National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-12-16

QtQ, was not supposed. inert Is NO
question as to the constitutional authority
of the Executive to enter into treaties with
foreign Powers and to submit the same to
the Senate for ratification. The authority
of the Senate to reject treaties is equally
undoubted. Owing to this fact the Presi-
dent did not complain of the rejection of
the treaty. Opposite views of policy may
be entertained upon matters of great weight
without impugning the character or integ-
rity of either disputant.
Finally, after-as the President thought
and believed-a thorough investigation of
every question relating to the desirability,
the Justice and mutual advantages to
arise from the annexation of Santo
Domingo, he recommended the treaty for
ratification. 1t seemed to him that should
the treaty fail we would have no fair ex-
cuse for depriving weak nation upon our
very shores from seeking protection or
protectorate from some strong European
power. Then, the island is one OF great
fertility, producing just those articles of
which the United States use so much, and
which cannot be produced within their own
present limits. Both politically and finan-
cially he regarded the acquisition as Of
vast importance. The sugar and coffee we
consume are largely the products of slave
labor, and we are made to pay an export
duty which to a very great extent if not
wholly supports the institution of slavery.
The island of Santo Domingo is capable of
producing much more of these products
and kindred tropical products than all
that are now imported into our coun-
try. The United States having abol-
ished slavery at SO great a cost of blood
and treasure, the President did not
see why we should continue to be the sup
porters Of the institution in other countries.
Then, the year before, a revolution had
commenced in the island of Cuba for indie
pendence and separation from Spain, with
the abolition of slavery in that island, if the
revolution succeeded. The contiguity of
the island to the United States, and the
present commercial relations by which
under revenue laws now in operation in
Cuba we are almost excluded from tender
ing anything in payment of commercial
debts but sterling exchange, give our coun-
try an absorbing interest in the contest
which could scarcely be restrained from
going beyond anything that could be justi-
fed with due regard to international obi
cations. The annexation of Santo Do
miDgo, the President believed, would have
settled the Cuban question in a manner
highly honorable to the United States, to
humanity and to the elevation of races and
nations. The fertile lands of Santo Do
mingo would have become the property of
United States capitalists. The products Of
labor would have been so perceptible as to
have made demand for it even from re-
mote sections. The colored race would
have found there an asylum where their
political and social rights would not have
been questioned; capital would have been
ever ready to transport the laborer and his
family, wherever found, to this genial and
remuHeratiye home. The area and pro-
ductiveness of Santo Domingo is sufficient
to support and employ proftably every
colored citizen Of the United States. Hav-
ing such an asylum to fly to, his services
would have become respected at home,
and fair treatment certainly would have
been insured. Oppression such as has
been witnessed at home from time to time
would not havesccurred. The South is
not prepared at present to dispense with
the labor of the colored man. Insure the
latter fair protection in his civil rights, and
he is not disposed, nor will he be, to leave
the place of his birth and early associa.
tons. 1t is not our desire to invite atten-
ton to the pronriety of reopening the
question of the annexation of Santo Do
mingo, but we do wish to attract the at
tention of the public to the great political
value such an acquisition might have
proved both in settling political questions
at home and abroad and in governing the
balance of trade.