The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1920-10-29
SANTO DOMINGO, FIRST
LOVE AND LAST RESTING
PLACE OF COLUMBUS

map OF the world, lett his impress
more deeply on what is now the Do
minician Republic than on any other
bit of land in the New World" says
bulletin issued by the National Ge-
ographic Society, concerning this
country whose wardship under the
United States has been under public
discussion recently.
"The very name of the capital Of
the republic, Santo Domingo. is
family affair of with the Columbus
eS,' continues the bulletin. "The
great discovcrer named for his ia
Their this first permanent city estab-
lished by Europeans in the Amer
cas-. The same name is applied to
the island of which the republic is
part almost as commonly as its alb
original name, Haiti and finally the
paternal name is that the of Repub-
lie itself.
"The remains of Columbus are be-
heved by Investigators who have ex-
amined the evidence in the case to lie
in the Cathedral in Santo Domingo
0ty. The body of the discoverer was
brought to the island of his early tri-
umphs from Spain where he died and
was placed beside that of his son, Di-
ego. II was thought that the Span
iards removed the remains of Chris
topher Columbus when they trans
ferred sovereignty of the island to
the French in 1875. It appears from
later examinations of the burial
vaults of the Cathedral, however that
the casket which was borne in such
great state from Santo Domingo to
Havana at the end of the eighteenth
century, and from Havana to Spain
hundred years later contained in
stead the ashes of Diego, the son.
1.-THE city of Santo Domingo grew
to be wonderful place during the
early days of Spanish dominion. but
Columbus did not live to see much of
the development. His son. Diego Co.
lumbus, however, engraved the fam
NY name deeper on the city and the
country of which it was the capital.
setting up there court of such regal
Splendor that it aroused the envy of
the Spanish king.
"Santo Domingo seemed destined
to become a busting METROPOLIS of Il
western empire. But it became the
victom of exploitation. After a tup.-
bulent history, during which the ma
tive Indians were exterminated and
thousands of African slaves were i'm
ported, the latter. assisted by mulatto
freemen. rose, in the last years of the
eighteenth century, abolished slavery.
and drove their oppressors from the
island. Though the land of the Dom
irician Republic reverted for while
to Spanish control, and later was con-
ouered by the Republic of Haiti. with
which it shares the island, it estab
lShed its independence in 1914 and
has retained its individuality since
The territory which now consti
tute' the Dominican Republic has been
subject at different periods to num-
Der of nations. II has been twice un-
der the rule Of Spain and has been
controlled at other times by French
English and Haitians. The Spanish
influence has been the strongest. and
the language of Spain and many Of
its customs and institutions are those
of the Dominicians of today.
"The Dominican Republic is peopled
largely by mulattoes. While it has
not been as badly torn by revolution
as the Black Republic to the west.
its history has by no means been one
OF peaceful development, and as
sasnations and coups have PLAYED
their part in determining the success
sion of its rulers.
"A few years after the close of the
Civil War in the United States the
Dominican Republic sought annex
alton to this country. President
Grant sent a commissioner to the is
land, an annexation treaty was draft
ed and adopted by the Dominican
Senate, and its acceptance by the
American Senate was recommended
by our President. The Senate failed
10 act favorably on he matter and
San Domingo has continued its indie
PENDENT existence. The country has
teen assisted by the United States.
however, in the administration of its
fiscal affairs since 1908. After it had
entered financial straits and foreign
creditors were threatening interven-
ton. President Roosevelt arranged a
treaty under which an American COL
lector Of customs was appointed.
certain part of the collections has
been paid to the Dominican Govern
ment and the remainder into a fund
from which creditors are paid"