Santo Domingo: A Country with a Future Part 23

From an American standpoint a protectorate would seem preferable. It would carry the advantages of annexation without its responsibilities, without the undesirable feature of bringing into our body politic a people foreign in race, language and customs, and with less danger of stirring up South American susceptibilities. It would, however, permit of less lat.i.tude for the improvement of conditions in Santo Domingo.

For some time to come it is probable that some form of protectorate will be the choice of both parties. Many American statesmen are opposed to annexation, and the Dominicans as a rule would prefer the phantom of sovereignty in a mediatized republic to the real advantages of annexation.

It is only natural that Dominicans should feel sad at pa.s.sing under the government of a foreign power. But those of clearer vision recognize that there is no alternative, that the independence of the Republic has long been a fiction, that real freedom is only now beginning to dawn, and that American a.s.sistance will give the greatest impetus to prosperity. For several years the number of persons taking such a broader view has been rapidly increasing. It was not long ago when friends of mine in Santo Domingo would lead me to the middle of the plazza, out of hearing of any eavesdropper, and then with bated breath confide their conviction that the only salvation of the country lay in the United States. Ruin and sorrow brought by the civil wars have caused such ideas to spread and be openly expressed. At present it may be said that many Dominicans welcome American a.s.sistance, that the great majority accept it, and that only a small minority are bitterly opposed to it, and these objectors are princ.i.p.ally former politicians and revolutionists whose opinion counts for least. The number of those favoring American intervention is being increased by the splendid administrative work of the present American authorities and would doubtless be still further augmented by valuable constructive legislation and by a more uniform display of tact and kindliness on the part of all American officials.

These relations between the two countries impose at least a moral duty upon the United States. They make it inc.u.mbent upon the United States, as far as is in its power, to foster the development of Santo Domingo and promote the happiness of the Dominican people. One measure it should adopt is the granting of suitable tariff concessions. Another measure is the creation, for the administration of the countries dependent on the United States, of a corps of trained men, selected and retained without regard to political considerations, thoroughly qualified for the duties they are to a.s.sume, speaking the language of the country where they are sent, and capable of a sympathetic understanding with the inhabitants. By showing an interest of this kind the United States will properly fulfill its proud mission of spreading liberty and prosperity in the new world.

The closer relations between the United States and Santo Domingo will bring that country one boon of inestimable value, namely, peace. It is obvious that all the troubles which have befallen the Dominican Republic are due directly or indirectly to the state of civil disorder which has so long been the bane of the country. Another advantage which these relations will bring is a proper administration of the country's finances. Peace and efficient administration will mean the multiplication of roads, railroads and other public improvements, the extension of education and a rapid advance of the people and development of the country. When we think of the vast resources of Santo Domingo, the mineral treasures hidden within Its forest covered mountains, the unlimited agricultural wealth concealed beneath its fertile soil, the enchanting beauty of its scenery, the courtesy and hospitality of its people, its glorious early days and distressing later history, we must be glad that the clouds which have so long shrouded the land in darkness are definitely dissipated at last and that the sun of peace and prosperity has begun to shine.

With peace a.s.sured and with means of communication provided, it is easy to make predictions as to the economic future of Santo Domingo.

There will probably never be much manufacturing but agriculture will increase with enormous strides a.s.sisted by streams of foreign capital which will not be slow to realize the exceptional opportunities offered. Sugar growing will probably be preferred and the southern plains as well as a great portion of the rich Cibao Valley will soon be covered with waving canefields. Tobacco will also receive attention and perhaps fruit growing. Cacao and coffee will spread more slowly.

Prospecting for mineral wealth will be undertaken. The extension of agriculture will stimulate commerce and augment, the wealth of the people. Within a few years the country will become one of the richest gardens of the West Indies.

The curtain has gone down upon the epoch of revolutions, conspiracies, civil wars and destruction. That period belongs to the past as definitely as the era of freebooters and pirates. A new era has begun for beautiful Quisqueya, in which, under the protection of the Stars and Stripes, it is destined to enjoy a greater measure of freedom, progress and prosperity than its inhabitants have ever dreamed.

