Minister Dawson to the Secretary of State.

No. 309.]

Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith a copy of a chronology of political events in Santo Domingo since the independence of the country, prepared by me for the information of whoever may be in charge of this legation.

I have, etc.,

T. C. Dawson.
[Inclosure.—Extracts.]

chronology of political events in santo domingo.

1844.

February 27.—Revolt against Haiti headed by Duarte, Sanchez, Mella, Bebadilla, Jimenez, and Puello. Declaration of independence. Junta assumes power. Bobadilla, President, and leader of conservative element. Sanchez, negro, leader of radical element.

March 30.—Invading Haitians defeated at Santiago.

May 9.—Southern Haitian army retires from Azua.

June 9.—Military mutiny at capital; Bobadilla and other conservative members expelled from Junta; Sanchez becomes President of that body. General disturbances; movement for separate government in Cibao; Mella proclaims Duarte President; Junta ready to accept him. Santana, commander of army in south operating against Haitians, revolts and takes capital.

[Page 573]

July 16.—Santana proclaims himself provisional President, and governs in accord with Junta of conservatives; advances on Cibao; resistance suppressed after short civil war.

August 22.—Santana declares traitors and banishes Duarte, Mella, and Sanchez. Quarrels with Junta over project to place national loan abroad.

November 6.—Constitution adopted.

November 13.—Santana inaugurated constitutional President.

1845.

Santana sends plenipotentiaries to solicit Spanish protection or annexation.

February 27.—Radical plot discovered and punished.

March 27.—Civil war in Haiti being over, that country assumes active measures against Santo Domingo.

July.—Armed resistance to Santana’s recruiting party.

September 17.—Haitians repulsed at Estrelleta.

October 27.—Belerfort taken from invading Haitians; Dajabon abandoned by them.

1846.

Santana quarrels with Bobadilla, his principal adviser; no armed disturbance in the country.

1847.

Dispute between President and Congress; Santana joined by Jimenez and other radicals.

June 12.—Bobadilla exiled.

December 23.—Puello and fellow conspirators executed.

1848.

Financial difficulties; paper money falls; general popular discontent; disputes between President and Congress.

February 28.—Santana retires to his country home for his health, leaving cabinet in charge of Government.

August 4.—Santana formally resigns.

September 8.—Jimenez inaugurated President; he recalls radical exiles. Haiti prepares to make another invasion.

1849.

March 17.—Haitian victory at Las Matas; dispute between Jimenez and Congress as to calling on Santana to take command of the army.

April 5.—Haitian victory at Los Conucos; Azua taken; Santana sent to front.

April 21.—Santana decisively checks Haitians at Las Carreras.

May.—Rupture between Santana and Jimenez; civil war; Cibao declares for Santana; he besieges the capital.

May 29.—Jimenez resigns and goes into exile. Santana proclaimed provisional President; exiles many of his opponents.

July 5.—Santiago Espaillat elected President but refuses to serve.

September 24.—Baez inaugurated constitutional President, having been selected by Santana. Unsuccessful efforts to secure both French and American protectorate.

1850.

May 7.—Commercial treaty with Great Britain ratified after strong opposition in cabinet. Delmonte, leading conservative, resigns; also later Mella, who had left radicals and joined Santana-Baez party. Haitians prepare for invasion. Pressure by England, France, and United States to induce Haiti to refrain.

1851.

May 30.—Skirmish with Haitians at Postrer Rio.

June 9.—Many radicals allowed to return. Signs of rupture between Santana and Baez.

October.—Haiti agrees to a truce for a year.

[Page 574]

1852.

September.—Santana goes to Caibo with a view of strengthening himself in ease of fight with Baez.

1853.

February 2.—Temporary reconciliation between Santana and Baez.

February 15.—Santana inaugurated constitutional President, Baez having finished his term.

March 14.—Santana quarrels with and humiliates archbishop and clergy, reversing Baez’s policy.

July 3.—Exiles Baez and permits supporters of Jimenez to return.

1854.

February 27.—Constitution revised so as to limit Presidential prerogatives. Santana dissatisfied with it. Financial difficulties; Congress charges peculation; President sends armed force to sessions. General Cazneau comes from United States to make treaty of commerce and also to rent Samana Bay; French and British consuls intrigue against him; bay surveyed by U. S. S. Columbia, Captain Newton, with Gen. George B. McClellan on board.

