The New York herald., 1874-09-07

says
upon BY an agent Of President saez with proposition
g annex M tss EspuSS Of 81 Domingo to hs United
AND 'sRssss
mssioners whose report accompanies this message DE
stated tSrhsr that being weak in numbers and poor in
ssoarees that the people had inocnVs to i industry
os that accepted BY tn the unit United Ss'ss~
% wneh
:ais%sss % made sssf no rspy
q tns
% sna w s pO Th the
In ysM OF the acts which had been laid before me,
& soa aH snan Ss ae1e ss M
f' hs to and
liant, Of the RepuSC Of s. Pomins0 in regard
people o. the United states Under the attending sr
s1 he u5eG pe .r del CHARGED aT % With @
fagrant neglect OF the public and the utter dis
Tor the blessings Of free and strong government and
own industry.
1t is pertinent at this point to ask what led the
President, in addressing Congress for the first
time, to declare that Spanish and other European
Powers could no longer regard their American de-
pendencies as subject to transfer from one Euro
pean Power to another, That passage IN the mes
sage was not without significance to at least two
European nations. and what led the President to
,a, speak Of It Is summed d up IN word and that that
first by reason OF her larger colonial possessions
In America, the sentiment was uttered to meet
u
OF Porto Rico. When the subject becomes the
topic OF diplomatic controversy will be the proper
time to explain the origin OF the new doctrine OF
national rights.
on the evidence then, Of Captain Kinderling's
instructions and the diplomatic correspondence
which followed. 1t is established that after the
Austrian-Prussian war Germany did seek to gain
THE CEssION OF IMPORTANT TERRITORY
station. and bS the messages Of the President @ It
Is also established that the second effort alter the
Franco-Prusslan war, was more sagacious and
n . ftan . fha fro md 10 TN hnf fncf
1t was American diplomacy which prevented Ger
many from carrying into effect her intention.
In regard to st. Domingo the Commissioners
reported that the most important commerce OF
the island-the tobacco trade-was carried on
mainly by Germans and the new German
this tendency developed itself that the tobacco
trade was rapidly becoming German monopoly.
The Commissioners found the number OF German
subjects IN important business operations and
agencies on the north side OF the island TO exceed
those OF any other foreign Power, and their tniu-
central districts. SO too, the examination OF
witnesses before the commission revealed the
fact that While annexation with Spain, France or
England was possible vet In regard to the attempt
OF any European Power to form relations looking
that the North German Confederation had taken
such steps in regard to the commerce OF the
island generally, and particularly IN relation TO
the port and town o. Samana, as to cause much
excitement on the island.
The same obligation which the United States
assumed to protect the island from every foreign
aggression or machlnation compelled Baez to do
all in his power to check the advances OF the Ger
man agents. So when our commissioners were
examining the special agent Of the Dominican
government at Samana, they ELECTED the tact
that though MIR. Pom was duly accredited as the
German Consul and was o citizen OF St. Domingo,
yet he had not received his eXeduater, Tor the
Dominican government had its own reasons for
not receiving him IN the capacity OF Prusslan
Consul.
What Consul Lahman was authorized to do at
and bort of Llmon, Consul Pom could not do in ST.
Domingo because the latter government refused
to recognize him. l say the second step OF Ger
many was bOlder than the first, because In the
very teeth OF the Monroe doctrine; for was not
Germany attempting IN covert way to take ad-
vantage OF the weakness or an independent gov
ernment on the American Continent and had
Germany succeeded IN taking advantage OF the
Dominican's condition before the United States
interposed, what the result would have been it is
useless now to conjecture. The fact, neverthe-
less remains the same.
After all this, does the statement OF
THE PROPOSED CESsIoN OF PORTO RICO
temporarily or denniuvely to Germany look so alb
many stronger to day than four years ago, and If
West India naval staten was desirable in 1868,
and an increasing commercial marinep And
what was proposed according to the confidential
Information OF the FTeenaan's Jou'nal:-
The Spanish government to cede to the
ment Of the German Empire by pr9vona tte but
In whole in part
What more did Germany ask of Costa Rica than
q part OF her territory or OF ST. Domingo tnan
Monroe doctrine prevented, the quarrel then
would be with both Spain and Germany, and as 1t
Is evident tnat the influence of American dip
lomacy has twice interlered with Germany's asp-
rations what more reasonable than to suppose
that the third effort would be so guarded as to
put 1t bey yOnd the reacn OF our diplomats 1t will
also be borne In Mind that II was not Germany but
Spain that wanted to know what position the
American government would take IN the event OF
the cession of Porto Rico temporarily defnl-
lively to the government OF HIS Majesty the EN-
peror
II nothing else would give credence to the story
OF the int tended cessOn OF Porto Rico that alone
entities 1t to the Rravest considerations; lOr was 1t
not the action Of the allied Powers OF Europe In
taking advantage Of the Internal condition OF
Spain that led to the PRONUNCIATION OF the Monroe
doctrine. though that doctrine can In no way be
applicable to the peaceful acquisition by Germany
OF Porto Rico the declaration goes that the
overtures OF Germany to Spain were honorable
and acceptable. Though the European Powers
have recognized the Monroe doctrine, and Ger
many has IN TWO Instances respected 1t, yet none
OF the influential Powers have as yet given in
their adherence to the Grant doctrine, expressed
In his first annual message about the transfer or
Spanish colonial possessions to another European
Power. Then what more proper Tor Spain TO do
than to seek IN an authoritative manner to Know
What position the American government would
Rico temporarily dehnltivey. the Government OF
His Majesty the Emperor.
repeat, the European nations 90 not construe
transfer OF their possessions In this hemisphere
from one to another, and as President Grant has
taken an advanced step 1t IS the right OF Spain TO
know what the United states would do II the
President is to be sustained IL was this iniorma-
many both await the answer. The successor OF
Admiral Polo will present his credentials so soon
as the. President returns to Washington, ana
Senor Mantilla, It Is stated, will. IN accordance
with his instructions, ask If the United States pro-
poses to dictate to independents European nations
what must be done with their American colonial
possessions. The inquiry, 1t is understood, Will
not necessarily apply to Porto Rico any more than
to CUBA but that 1t Is desirable that there should
be an amicabie understanding upon the subject
Whether this indicates tnat Spain Is willing to give
Germany a part OF the island OF Porto Rico as a
naval station cannot now say In the event the
state Department adopts and adheres to the doc
trlne laid down in the message OF 1862 which l
have designated as the ''GraDt doctrine" 1t Will
be construed determination on the part OF
this government not TO allow Germany to have
even depot or naval station In American waters.
And this doctrine EXTENDED applies to GREAT Brit
ain, France, Denmark and Spain, and II the con-
cesslon Is made OF any portion OF Porto Rico Ger
many, TOO, will be arrayed against it. wlll this
sGrant doctrine" !" which Involves the question Of
dictatorship. be acquiesced in by the European
nations II the issue Is made who can predict
the ends 1t is then momentous question
" hot ther Cermany is resolved To have a fOOrhOld in