain ranges which
traverlp ~ island from end to end,
reads like the description, of some en-
chanted valley. The name was given to
it by Columbus, who was enraptnred
with the glorious view that burst upon
him on reaching the summit of the San
to Cerro, or Sacred Hill. In this plain
is the principal agricultural wealth of
the island; here is grown the great crop
of tobacco which finds market i'll
Hamburg: here are the rich cocoa plan
tations: and here are the largest and
most thriving towns-Cotrey, La VeDn,
and Santiago. Here, too, is the centre
of the mining interest. gold and iron
being found in the neighboring noun
tains. . ....
From the Dominican part of the isl
and the correspondent proceeded to the
western division, occupied by the negro
republic of Hayti. This end of the
magnificent island is in far worse con-
dition than the eastern. All the signs
of the old French civilization are disap-
pearing. There are no manufactures,
the government is bankrupt, tho roads
and bridges are falling into decay, the
towns are in ruins, and the men are liv-
ing on the industry of the women. Yet
the climate and the soil are favorable to
the most abundant culture of tropical
productions. Tobacco, cotton, sugar
cane, and coffee might be grown in
abundance; but the indolent population,
easily satisfied, are content to subsist
on the spontaneous gifts of the glorious
climate. Where the orange, the ban
ana, the cocoa-nut, the plantain, grow
of their own accord the natives have lit
tie incentive to labor.
The island once supported popula-
tion estimated at half million; itcould