October 5.—Commercial treaty with United States negotiated; British and French representatives protest; French men-of-war arrive; Santana backs down and takes up idea of Spanish protectorate.

December 23.—New constitution adopted, satisfactory to Santana.

1855.

February 18.—Treaty with Spain signed; influence of Spanish representatives predominant.

March 25.—Plot by Baez partisans and Sanchez to seize fort at capital fails. Sanchez takes asylum; six leaders executed and many banished.

August 19.—Ratifications of Spanish treaty exchanged.

December 10.—Haiti begins another campaign.

December 22.—Decisive victory of Dominican army under command of Cabral at Santome.

1856.

January 27.—Victory over Haitians near Dajabon. Dispute with Spanish representative over the latter’s insistence upon his right to register as Spanish citizens under the treaty virtually all native Dominicans who might apply. Consul visits Baez at St. Thomas and is generally believed to have reached an arrangement to support him in overthrowing Santana. Public excitement; Spanish partisans threaten American consul.

May 26.—Santana resigns; Vice-President Regla Mota becomes President.

June 13.—With Spanish war ships in port Dominican Government concedes to remove discriminations in license fees between foreigners and citizens. This measure had been adopted to discourage native Dominicans from registering as Spanish citizens.

August 31.—President and Senate resolve to recall Baez and endeavor to reconcile him and Santana.

October 8.—Baez having been elected Vice-President, President Mota resigns, and Baez is inaugurated as President.

1857.

January 8.—Santana arrested and sent into exile; his partisans proscribed.

May 2.—Baez issues $18,000,000 of paper money, and endeavors to buy with it all gold in country at ratio of 68¾ to 1. Commerce demoralized; owners of gold resist giving it up; opposition especially violent in Ciboa, where gold basis had hitherto prevailed.

July 7.—Santiago pronounces against Baez; all Cibao joins, establishing its own government with Junta of which Valverde was president. General civil war; Baez loses most of country.

July 26.—Baez besieged in capital.

September 18.—Santana having been recalled from exile, takes command of forces besieging capital. Sorties defeated, but city proves impregnable to troops without artillery.

[Page 575]

1858.

February 19.—Liberal constitution adopted by Santiago government.

March 1.—Valverde inaugurated as President thereunder. Renewed vigor in operations against Baez; no progress at Santo Domingo, and Baez’s superior flotilla hampers Santiago government on northern coast.

May 8.—Valverde people take Samana by assault.

June 12.—Baez resigns and goes into exile; Santana takes possession of capital; quarrels with Santiago government.

July 27.—Santana declares himself dictator; marches against Cibao; Valverde’s troops desert to Santana.

August 28.—Valverde resigns; Santana abolishes constitution of 1858 and proclaims that of December 23, 1854.

October 21.—Prays for Spanish help against expected Haitian attack. Gives his passports to French consul, who advised him to reunite Santo Domingo with Haiti. Baez believed to be intriguing for French annexation and help.

1859.

January 31.—Santana inaugurated constitutional President.

February 25.—Spanish Government sends evasive answer and leaves question of protectorate or annexation open.

May 8.—Conspiracy at Azua; discovered and punished.

May 26.—All the European consuls leave the country because Santana had repudiated paper money issued by Baez.

August 30.—Plot of Sanchez and others to take fort at capital; discovered and punished.

September 7.—Band of Baez partisans surprise and take Azua; small disturbances in Cibao.

September 15.—Government recaptures Azua.

October 12.—Ten insurgents executed at Azua; Government everywhere triumphant.

November 30.—French, British, and Spanish (Don Juan de Austria) war ships arrive to demand satisfaction about paper-money question.

December 12.—Protocol conceding European demands signed.

1860.

Ramirez, governor of frontier, revolts because Santana interferes with the contraband trade he was protecting in combination with Haitians; insurrection at Las Matas, Neiba, and Cercado.

June 1.—Santana decisively defeats insurgents. They take refuge in Haiti and thence keep up guerrilla attacks.

July 5.—Arrival of Spanish commissioner to investigate; reports favorably to annexation.

1861.

January.—Mella imprisoned; efforts of Pedro Merino, Manzueta, and Leger against Santana’s plans for annexation fail.

