Of the absolute futility and nullity of this Presidential guaranty until after the ratification of the treaties I shall speak hereafter. Meanwhile we behold the missionary changed to plenipotentiary:--
“For this purpose the honorable Secretary of the Navy was directed to place _three armed vessels in this harbor, subject to my instruction_.”
Why three armed vessels? For what purpose? How unlike the boast of Old Spain! What follows reveals the menace of war:--
“I shall raise the United States flag on shore, and shall leave a small guard with it.”
Here is nothing less than military occupation. Besides war-ships in the waters, the flag is to be raised on shore, and soldiers of the United States are to be left with it. Again the contrast with Old Spain, boasting not only that there was not a single Spanish “bottom” on the coast, but not a single Spanish soldier on the land. Then follows an order to make war:--
“Should you find any foreign intervention intended, _you will use all your force_ to carry out to the letter the guaranties given in the treaties.”
Nothing could be stronger. Here is war. Then comes a direct menace by the young plenipotentiary, launched at the neighboring Black Republic:--
“The Dominican Republic fears trouble from the Haytian border, about Jacmel. You will please inform the people, in case you are satisfied there is an intended intervention, that such intervention, direct or indirect, will be regarded as an unfriendly act toward the United States, _and take such steps as you think necessary_.”[49]
The Dominican Republic fears trouble, or in other words the usurper Baez trembles for his power, and therefore the guns of our Navy are to be pointed at Hayti. Again, how little like Old Spain! And this was the way in which our negotiation began. We have heard of an “_armed_ neutrality,” and of an “_armed_ peace”; but here is an _armed_ negotiation.
The force employed in the negotiation naturally fructified in other force. Violence follows violence in new forms. Armed negotiation was changed to armed intervention, being an act of war,--all of which is placed beyond question. There is repetition and reduplication of testimony.
The swiftness of war appears in the telegram dated at the Navy Department January 29, 1870, addressed to Rear-Admiral Poor, at Key West. Here is this painful dispatch:--