Here the example of Spain furnishes a beacon-light. Yielding to an
invitation not unlike that of Baez to the United States, this Ancient
Monarchy was induced by Santana, President of Dominica, to entertain
the proposition of reannexion to the Crown. Here let it be remarked
that Santana was legitimate President, while Baez is a usurping
Dictator. And now mark the contrast between the Ancient Monarchy and
our Republic, as attested in documents. Spain boasted, in official
papers, that in the act of reannexion the Dominicans were spontaneous,
free, and unanimous,--that no Spanish emissaries were in the territory
to influence its people, nor was there a Spanish bottom in its waters
or a Spanish soldier on its land. On the question whether this
boast was justified by historic facts I say nothing. My purpose is
accomplished, when I show, that, in self-defence and for the good name
of Spain, it was necessary to make this boast. Unhappily, no such
boast can be made now. American emissaries were in the territory, with
Cazneau and Fabens as leaders,--while American war-ships, including the
Dictator, our most powerful monitor, properly named for the service,
were in the waters with guns pointed at the people to be annexed, and
American soldiers with bayonets glancing in the sun were on the decks
of these war-ships, if not on the land. The contrast is complete. In
the case of Spain the proceeding was an act of peace; in our case it is
an act of war. The two cases are as wide asunder as peace and war.
All must feel the importance of this statement, which, I have to say,
is not without official authority. I now hold in my hand the Spanish
documents relating to the reannexion of Dominica, as published by the
Cortes, and with your permission I will open these authentic pages. And
here allow me to say that I speak only according to the documents. That
Spain made the boast attests the principle.
Omitting particularities and coming at once to the precise point,
I read from a circular by the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs,
addressed to diplomatic agents abroad, under date of Aranjuez, April
25, 1861, which declares the proper forbearance and caution of Spain,
and establishes a precedent from which there can be no appeal:--
“The first condition, necessary and indispensable, which
the Government of her Majesty requires in accepting
the consequences of these events, is that the act of
reïncorporation of San Domingo with the Spanish Monarchy shall
be the unanimous, spontaneous, and explicit expression of the
will of the Dominicans.”
The dispatch then proceeds to describe the attitude of the Spanish
Government. And here it says of the events in Dominica:--
“Nor have they been the work of Spanish emigrants who have
penetrated the territory of San Domingo; nor has the superior
authority of Havana, nor the forces of sea and land at its
disposition, contributed to them. The Captain-General of Cuba
has not separated himself, nor could he depart for a moment,
from the principles of the Government, and from the policy
which it has followed with regard to them. _Not a Spanish
bottom or soldier was on the coast or in the territory of the
Republic_ when the latter by a unanimous movement proclaimed
its reunion to Spain.”[12]
It will be observed with what energy of phrase the Spanish Minister
excludes all suspicion of force on the part of Spain. Not only was
there no Spanish ship on the coast, but not a single Spanish bottom.
And then it is alleged that “the first condition” of reannexion must
be “the unanimous, spontaneous, and explicit expression of the will of
the Dominicans.” No foreign influence, no Spanish influence, was to
interfere with the popular will. But this is nothing more than justice.
Anything else is wrong.
The Spanish Government, not content with announcing this important rule
in the dispatch which I have quoted, return to it in another similar
dispatch, dated at Madrid, 26th May, 1861, as follows:--
“The Government of the Queen, before adopting a definitive
resolution on this question, sought to acquire absolute
assurance that the votes of the Dominican people had been
spontaneous, free, and unanimous. The reception of the
proclamation of the Queen as sovereign in all the villages of
the territory of San Domingo proves _the spontaneousness and
the unanimity of the movement_.”[13]
Here again is the allegation that the movement was spontaneous and
unanimous, and that the Spanish Government sought to acquire absolute
assurance on this essential point. This was openly recognized as the
condition-precedent; and I cite it as unanswerable testimony to what
was deemed essential.
On this absolute assurance the Ministers laid before the Queen in
Council a decree of reannexion, with an explanatory paper, under date
of 19th May, 1861, where the unanimity of the Dominican people is again
asserted, and also the absence of any influence on the part of Spain:--
“Everywhere was manifested jubilee and enthusiasm in a manner
unequivocal and solemn. The public authorities, following
their own impulses, have obeyed the sentiment of the country,
which has put its trust in them. Rarely has been seen such a
concurrence, such a unanimity of wills to realize an idea, a
common thought. _And all this, without having on the coast of
San Domingo a single bottom, nor on the territory a soldier of
Spain._”[14]
Such is the official record on which the decree of reannexion was
adopted. Mark well, Sir,--a unanimous people, and not a single Spanish
bottom on the coast or Spanish soldier on the territory.