March 18 to 26.—Reincorporation with Spain proclaimed in all the towns of the Republic.

April 7.—Spanish fleet and army arrive from Habana.

May 2.—Antiannexation movement in Moca; suppressed and participants shot.

May 19.—Spanish Government formally accepts reincorporation.

May 25.—Sanchez, Cabral, and other exiles, with equipment furnished by Haitian Government, invade across land frontier and take Cercado and Las Matas.

June.—Under pressure by Spanish Government Haiti notifies Sanchez and Cabral that it can give them no more help. Cabral flees; Sanchez captured with 20 companions.

July 4.—Sanchez and 20 others executed.

August 8.—Spanish agent arrives and Santana takes oath as captain-general.

1862.

January 7.—Santana offers his resignation as captain-general.

May 2.—His resignation is accepted.

July 20.—Ribero, sent from Spain, becomes captain-general.

[Page 576]

1863.

February 3.—Insurrection at Neiba quickly suppressed.

February 24.—Insurrection in Monte Christi Province; conspiracy and riot in Santiago.

April 17.—Leaders of Santiago plot executed, and peace reestablished with dispersion over Haitian frontier of Monte Christi bands.

August 16.—Pimental, Cebrera, Mancion, and Rodreguez, with arms furnished by Haitian Government, return to Monte Christi Province and defeat Spanish detachments.

August 22.—Repulse attack of Spaniards at Guayacanes; latter retire to Santiago; whole Cibao rises.

September 4.—Spanish reenforcements march from Puerto Plata to relieve garrison there; defeat patriots under command of Polanco and Luperon; later burn town; soon besiege forts again.

September 14.—Spaniards abandon Santiago and make their way to Puerto Plata harassed by guerrilla attacks. Patriots advance in force toward capital.

September 15.—Army sent across the country from capital under Santana’s command; establishes his camp at Monte Plata, south of watershed, enabling him to prevent the insurgents from invading eastern Santo Domingo and Seibo Province. Neither side able to advance against base of other’s operations. Patriots overrun Azua from west and Barohona provinces and western portion of Santo Domingo.

October 23.—Vargas made captain-general with the idea of conciliating Dominican feeling.

November.—Discord among patriot generals Pimentel, Luperon, Moncion, Floentino, and others operate without regard to orders of Junta; even Saloado, president of Junta, quarrels with his colleagues at Santiago. Anarchy and massacre by Floentino and others.

December.—Santana makes unsuccessful efforts to force his way into Cibao; much yellow fever and malaria among his troops; he gives up his command; Spanish expedition sent west along southern seacoast; successful in expelling patriot bands already demoralized by dissensions from San Cristobal, Bani, Azua, Barohona, Neiba, and San Juan, and driving them into Haiti.

1864.

March 24.—Luperon defeats Spaniards near Monte Plata, and opens way into eastern Santo Domingo and Seibo provinces.

March 31.—Gandara becomes captain-general.

April.—Liberals in Madrid Cortes agitate for withdrawal from Santo Domingo. Cabral recovers frontier regions and San Juan; Spanish forces retire to capital and five other towns and virtually besieged.

May 17.—Gandare takes Monte Christi by attack from sea, but forces not strong enough to advance up Yaqui Valley to Santiago, or even to cut off Cibao’s communications with Cape Haitien.

June 14.—Santana dies of fever in capital.

October 10.—Polanco declares himself President. Salcedo surrenders and is assassinated.

1865.

January 7.—Law for withdrawal introduced in Spanish Cortes as administration measure.

January 24.—Pimental, Moncion, and Garcia overthrow Polanco and install Rojas as president of Junta.

February 22.—Provisional constitution adopted.

February 25.—Pimentel sworn in as President.

May 1.—Cortes passes law of withdrawal.

May 31.—Azua and Bani evacuated.

June 15.—Monte Christi and Puerto Plata.

June 16.—Samana.

July 11.—Santo Domingo.

August 4.—Cabral heads revolution against Pimentel and is declared dictator.

October 20.—Counter revolution in Cibao in which partisans of Baez cooperate with Pimentel.

[Page 577]

October 26.—Revolutionists occupy capital; temporary junta takes charge; constituent assembly meets.

November 4.—New constitution adopted.

November 14.—Baez elected President thereunder; Guillermo acts as provisional President.

