Daily Kennebec journal., 1902-08-09
ISLAND OF UNREST.
Man and Nature Have Devas-
tated Santo Domingo.
Four Long Centuries of Almost Con-
stant Warefare.
Earthquakes and Hurricanes Have
Swept the Land.

cSCh SohuuIteu anu vice President
VasqueZ installed in the place of Presi.
dent Jiminez, has added one more
scene of riot to its bloody history. The
whole island, divided into the republics
Of Haiti and Santo Domingo, has been
in state of turmoil ever since Column
bus discovered it, more than four CEN
turtles ago. When wars have not been
waged by man, nature has been in q
state Of unrest, and it's whole history
has been one of revolutions, carnage
bloodshed, earthquakes, and hurri-
canes.
1t is Garden of Eden, so fair to look
upon that Columbus himself, fresh
from the fields of fertile Spain, in his
enthusiasm wrote his sovereigns: Il
swear to your majesties there is not in
the world a better nation nor a better
land"
1t took thirty years to civilize the In
dams. Like modern surgical opera
uon, 1T was success, but they all died
from the effects of it. At the end of
fifteen years the inhabitants, Spaniards
and all, numbered but 10000. Colum-
bus maintained his control but seven
years, harassed by Instructions revo-
lutions, and wars, and in 1900 was him
self prisoner in the tower, still stand
ing, he had constructed for his worst
criminals. After that there was little
authority and much jealousy. AS early
as 1911 the African slave trade had be-
gun. A patent was granted a Flemish
favorite authorizing him to import four
thousand slaves a year, but so rapid
was the decline of the Indians the pop
ulation continued to decrease.
The few remaining Indians, learning
warfare from the Spaniards, revolted
and the slaves rebelled. For twenty
years there was continuous war. 1t
was not until 1888 that peace with the
indians was restored, and this was the
end of the wars of conquest. Six hun
dred warriors laid down their arms
There were no women and children.
They had been put to death by their
relatives to save them from slavery.
1t took just forty years to civilize the
100000 aborigines down to 900.
Then came forty years of slavery in
its worst form. The Portuguese
brought slaves from Africa, and these
were often in rebellion. Discoveries of
gold in Mexico and Peru attracted the
young and adventurous. Spain re-
SlIICleu lflfHlSTdllOll- ana the NHlte
population almost disappeared. The
slaves refused to work, and starvation
threatened the Spaniards too indolent
70 gather the little food needed. Next
came European complications.
An expedition was sent out in 1886
oy Queen Elizabeth of England, under
the command of Sir Francis Drake.
Spanish power in the New World had
aroused jealousy, and he was instruct
ed to do what damage he could to
Spanish interests in the West Indies.
Drake landed at the capital of the
island, San Domingo City, and cap
tured it. Twenty-Five thousand ducats
(about s30,000) were accepted as a
ransom, and the expedition retired. In
1891 the English again committed de-
predations along the coast Towns
were destroyed and the inhabitants
killed or compelled to flee to the in
terror.
These conditions prevailed until 1854,
when Oliver Cromwell declared war
against Spain, and the English sent an
expedition under Admiral Penn with
5000 men, Gen. Venables in command.
Landing was made in two bodies for
the purpose of two separate attacks,
but the English. unfamiliar with the
country. were led into ambuscades and
thrown into disorder. They were COM
pelled to retire, and. leaving the coast,
sought refuge in Jamaica. History
narrates that the rustling of the land
crabs at night, which so much dis
turbed the American soldiers at the
l.battle of San Juan, Cuba, was the
L of thn Eng
| iish to believe that they were being
l Surrounded by an immense force
sweeping through the bushes in the
darkness. Penn and Venables were
imprisoned on their return to England
| for their failure.
The French had made a settlement
on the eastern part of the island. BY
| industry this colony had made RAPID
| strides, and although the farmers on
the frontier worked with their arms
within reach and there were many as
putes with the Spanish over bound
aries, there were no open hoStlntles
| until 1863, when the French settlers, lr-
| ritated by the invasions of the Spanish
determined to attempt the conquest OF
che Spanish part Of the island. d Ogeron
'he governor, sent Delisle on this eX-
| oedition with 500 men. He debarkeo
At Porto Plata, marched into the inter
Tor to Santiago, and found it deserted
The Spaniards, hearing that he intend
I'd to burn it, paid him ransom, ano
he returned.
| The French, like the Spaniards, en-
| gagged in the slave trade, and mutln!
followed. No. religion was recognized
and no Justice administered up to 1861
when two commissioners were sent ou'
from France to organize the colony. II
1859. war having been declared be-
| tween France and Spain, a representa-
| tive was sent from France to organize
freebooting expeditions against Span
ish possessions in Mexico and Souti
America.
In 1s9, England united with Spain II
DESTROYING the French colonies. IN
treaty of Ryswick in 1857 defined IN
rights of Spain in the east ana Of franc
in the west on the island a few year
of peace followed and the importation o
| slaves from Africa prospered WITH IN
execution of few earthquakes, hoods
and cyclones. there was nothing TO dlS
turb the inhabitants for almost a nun
drad wears. Then came the French reVo
luton in 1889 and chaos in French SAINT
Domingo, massacres, conhagratlons, al
fripbrfIl atrocities characteriZing thre
lInrisings-first by the whites. second b