Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-12-05

so after The expiration OF The probation fixed
upon. Foreigners coming TO the country 10
become citizens who are educated In their
own language would acquire the requisite
knowledge Of ours during the necessary resi-
dence 10 obtain naturalization. IL they did
not take interest enough in our language to
acquire sufficient knowledge OF II TO enable
them 20 study the institutions and laws OF
the country intelligently, would not confer
upon them the right 10 make such laws nor
10 select those who do.
/ append TO this message for convenient
reference, a synopsis of ADMINISTRATORS events
and of all recommendation 20 Congress made
by me during the last seven years, Time
may show some Of these recommendations
not to- have been wisely conceived, but be-
leve the larger part will do no discredit 20
The administration.
One of these recommendations met with
the united opposition of one political party
in the Senate and with "A strong opposition
nom the other, namely: The treaty for the
annexation OF Santo Domingo Ia the United
States, To which Will specially refer. main
tanning as do, that il my views had been
concurred i'm the country would be in a more
prosperous condition to-day both politically
and financially. Santo Domingo is fertile
and upon it's soil may be grown Just those
States use so much and which are produced
or prepared for market now by slave labor
almost exclusively: namely. sugar. coffee
dye woods, mahogany, tropical fruits. tobac-
co, &c. About 15 per cent. of the exports of
Cuba are consumed in the United States.
large percentage Of the exports OF Brazil also
find the same market These are paid for
almost exclusively i'm coin, legislation. par
ticularly in Cuba, being unfavorable TO a
mutual exchange Of the products of each
country. Flour shipped from the
Iass f Sy f tHe vsPv a entTnnee eG so
the city on its way 10 a port i'm Spain; then
pays duty fixed upon articles To be re-ex-
ported, transferred 10 a Spanish vessel, and
brought back almo>t 10 the point of starting.
paying a second duty, and stiIl leave a profit
over what would b. received by direct ship
ment. All that is produced in Cuba could be
produced IN SantO Domingo. Being part of
the United States, commerce between the
lslard and mainland would be free. There
would be no export duties on her shipments
norlmpoU duties on those coming here. There
would be no import duties upon the supplies
N achinery. etc, going from the states. The
effect that would have been produced upon
cuban commerce with these advantages 90
rival is observable at a glance. The Gu
ban question would have been settled long
ago in favor OF Free Cuba" Hundreds OF
American vessels would now he advanta-
geously used in transporting the valuable
woods and other products OF the Soil OF the
island, 10 a market. and i'm carving
supplies and emigrants TO il. The is
land is but sparSely settled, while IL has
an area sufficient for the profitable
employment of several millions OF people
The soil would have soon fallen into tn
hands OF United States capitalists. The pro-
ducts are SO valuable in commerce that emf
grafton there would have been encouraged:
the emancipated race OF the south would
their civil rights would not be disputed and
where their labor would be SO much sought
after that the poorest among them could have
found the means TO go. Thus. i'm cases OF
great oppression and cruelty, such as has
been practiced upon them in many places
within The last eleven years, whole com
munitiees would have sought refuge i'm
Sanio Domingo. j do not suppose the whole
race would have gone, nor is Ii desirable that
they should go. Their labor is desirable
indispensable almost - where they now
are. But the possession OF this territory would
have left the negro ''maSter OF the situation
by enabling him Ia demand his rights
AT nome, on pain of finding them elsewhere.
do not present these views now as a rec
ommendation for a renewal of the subject of
annexation; but do refer 10 il to vindicate
my previous action in regard 20 10. With
The present Congress my official life termin-
ates. Ii Is not probable that public affairs
VIII ever again receive attention from me
further than as citizen of the republic al
ways taking deep interest in the honor, in
tegrity and prosperity OF the whole land.
u. s. GRANT.
EIecHtice Mo7ssion, December 5h, lS36.