APPENDIX A

CHIEFS OF STATE OF SANTO DOMINGO

1492-1918

FIRST SPANISH COLONY

_Governors_

Admiral Cristopher Columbus, viceroy 1492-1500 Adelantado Bartholomew Columbus 1496-1498 Comendador Francisco de Bobadilla 1500-1502 Comendador Nicolas de Ovando 1502-1509 Diego Columbus, Second Admiral 1509-1515 Licentiate Cristabal Lebran, in connection with Royal Audiencia 1515-1516 Luis de Figueroa, Bernardino de Manzanedo, and Ildefonso de Santo Domingo, friars of the order of San Jeranimo 1516-1519 Licentiate Rodrigo de Figueroa 1519-1520 Diego Columbus, Second Admiral 1520-1524 Royal Audiencia, in connection with judges Caspar de Espinosa and Alonso de Zuazo 1524-1528

_Governors and Captains-General _

(Note. Owing to the incompleteness of the records the following list probably contains inaccuracies.)

Sebastian Ramirez de Fuenleal, Bishop of Santo Domingo and Concepcian de la Vega 1528-1531 Royal Audiencia 1531-1533 Licentiate Alonso de Fuenmayor, Bishop of Santo Domingo and Concepcian de la Vega 1533-1540 Louis Columbus, Third Admiral 1540-1543 Licentiate Alonso Lapez de Cerrato 1543-1549 Licentiate Alonso de Fuenmayor, Archbishop of Santo Domingo 1549-1556 Licentiate Alonso de Maldonado 1556-1560 Licentiate Cepeda 1560 Licentiate Veras 1560-1561 Licentiate Alonso Arias de Herrera 1561-1564 Antonio de Osorio 1564-1583 Licentiate Cristabal de Ovalles 1583-1590 Lope de Vega Portocarrero 1590-1597 Domingo de Osorio 1597-1608 Diego Gamez de Sandoval 1608-1624 Diego de Acuna 1624-1634 Maestre de Campo Juan Bitrian de Viamonte 1634-1646 Nicolas Velazco Altamirano 1646-1649 Maestre de Campo Gabriel de Chaves Osorio 1649-1652 Bernardino de Menesets y Bracamonte, Count of Penalva 1652-1657 Felix de Zuniga 1657-1658 Andres Perez Franco 1658-1660 Juan Francisco de Montemayor Cardova y Cuenca 1660-1662 Juan de Balboa y Mogrovejo 1662-1670 Pedro de Carvajal y Lobos 1670-1671 Maestre de Campo Ignacio de Zayas Bazan 1671-1677 Dr. Juan de Padilla Guardiola y Guzman 1677-1679 Maestre de Campo Francisco de Segura Sandoval y Castilla 1679-1684 Maestre de Campo Andres de Robles 1684-1689 Admiral Ignacio Perez Caro 1689-1698 Maestre de Campo Gil Correoso Catalan 1698-1699 Severino de Manzaneda 1699-1702 Admiral Ignacio Perez Caro 1702-1706 Licentiate Sebastian de Cerezada y Giran 1706-1707 Guillermo Morfi 1707-1713 Brigadier Pedro de Niela y Torres 1713-1714 Colonel Antonio Landeche 1714-1715 Brigadier Fernando Constanzo y Ramarez, Knight of Santiago 1715-1723 Colonel Francisco de la Rocha y Ferrer 1723-1732 Brigadier Alfonso de Castro y Mazo 1732-1739 Brigadier Pedro Zorrilla y de San Martin, Marquis of la Gandara Real 1739-1750 Brigadier Juan Jose Colomo 1750 Teniente rey Jose de Zunnier de Basteros 1750-1751 Brigadier Francisco Rubio y Penaranda 1751-1759 Field-Marshal Manuel de Azlor y Urries 1759-1771 Brigadier Jose Solano y Bote 1771-1779 Brigadier Isidore de Peralta y Rojas 1779-1785 Colonel Joaquan Garcia y Moreno 1785-1786 Brigadier Manuel Gonzalez de Torres 1786-1788 Brigadier Joaquan Garcia y Moreno 1788-1801

