Year: 1870

1 0Vouiu& AuOicuto btIOuBy sno S"AAS~' -


sentiment with regard to the West Indies and


American policy there. We refer to the pub
lie meeting at the Cooper IRstitute calling for


the ratification of the treaty for the annexation


of st. Domingo, and the banquet at Delmoni-


co.'s in honor of General Jordan, late COM


mander-in-chief of the patriot army Of Cuba.


The meeting at the Cooper Institute was


called by number Of our prominent citizens,
and many of them were present. Among these
were Moses II. Grinnell, Prosper NJ. Wetmore,


Moses Taylor, A. X. Garrison and others.
General Banks and Congressman Fitch were
there and addressed the meeting. The reso-
lutions adopted show the object. They state
that in the judgment Of the meeting the treaty
pending before the Senate for the acquisition
of territory in the island of st. Domingo is
measure of vast consequence to the
commerce and for naval purposes of the
United States. They declare that the waters
Of the Gulf of Mexico, which wash the shores
Of American territory and connect the land
locked seas with the Southern Atlantic Ocean,
are essentially portion of the great geographi-
cal system by which the hand Of nature has
offered protection to the national interests and
honor of this Continent. They assert the ne
cessity and duty of the American government
to exercise control over these waters. They
show that the natural resources Of st. Domingo
are most abundant and valuable, and that they
would add to our staples more products Of
prime necessity and largely increase our COM
merce. They conclude by saying that the
| meeting earnestly recommends the ratification
| of territory in the island of st. Domingo. The


whole tenor Of the speeches delivered by Gen


eral Banks, Mr.. Fitch, Mr.. Grinnell and
others was in support Of the views expressed
| in the resolutions.


One of the most striking facts relative to


this public meeting is that General Banks, the
chairman of the Committee on Foreign At
fairs of the House of Representatives, should
have come from Washington to participate
in the proceedings. Are we to understand
that there is or has been such determined
opposition to the ST. Domingo treaty in the
Senate that the administration, in connection
with the chairman of the House Committee on
Foreign Affairs, is led to the alternative Of
appealing to public sentiment? 1t has that
appearance. We know General Grant
earnestly desires the ratification of the treaty,
and General Banks is in full sympathy with
him. Yet the Senate republican Senate-a
Senate with large majority belonging to the
administration party-objects to the treaty.
This is remarkable state of things. 1t is not
less remarkable that the administration
appeals to public opinion, though gratifying
to know that there is so much faith. in and
respect for the voice of the people. But the
question naturally arises, what is the secret of
the determined opposition of the Senate? 1t
has been said there is some job at the bot
tom Of the st. Domingo treaty. Probably
there is. Some Of the parties who have been
and are most active in the matter are old


fbustering schemers. But is there ever
a question of territorial purchase or acqui-i
sition without job-without there being
certain parties who will make money
from it? The wheels Of government in this
country would be stopped if we waited till
there could be no jobs. 1t is great evil, no





good thing in the interest of the country be-
cause of some Incidental benefit to private
parties? y


The President, in his far-seeing patriotism,
looks only to great results. His object in the
ST. Domingo treaty is to extend the power and
commerce of the United States throughout the
West Indies. For this he ignores all tri1ing
or smaller questions. He desires the acquisi-


tion of st. Domingo because it will give us a
fine naval station in the Antilles and make
this country the dominant Power over the
whole region of the Gulf and Caribbean Sea;


because it will increase our staple products,
enlarge our commerce and revive our de-
pressed shipping interests, and because it will
bring to us within a short time Cuba, that
most productive and most valuable of all the
islands in the West Indies. This is really
statesmanlike policy, and it is surprising that
The Senate does not comprehend it. AS to
any objection that may be raised
to the enlargement or increase of our
negro or mixed population by such
| acquisitions, that is very shortsighted.
The overwhelming white population Of


this country will always control and make
useful the other races that may be annexed.


The destiny of the United States to incorporate


and rule the West Indies is inevitable. Any


attempt to arrest this is inimical to our inte-


rests and must fail in the end.


The acquisition of Cuba, after all, is the


important object, and that seems to be the


leading thought with General Grant, although


the administration has acted strangely toward


the Cubans and has put St. Domingo first. AT


the meeting referred to at the Cooper Insti-


tute the mention Of Cuba by the speakers


aroused the greatest applause. The hearts of


the American people are with the Cubans in


their heroic struggle to throw off the yoke OF


Spain. The great value of Cuba to the United