Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-05-30
AUGUSTA. MAINE. SATURDAY MORNING. M
SANTANA sAy.
Prospects, CT o. Gle Sam Establishing
. Station There.

WAsHIssros. May ss,--h soald be
| strarge IL after 20 years Of neglect the
project for the acquisition Of foothold in
SamAna Bay should nov be revived.
President Buck, on receiving the news OF
the Re rsjection BY the Uni.ed States Senate
Of the famous San Domingo treaty Of 1863,
put on record the prediction that il would
some day be renewed. In the broad form
of annexation the scheme 10 no nearer
fruitioa now than then; but in the very
limited particular Of securing repair ard
coaling station for cur var vessels within
the Dominican republic there il 3 pfospec;
Of its again coming to the front.
The indirs es but powerful aid which the
affair of the steamship Haytisn Republic
gave to the cause Of Hippolyss, when the
latter vas in zrns against Legitime, had
hardly been expected TO iesd up to the
futile rego,iations lately carried on by
Admiral Gheraidi and Minister Douglass.
II is true that the action of our government
in that al, Was directed to the interests
Of its own citiz sns and the maritime rights
OF neutrAls in general rather than to inter-
fering for one party in the civil war on the
island. 1, is alec probable that the
promises of French help with which NJ. de
Legitime's followers were not grounded
on any assurances from his gov
ernment, so tha. the counter. interferencs
OF our own country to prevent European
control Of Hayu would not have been
called for. Still, Hyppolits's cause did uo-
doubsedly receive much moral and some
material strength from the United States.
But the real ground of the disgust Of the
Washington authorities is doubtless rather
the folly of HAyti in failing to see ;ha ad
vantage in ceding the use Of Mole st.
Nicolas, with its resulting local and general
benefits to her, OF course the ability OF
q gres. power like the United States to
consider and annex Hayti, If that were its
object. is too obvious for dispute while its
Willingness to take merely lease Of the
desired lands and water privileges, and
even to receive them through the medium
OF private corporation, was further
guarantee OF its moderate aims.
Bus the revival Of the Samsna project.
which is believed TO have begun when Ad
miral Gher&rdi was ordered few weeks
ago to visit that bay. where Gen. Uiises
Henresux. the President Of San Domingo,
held long private interview with him on
the flagship, Is not to be ascribed to mere
officisl pique. 1t is trus that. should this
substitute scheme be carried out, Hsyii
would probably toon recognize that she had
thrown away an opportunity. But the
Ssmans Bay project rests on its intrinsic
merits. Situated at the northeastern end
Of the island. on the south side of SAmsna
peninsula, the bay could hold the war Il sets
Of the whole world. At the western end it
receives the Yuma, the chief river of San
Domingo As a strategic position it is of
Passage, the principal entrance to the Car
rlbean Ses for vessels from Europe, and is
hsrdly days steaming from the Windwsrd
Passage at the other end of the island. As
a sheltered place for repairs and cosliug. no
better need be asked in the West ludies.
while i; is sufficiently near the Nicaragua
Canal to serve in keeping watch upon tna!
future highway of commerce.
The port of Santa Barbara. which would
be the particular region leased, is on the
north shore OF Ssmana bay. The entrance
is narrow, from a line Of reefs AMI islets
parallel with the shore, bu. the hsrbor
within is deep enough for large vessels II
could be perfectly covered by batteries, but
the true defence would be at the entrance
of Ssmsns bay, where the channel is less
than mile wide in conse guence of q clus-
ter Of reefs and email islands. Batteries
there placed would easily shat Gu. any
hostile ships from the entire bay. At the
head Of santa Barbara harbor is q village
from which rsilrosd runs westward, and
there it is proposed to build dry dock for
repairs.