FRENCH COLONY

_Governors_

General Toussaint l'Ouverture 1801-1802 General Antoine Nicolas Kerverseau 1802-1803 General Marie Louis Ferrand 1803-1808 General L. Barquier 1808-1809

SECOND SPANISH COLONY

_Governors and Captains-General_

Brigadier Juan Sanchez Ramarez 1809-1811 Colonel Manuel Caballero y Masot 1811-1813 Brigadier Carlos de Urrutia y Matos 1813-1818 Brigadier Sebastian Kindelan y Oregan 1818-1821 Brigadier Pascual Real 1821

STATE OF COLOMBIAN REPUBLIC

_Governor and President_

Licentiate Jose Nunez de Caceres 1821-1822

HAITIAN RULE

_Presidents_

Jean Pierre Boyer 1822-1843 Charles Riviare Herardi aine 1843-1844

FIRST REPUBLIC

_Presidents_

Central Council of Government (Provisional government) 1844 Pedro Santana, Provisional and Const.i.tutional President 1844-1848 Manuel Jimenez, Const.i.tutional President 1848-1849 Buenaventura Baez, Const.i.tutional President 1849-1853 Pedro Santana, Const.i.tutional President 1853-1856 Manuel de Regla Mota, Vice-President 1856 Buenaventura Baez, Vice-President 1856-1858 Jose Desiderio Valverde, Const.i.tutional President 1858 Pedro Santana, Provisional and Const.i.tutional President 1858-1861

THIRD SPANISH COLONY

_Governors and Captains-General_

Lieutenant-General Pedro Santana 1861-1862 Lieutenant-General Felipe Ribero y Lemoine 1862-1863 Brigadier Carlos de Vargas 1863-1864 Lieutenant-General Jose de la Gandara 1864-1865

SECOND REPUBLIC _Presidents_

Jose Salcedo, Provisional President 1863-1864 Gaspar Polanco, Provisional President 1864-1865 Benigno Filorneno de Rojas, Provisional President 1865 Pedro Antonio Pimentel, Const.i.tutional President 1865 Jose Maria Cabral, Provisional President 1865 Buenaventura Baez, Provisional and Const.i.tutional President 1865-1866 Jose Maria Cabral, Const.i.tutional President 1866-1868 Buenaventura Baez, Const.i.tutional President 1868-1873 Ignacio Maria Gonzalez, Provisional and Const.i.tutional President 1874-1876 Uliees F. Espaillat, Const.i.tutional President 1876 Ignacio Maria Gonzalez, Provisional President 1876 Buenaventura Baez, Provisional and Const.i.tutional President 1876-1878 Cesareo Guillermo, Provisional and Const.i.tutional President 1878 Ignacio Marna Gonzalez, Const.i.tutional President 1878 Jacinto de Castro, President Supreme Court 1878 Cesareo Guillermo, Provisional and Const.i.tutional President 1878-1879 Gregorio Luperan, Provisional President 1879-1880 Fernando A. de Merino, Const.i.tutional President 1880-1882 Ulises Heureaux, Const.i.tutional President 1882-1884 Francisco Gregorio Billini, Const.i.tutional President 1884-1885 Alejandro Woss y Gil, Vice-President and Provisional President 1885-1887 Ulises Heureaux, Const.i.tutional President (4 terms) 1887-1899 Juan Wenceslao Figuereo, Vice-President 1899 Horacio Vasquez, Provisional President 1899 Juan Isidro Jimanez, Const.i.tutional President 1899-1902 Horacio Vasquez, Provisional President 1902-1903 Alejandro Woss y Gil, Provisional and Const.i.tutional President 1903 Carlos E. Morales, Provisional and Const.i.tutional President 1903-1906 Raman Caceres, Vice-President and Const.i.tutional President 1906-1911 Eladio Victoria, Provisional and Const.i.tutional President 1911-1912 Adolfo A. Nouel, Provisional President 1912-1913 Jose Bordas Valdez, Provisional President 1913-1914 Raman Baez, Provisional President 1914 Juan Isidro Jimanez, Const.i.tutional President 1914-1916 Francisco Henriquez Carvajal, Provisional President 1916

AMERICAN INTERVENTION

_Military Governor_

Rear-Admiral H. S. Knapp 1916-