The times., 1899-08-16
VIEWS oF poMINIcANs
The Disturbers Not Ayerse to Accept
ing Il Protectorate

ing Il Protectorate.
New York, Aug. 15.-Now that assas-
sination and revolution have thoroughly
perturoed Santo Domingo. the question is
ASKED what impression, if any, the mind
OF the people has received from the recent
predominance of the United States in the
west indies, and from the spectacle of the
profound peace which its power has i'm
posed IN Cuba and Porto Rico? Have the
majority of Dominicans no other thought
thah 10 await alphabetically after the old
wont, the triumph of another military
ulctator over his rival, or do they now
oeglh 10 feel that their only refuge from
lntermlnable upheavals is in the rule of
the United States? Substantially these
questions We're today put to Gen. Abelardo
A Moscoso. the principal military agent
IN this city OF the Dominican revolutionist,
zen. Juan |. JimeneZ, and to Father
Charles Ph1llp Morales. brother OF Cen
eraI Morales, who was slain a. yea: ago
priest who left Santo Domingo only two
weeks since
In reply, they agreed that the idea of
accepting protectorate from the United
States had recently become q favorite one
with the majority of Dominicans, but that
they were bitterly opposed to any sur
render of autonomy. Father Morales was
especially warm in declaring Dominican
oppos1tlon to annexation, and General Mos
coso, while more moderate in phrase, was
equally uncompromising.
The father is right as to our unwilling
ness to part with our autonomy" he said,
but of course the United States VIII nayer
attempt TO deprive us of it, We admire
the American Republic, we love it, we
wish TO acquire American ideas and ways,
moi tie ST 70
give Santo Domingo stable government
AS soon as the miserable remainder of
Heureaux misgovernment has been
swept away, we, the 400 exi!es who repre-
sent the education. intelligence, and civil
izatfon of Santo Domingo, viii return and
give the country the blessing OF a settle1
administration and permanent peace.
When we can do that, why should the
United States take upon its hands a white
elephant?
But I, for one, am heartily in favor of
protectorate; and l know that majority
of the people are
Yes" put in Father Morales, enthusias-
tically. that is so; we are as hearth y in
favor of a protectorate as we are bitterly
opposed TO annexation.
A protectorate to what extent?'
We'll, replied the general, thougntful1y
"a protectorate which would support, by
force II necessary, the established govern
ment-R that government represented the
education, intelligence. and civilization of
Santo Domingo-against attack by vulgar
tyrants such as Heureaux and his horde;
a protectorate, also, which would defend
US against foreign aggression; and in re-
turn we would give the United States a
voice in the determination Of cur foreign
relations"
Father Morales beamed. THAT is the
kind of -protection we will all welcome
The subject changing to the conduct of
the reyolutionists' campaign, the question
was asked whether General Gomez would
be invited to command, report to that
effect having been recently published Gen
eral Moscoso replied:
1t would not be right to call for him.
Suppose he were to fail-would it not
wither his laurels? He has hitherto fought
only Europeans. Shall he now turn against
his own countrymen? What would be said
OF Gomez, the famous liberator Of Ameri-
cans from Old World tyranny, if now he
should seek fratricidal strife and meet
defeat? Put yourself in his place. Would
you do it-unless you were sure of sue
cess ?"