New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-13
THE SAN DOMINGO SCHEME.
IT'S INCEPTION AND SOME OF THE CoNsE-
oUENCEs WHICH 1T INVOLVED.
GENERAL COx's CONTRIBUTION TO PUBLIC
ATTORNEY GENERAL HoAR LEFT

KNowLEpGE OF A STRANGE AFFAIR-How
ATTORNEY GENERAL HoAR LEFT
THE CABINET.
In the August number OF THE Atlantic Monthly"
General Jacob d. Cox. Grants FIRST secretary OF
the Interior. throws much new light on various IN
cdens connected with that extraordinary episode
OF Grants first term-the San Domingo annexation
scheme General Cox writes would be expected,
from ample knowledge. and. as would be expected
Also with entire candor and dlslnterestedness HIS
purpose Is to contribute to a better understanding
OF Grants character and OF events which have be-
come historical lie describes the strangely casual
manner in which the members OF the Cabinet
learned from the words and acts OF their chief that
he had begun take singular interest In San
Domingo his resolution to send General Babcock to
the island TO make a report upon the bay OF SANTANA
as n naval coaling station. the secret development
Of Rabcock's errand into diplomatic mission. MS
return with the draft OF treaty OF annexation ana
the totally unexpected discovery by the Presidents
official advisers that the President was committed
10 the project. How seriously the proceeding was
regarded by them Is indicated by the TACT that MI
Fish twice offered to resign the secTetaryship Of
State once Informally and in writing. and the
nature OF the complications in which II Involved the
President is seen in his substitution OF Mr. Aker-
man. OF Georgia FOR Attorney General Hoar as
means OF winnin~ Southern Senators to the support
OF the annexation treaty. The circumstances OF
Mr.. Hoar's retirement are thus recouned by Gen
eral Cox whose admiration for the talents. patriot
ism and unblemished character OF his colleague IS
universally shared:
On one afternoon in June had gone home from
my Office to dinner and about o'clock received me
New-Y York papers which the messenger usually
brought to my house after The arrival Of the East
ern mai. Opening copy OF The iiiHess wa, was
bS he cc ., hS the President knew that
hoI
thoughts TWO three days before, ana there htd
not since the winter been any suggestion or intlI
in mo Naturalization could be made without an
nouncemcnt TO its members leaving them 10 learn
IL from the public press was incredible.
Hastily liking my hat. went from my house on
Clpto. Hin down through the park 10 eaten the
horseclr on Pennsylvana-ave. ana go to JUS
Hoars lodgings. which were on -. not Jar from
almost ran against Senator Henry Wilson of Mas
sdchusetts. who actually butionhoIed me- see mere.
What do you refer to- The Attorney-GeneraFs
resignation. Of course. was the reply Nonpussed
how to answer. and shrinking from revealing the
fact that more ignorant than he. took ref
uge in commonplace about the natural result OF
there being two cabinet officers from one State
and the known wish OF the Judge to retire when
eyer this should cagSe ,ha Sn9w o an
by. and / ereatly disturbed lest IT means a
breaking up which may lead We can't tell whore
such danger. that we all had confidence In
out that there was nothing more in 1t than had
intinated He shook his head seriously and doubt,
ngy then turned on NJ me Win B n What haaI 90 eer you
this af:ernoon?" Worse corncred than ever. |
could even guess who had been nominated. and
had never heard name officially mentioned in con-
necuon with A possible vacancy IN the office.
could only humble "Oh. think you find he's all
right" and the approaching streecar giving ne an
escape added But you must EXCISE ne; mus
ing 10 myself Chancellor Oxenstern's famous say
Reaching the Attorney Generals lodgings opened
hc
had used We'll. Judge. what does this
The recollection Of wha; he said vivid that
may safely say that give 1t in his words: Il
sitting In my office yesterday morning. attend
ing 10 routine business. with no more thought Of
what was 10 come than you had at that moment
when messenger entered with letter from the
President. Opening It, | was amazed to read a
naked statement that he found himself under the
nation Of any kind was given or reason assigned
The request was curt and as direct as possible
My first thought was that the President had been
imposed upon by some grave charge against me
thunder-clap could not have Been more startling
10 me. I for a while wondering what II could
mean-why there had been no warning. no reference
10 the subject in orr almost daily conversations.
for the demand: but self-respect would not permit
this. and | said to myself that must let the mat
ter take lts own course. and not even seem dis
resignation and found myself naturally framing
some of the conventional reasons for 1t. but |
stopped. and destroyed the sheet. saying to myself
Since reasons are given or suggested for the
reply. so made the resignation as simple and I'M
vanished as the request 95 had lo been 1sn o.r
to avoid any possibility of It's becoming public by
his act made a copy with mis- hand and locked
Of his desk In the afternoon he had occasion to
submit papers in some pardon cases to the Presi-
dent ana went to the Executive once Tor the pur-
pose Meanwhile the acceptance Of the resignation
had been sent to him, and this was 50 framed as to
convey the sentiments of pers goo VIII ana
high respect which no one in near relations TO them
doubted that General Grant actually iet rms leIter
equally brief request for the resignation has never
one must soc, wholly changes the effect OF the cor
respOndence
to some extent upon his personal confidence in him.
and the real regret with which he severed their
with the eXisency In which he found himself. and
the necessity. TO carry out his purposes Of securing
who demanded that the Cabinet place should be
filed from the South He remin led the Attorney
to his resigning and said he had assumed that this
OF things would be understood without
explanation removed any painful impression that
might have been made at first. that his only wish
every respect, and that personal interest of his
should for moment stand in the way Of It. He
his removal and ne hoped. for the Presidents own
sake tina, he had chosen his successor since other
wise he could be subjected a pressure in favor
OF unfit which might prove most embarrassing
80 him General Grant naively admitted that he
had not yet given any thought to that part OF the
matter. but appeared 10 be struck with the wisdom
the whole matter remain strictly confidential till he
could rehec; upon it, when he would call 1t up again.
On the next morning (Which was that OF the day
on which l having the evening interview | am
the Attorney General again In his Of
fee attending 10 business when he more
surprised by interruption. This time It by
well-known correspondent OF The New-York Trib-
une. who sent in his card with urgent request
10 be admitted. Feeling vague suspicion that I.
might prove embarrassing Judge Hoar perempto-
ry excused himself His clerk returned after a
moment, evidently disturbed and said. 81 beg your
pardon. Mr.. Attorney General for coming back but
the gentleman says that If you Will look this
paper he thinks you will him" The Judge took
the offered paper, and found 1t dispatch from
the editor Of The Tribune TO the correspondent say
ing, " The Times this morning says the Attorney
General has resigned and his resignation accepted:
why have we have not heard from you?' Puzzled
for n moment how to act ready wit came To his
aid in Characteristic way, and he said the clerk
with a significant smile. Mr.. Peasants. you may
give the gentleman any information you are pos
scssed Of
The Attorney Generals Office. at that time was
in the south front Of the Treasury Building and his