New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-02
AMERICA AND SANDOMINGO
EST IN THAT WEST INDIAN
REPUBLIC

SIGNIFICANCE or THE DISPATCH OF WAR YES
Sells TO WATCH AMERICAN INTEREST,"
MOVEMENT UNDER PREsr-rNr GRANT
TO ANNEX THE COUNTRY
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: The prompt dispatch OF the United States
cruiser New-Orleans and the gunboat Machias
IN San Domingo automatically speaking To
watch American interests. has deeper sgnh-
canoe from international and commercial
point Of view than appears on the surface the
assassination Of President Heureaux 1t is pro-
posed. shall not be made the pretext for dem
onstration Of naval force by foreign Powers.
such has usually attended the outbreak OF
the chronic happenings OF a revolutionary char
acter in the independent petty republics, so
called. In the West Indies. This action or the
Government without awaiting the usual for
mulary Of a request by the United States repre-
sentative at the point Of disturbance. is regard
ed as a public notice OF intention on the part
OF this Government to command order among
these turbulent people
Aside from the sphere Of influence" Of the
/ United States on the American Hemisphere. as
forth by President Monroe and repeatedly
backed UP by his long line Of successors in the
Presidential office the eastern or San Domingo
/ portion OF the Island OF Hayti has been more
closely associated with the policy OF American
/ administrations than any other region in that
/ part Of the globe.
/ In the first year Of the Administration Of Pres
dent Grant there a serious movement. as Is
known. made toward the acquisition by pur-
chase of the spacious Bay of-Samana, in the
northeastern end OF the island, as naval sta
| ton The anxiety Of President Grant to secure
that splendid harbor amply vindicated in
the late war with Spain. and would have been
even more particularly had the struggle been
prolonged by doubtful results in the earlier part
/ Of the conflict
In addition to disposing Of that bay for con-
sideraton. there was a pronounced feeling
among the people OF the island in favor Of the
United States.
In January 1871, under a resolution OF Con-
gress. san Domingo was visited by United
States Commission to look into its resources and
social caydtions at the almost unanimous re-
quest Of the people Of the island asking annexa-
ton. Their report was favorable, but the Adj
minlstration and a party in the Senate. headed
/ by Charles Sumner. became involved in cOmpli-
cations, which led to the rejection Of the treaty
/ OF annexation in the Senate In January, 1913,
the bay and the harbor Of SANTANA were coded TO
an American company, but the cession lapsed
/ the next year for non-paynent Of rent.
The rejection Of the treaty Of annexation was
very much taken 10 heart by the President, as
he saw at once the loss Of an important stra-
tegic foothold among the islands Of the West
Indies whether in the exigencies Of war or in
the interests Of peace.
In the changed conditions to-day the posses
sion 81 San Domingo would practically COM
plete the conversion Of the Caribbean Sea and
the Gulf Of Mexico into American lakes. with
Porto Rico and San Domingo under United
States Jurisdiction and Cuba under United States
protection With the exception Of Jamaica, the
commerce Of the great islands Of that group
would he under American sovereignty or con-
| troll.
The utllitarian ideas Of President Grant are
we'll known. In referring to the special advan-
tages Of San Domingo over Cuba, Porto Rico
and Hayti he urged the comparatively small
numbers OF the people and the magnificent phys
ical advantages Of climate soil rivers and
natural wealth and products. He looked upon
the island as an ideal opening FOR American en-
terprise and capital, and IN every respect sug-
costing the opportunities offered by our frontier
territories In the fftes but in a line Of produc-
ton entirely new to American agricultural in
| dustry To show still further the close touch be-
tween the United States and San Domingo Pres
| ident Harrison in 1891 by proclamation under
, authority OF the reciprocity legislation Of Con-
! eress the year before. established reciprocal
/ commercial arrangements with the Government
/ Of the Dominican Republic, thus exempting from
duty in the United States sugar, molasses, coffee
and hides in consideration Of certain terms
granted to United States articles or merchan-
disc OF United States manufacture imported d.
| rectlv from the ports Of the United States.
| The productive output of san Domingo. espe-
cially in agriculture, has more than quadruped
since President Grant urged annexation. This
is particularly the case in sugar. II may he said
that this industry has grown up almost entirely
since the visit OF the United States Commission,
IN ISL The districts OF San Domingo. san
| Pedro de Macoris Puerto Plata and Aqua alone
produce S13OOOOOO value Of sugar, almost all OF
which s shipped 10 the United States. This rep
resents about sixty million pounds. The product
/ Of Cacao-coffee tobacco fruits and forest prod
ucts-has also multiplied enormously since the
| impetus given 70 enterprise by the annexation
/ movement Some idea may be formed Of the
advances made by the republic by the revenues
| from customs alone, which now run above
81 600 900 year
! The foreign commerce OF the island Is mainly
| in the United States. Great Britain, France.
Germany and the islands Of the Antilles. or this
| aggregate a large share goes 70 the United
States. aggregating nearly S5OOD.pD year IN
| value OF imports into and exports from the
/ United States the former being about double
RANDOLPH KEIM.
Philadelphia July 81 1899.
! A BLOCK SIGNAL SYSTEM SINCE 1892.
E. P. THOMAS WRITES THAT HUMAN FORESIGHT
COULD NOT HAVE GUARDED AGAINST THE
WRECK ON THE ERIE ROAD.