I believed
further that we should not permit any independent government within the
limits of North America to pass from a condition of independence to one
of ownership or protection under a European power.
Soon after my inauguration as President I was waited upon by an agent of
President Baez with a proposition to annex the Republic of San Domingo
to the United States. This gentleman represented the capacity of
the island, the desire of the people, and their character and habits
about as they have been described by the commissioners whose report
accompanies this message. He stated further that, being weak in numbers
and poor in purse, they were not capable of developing their great
resources; that the people had no incentive to industry on account of
lack of protection for their accumulations, and that if not accepted by
the United States--with institutions which they loved above those of any
other nation--they would be compelled to seek protection elsewhere.
To these statements I made no reply and gave no indication of what I
thought of the proposition. In the course of time I was waited upon by
a second gentleman from San Domingo, who made the same representations,
and who was received in like manner.
Pages:
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267