Year: 1870

The views and the Wes. Indian policy Of
General Grant, embodied In his recent special
message to the Senate on the Dominican annex
alton treaty, are very interesting and Of the
highest importance. He first treats OF the
Monroe doctrine In reference to the West In
dian islands, and characterizes the annexation
of the island or the proposed division Of the
island of st. Domingo as the practical inaugu-
ration of that broad American doctrine. He
thinks, too, that the fine opportunity for this
new departure in reference TO the West Indies


should not be lost, because it gives peaceful
and practical solution to the great question
and makes 1t fixed policy. On the other
hand, he contends that the rejection of this
Dominican treaty will be equivalent to the
abandonment of the Monroe doctrine and an
invitation to the Western Powers of Europe to
intrigue for the control and the possession of
the feeble, Independent States in the Mexican
Gulf and on the main land to the southwark.


Applying this argument directly to the re-
public of Dominica (Which covers three-fourths
of the splendid island of Hayti or st. Domingo,
the black republic Of Hayu occupying the re-


mainder), General Grant says tho Dominican
government is weak and unable to support
itself any longer, that some more powerful
nation win have to give it a helping hand, and
that if we refuse the liberal offers of the


Dominicans to join their fortunes with ours,
as Territory of the Union, we shall have no
right to complain if they look for protection


and security elsewhere. This is strong
point, from which the President proceeds to
portray the great value Of the island to the
United States in commercial military and
naval view Of our situation and development.


In st. Domingo, he rightly contends, we shall


have the key of the Gulf of Mexico and the
Caribbean Sea, and by guarding these waters,


instead of waiting for a foreign enemy to come
pounding at our very doors, he is kept at dis


tance. The position, too, gives us positively
| the control Of the manifest destiny of the


whole West Indian group to which it belongs,


the most important consideration of all. The
| President, therefore, renews to the Senate his
| recommendation for the ratification of the
| treaty.


Why not? Because, they say, there


is job in it; but it appears to


us a good job for the United States.
The equivalent in money involved is


bagatelle-$l, 500, 000-and carefully guarded


to this limitation the b,rgain to us will


be worth more than a hundred millions.


The reciprocity treaty with the Sandwich


Islands, which the Senate has just re-
jected, though good thing, is second


ary affair compared with this Dominican


treaty, which proposes to give us Qor Hayti is


ready to follow Dominica) large and one of


the very richest tropical islands in the world
for almost nothing. The time for the ratifica-
ton has been extended to the lst of July next,
but it does not as yet appear that two-thirds
vote of the Senate can be counted upon. The
main difficulty, it has been represented to us,
lies with Senator Sumner, who is said to have
this objection, among others, to the acquisi-
ton Of the island-viz.: that it's population,


mainly of mulattoes and blacks is of that kind


Of which we have enough already. This may
be grim joke against the Senator; but the
objection involved is, at least, as good as the


best we have heard against the treaty, which
means that it amounts to nothing.


Still, as it is to be apprehended that the
Senate. if left to itself, will delay action
upon this treaty till the end Of the session, we
prefer the proposition of General Butler to
substitute joint resolution for the treaty form.
A treaty requiring two-thirds vote for the
annexation of Texas was first tried in
the Senate, and it was rejected, the
range Of vision of some of the Senators of that
day, as of this, being somewhat contracted;
but the joint resolution plan which requires
only majority vote, was next tried and car
ried through; and from that act of annexation
| we have now not only the great cattle, corn


and cotton State of Texas, the golden State of
California and the silver State of Nevada, but


and Arizona and the Pacific Railroad and
universal liberty and equal rights.


Results perhaps as great, wonderful and
glorious may follow the annexation of St.
Domingo. Who knows? II is enough that
with this annexation accomplished it fanks


India islands and to the awaiting States of


Mexico and Central America. 1t is, indeed,


enough that this annexation will give US at once


the larger division of the fine island of st.
Domingo, and that the other division will
shortly follow. Hence, to make it sure, we
approve the joint resolution plan Of General


Butler, and hope he will push it through.


General Grants policy, as developed on this
| question, is the true American policy, and the


only satisfactory application of the Monroe
| doctrine.


CHILD ToRTURERs.-It is honorable to the
F! general humanity Of the American people that


case in which the question at issue is


whether a man and his wife together did