, 1874-10-10

extending steadily up into the great CEN
trail districts. So, too, the examination
of witnesses before the commission reveal
ed the fact that while annexation with
Spain, France or England was possible,
yet in regard to the attempt of any Euro.
pean Power to form relations looking
to annexation of st. Domingo, it was
ascertained that the North German COME
deration had taken such steps in regard to
the commerce of the island generally, and
particularly in relation to the port and
town of SANTANA, as to ca1se much excite
ment on the island.
The same obligation which the United
States assumed to protect the island from
every foreign aggression or Vaccination
compelled Baez to do all in his power to
check the advances of the German agents.
So when the American Commissioners
were examining the special agent of the
Dominican government at SANTANA. they
ELECTED the fact that though Mr.. Pom was
duly accredited as the German Consul and
was a citizen of st. Domingo, yet he hal
not received his exequatur, for the Domini,
can government had its w reasons for
not receiving him in the capacity of Prus-
sian Consul.
what Consul LaIHman was authorized
to do at San Jose on behalf o. the acquisi-
ton of the bay and port of Limoh, Consul
Pom could not do in St. Domingo, because
the latter government refused to recognize
him the second step of Germany was boil
der than the first, because it was taken
i'm the very teeth of the Monroe doctrine ;
for was not Germany attempting in a CO.
vert way to take advantage of the week
ness of an independent government on the
American Continent ? and had Germany
succeeded in taking advantage OF the Do
mlnicans' condition before the United
States ~interposed, what the result would
have been it Is usoless now to conjecture.
The fact, nevertheless, remains the same.
After all this, does the statement Of
the proposed cession of Porto Rico tempo
rarily OF de6nitively to Germany look so
absurd as Secretary Fish says it does Is
not Germany stronger to-day than four
wears ago, and it a West Indian naval sta
ton was desirable in 1868, is it not more
so to-day with an increased navy and an in
creasing commercial marine? And what
was proposed according to the confiden-
tial information of the FreemQn's Journal:
The Spanish government agrees to ced3
to the government Of the German Em-
pire by a provisional title, but one that
may become perpetual, the Island Of Porto
Rico, in whole or in part.
What more did Germany ask OF Clsta
Rica than a part of her territory or
of St. Domingo than u part of it2 If
Spain is willing to give what the Mon
roe doctrine prevented, the quarrel then
would be with both Spain and Germany,
AL rs it is evident that the influence of
American diplomacy has twice interfered
with Gormany's aspirations what more
reasonable than to suppose thai the third
effort would be so guarded as t. put it
beyond the reach of American diplomats.
1t will also b. borne in mind that it was
not Germany but Spain that wanted to
know what position the American govern
m3nt would take in th} event of the ces-
sion Of Porto Rico temporarily or de-
iuitively to the government Of his Majes-
ty the Emperor.
II nothing else would give credence to
the story OF the intended cessiOn of Porto
RlcO. that aloha entities II to the praVest