Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-01
SAN TO DOM lingo
The Republic Wanted to Be Annexed
to the QEpitsd States.
PRESIDENT CRAMPS MESSAGE
Steps That Were Taken to Investi-
gate the Conditions.
Il IL
TREATY WAS REJECTED

President Grant, and it's accomplishment
was only prevented by the Senate, which
refused to ratify the treaty of annexation
that he had negotiated with President
Baez of San Domingo.
The treaty aroused violent opposition in
the Senate and not alone among the OPP
position senators. Charles Sumner led an
influential faction of republicans against
ratification, and that eminent senator
made personal attacks upon President
Grant for his avowed championship of the
treaty.
Many ugly inuendos of alleged jobbery
in connection with possible concessions
were flung out by some of the opposition.
who attempted to connect certain of the
administrations friends of the treaty with
their allegations. Subsequent investigation
by commission authorized by Congress
cleared the administration of any possible
charge of corruption in connection with
the treaty. It has been claimed since that
Senator Summers attacks grew out of an
unfortunate misunderstanding of General
Grants position.
In July. 1869, General o. E. Babcock, one
of the Presidents secretaries was sent to
San Domingo to investigate the truth of
certain representations which had been
made by the president of San Domingo
looking to annexation. AS result of his
visit treaty of annexation was drawn up
and a convention entered into for the ces-
sion of SANTANA bay and peninsula to the
United States. The Senate, June 3d. 1870,
rejected the treaty. The vote was % to %,
a tie, two-thirdS being required to ratify.
The subsequent proceedings explained
in message to Congress by President
Grant, April 5, 1871, as follows:
Gen. Grants Message.
when I accepted the arduous and re-
sponsible position which I hold 1 did
not dream of instituting any steps for the
acquisition of insular possessions I be-
lieved, however, that our institutions were
broad enough to extend over the entire con-
tinent as rapidly as other peoples might
desire to bring themselves under our pro-
lection. I believed further that we should
not permit any independent government
within the limits of North America to pass
from condition of independence to one of
ownership or protection under a European
power.
Soon after my inauguration as President
/ was waited upon by an agent of President
Baez with a proposition to annex the re-
public of San Domingo to the United States.
This gentleman represented the capacity
of the island. the desire of the people and
their character and habits, about as they
have been described by the commissioners.
whose report accompanies this message. He
stated further that, being weak in numbers
and poor in purse, they were not capable of
developing their great resources; that the
people had no incentive to industry on ac-
count OF lack OF PROTECTION Tor their accu-
mutations, and that, if not accepted by the
United States, with institutions which they
loved above those of any other nation, they
would be compelled to seek protection else
where. To these statements l made no re-
ply and gave no indication of what /
thought Of the proposition. In the course
of time l was waited upon by a. second
gentleman from San Domingo, who made
the same representations and was received
in like manner. 4.t.. .-..,
I'm view of the facts which had been laid
before me, and with an earnest desire to
maintain the Monroe doctrine I believed
that I would be derelict in my duty if 1
did not take measures to ascertain the eX-
act wish of the government and inhabitants
of San Domingo in regard to annexation
and communicate the information to the
people of the United States. Under the at
tending circumstances | felt that If I turn
ed a deaf to this appeal, / might in the
future be justly charged with fragrant
neglect of the public interests and an ut
ter disregard of the welfare of a dOwntrod-
den race praying for the blessings of free
and strong government and for protection
in the enjoyment of the fruits of their in
dustry.
Sent Commissioners.
"Those opponents of annexation who have
heretofore proffered to be pre-eminently the
friends of the rights of man. I believ-
ed, would be my most violent assailants If
I neglected so clear a duty. Accordingly
visit the island, who declined on account
of sickness, selected a second gentleman
in whose capacity. integrity and judgment
l had and yet have the most unbounded
confidence.
He visited San Domingo not to secure
or hasten annexation. but unprejudiced and
unbiased to learn all the facts about the
government, the people and the resources
OF that republic. He went certainly as well
prepared to make an unfavorable report
as a favorable one If the facts warranted
1t. His report fully corroborated the views
of previous commissioners, and upon its re-
cefpt L felt that sense of duty and due
regard for our great national interests re-
quired me to negotiate a treaty for the ac
QUESTION of the republic of San Domingo
AS soon as it became publicly known that
SUCH treaty had been negotiated the at
tention of the country was occupied with
allegations calculated to prejudice the case
and with aSpersOns upon those whose duty
had connected them with it. Amid the pub
lie excitement thus created the treaty fail
ed to receive the requisite two-thirdS vote
OF the Senate, and was rejected; but wheth-
er the action of that body was based Who'll
ly upon the merits of the treaty, might
not have been in some degree influenced by
such unfounded allegations, could not be
known by the people because the debates
OF the Senate in secret session are not
published
The Congressional Commission.
Under these circumstances 1 deem 1t
uue " the oIiCe winch nOlQ ana que TO
the character of the agents who have
been charged with the investigation that
such proceedings should be had as would
enable the people to know the truth. A
commission was therefore constituted TN
I der authority of Congress, consisting of
gentlemen selected with special reference
TO their high character and capacity for
the laborious work tntfusted to them, who
were instructed to visit the spot and re-
port upon the facts. Other eminent citi-
zens were requested to accompany the ex-
petition in order that the people might
have the benefit OF their views. Students
of science and correspondents of the press,
without regard to political opinion. were
invited to join the expedition. and their
numbers were limited only by the capacity
of the vessel ~
1.-The mere rejection by the Senate of a
treaty negotiated by the President only in
dfcates difference of opinion between
two coordinate departments Of the govern
ment without touching the character or
wounding the pride of, either. But when
such rejection takes place simultaneously
with charges openly made of corruption on
the part of the President. or those en-
ployed by him, the case is different. In
deed, in such case, the honor of the nation
demands investigation. This has been ac-
complished by the report of the commits
l -fNr-~