December 7.—Baez having come back from exile is sworn in as constitutional President.

1866.

March 10.—Insurrection breaks out in Azua Province; spreads to within few miles of capital.

April 10.—Government forces defeated at San Cristobal.

April 22.—Cibao rises against Baez under Pimentel and Luperon.

May 29.—Baez having fled, triumvirate composed of Pimentel, Luperon, and Garcia assume power, leaving curiel in charge at capital.

August 23.—Triumvirate declares Cabral provisional President. Partisans of Baez hereafter known as “Reds” and those of Cabral, Luperon, and Pimentel as “Blues.”

September 26.—New constitution adopted.

October 3.—Cabral inaugurated President thereunder.

1867.

January.—Assistant Secretary of State Seward visits Santo Domingo in U. S. S. Gettysburg with Admiral Porter. Cabral asks assistance in effecting $2,000,000 loan in the United States.

February 8.—Commercial treaty with United States signed.

May 16.—Ratified by Dominican Congress. Secret negotiations as to lease of Samana and loan.

October.—Insurrectionary expeditions pass Haitian frontier with connivance of the Government of that country. Relations broken off. Finacial crisis owing to depreciation of paper money. Government without resources.

November.—Insurrectionary movements throughout country by Reds.

December.—Cabral reduced to possession of capital.

December 17.—Special envoy sent to Washington; no result.

1868.

January 31.—Capital surrenders to Reds. Hungria, provisional President.

April 24.—New constitution adopted.

May 2.—Baez inaugurated President thereunder. Desperate civil war going on in Haiti; Baez and Haitian President, Salnave, cooperate; Haitian revolutionists favor Blues, and in the confusion Cabral and other chiefs invade over frontier; Haitians and Dominicans fight side by side on both sides of the line. Baez forces resist Blues with varying fortunes throughout the year, but Cabral not able to advance far from the frontier.

May.—Insurrection breaks out in Seybo Province; suppressed after hard fighting. Baez solicits French protectorate or annexation; is refused; sends secret agents to Washington to ask for help and to propose annexation.

November 9.—Baez applies officially to United States for loan and offers to lease Samana Bay.

1869.

January 9.—Baez in person proposes to American consul annexation.

January.—Another rising in Seybo; suppressed. Blues continue war on Haitian frontier and gain ground. Cabral, Pimentel, and Luperon menace Azua and Monte Christi and take Barohona. Government in financial difficulties; beg United States for cash advance of $200,000, offering immediate possession of Samana as security.

May 1.—Agreement with English bankers for loan of $1,600,000 secured on all revenues. One hundred and ninety thousand dollars received in cash.

June.—Blues gain ground. Luperon takes Samana. Insurrectionary movements at San Cristobal and Los Llanos, which are suppressed.

August.—General Babcock, confidential agent of General Grant, arrives to investigate. Government recovers and then abandons Barohona.

[Page 578]

August 31.—U. S. S. Tuscarora arrives at Santo Domingo to be at disposal of General Babcock. Shortly after he returns to the United States.

October 2.—Davis Hatch, American citizen, sentenced to death for alleged complicity with the Blues. Pardoned on condition of leaving the country.

November.—General Babcock returns, accompanied by General Ingalls and Sackett. He negotiates treaty.

November 29.—Consul Perry, to whom formal powers had been sent, signs treaty in regard to lease of Samana Bay, etc. Subsequently provisional advances of $100,000 in cash and $50,000 in munitions made to Baez.

December.—U. S. S. Nantucket visits Jacmel to prevent aid being sent thence to Blues; warns Haitians that United States has guaranteed Dominican Government against interference pending conclusion of treaty negotiations.

1870.

January 8.—Salnave, Haitian President, fleeing for refuge after defeat, captured on Dominican soil. Sent back to Port-au-Prince and executed. Baez greatly alarmed lest triumphant Haitian party give more effective help to Blues and appeals to United States. However, American pressure and re-establishment of order on Haitian side of frontier makes Blues’ operations more instead of less difficult. Cabral retreats to Haitian border.

March 26.—Result of plebiscite on annexation promulgated; favorable.

July 20— British (Hartmant) loan contract repudiated.

August.—Ex-U. S. Consul Jonathan Elliot (1855 to 1861) dies at Santo Domingo in abject poverty.

October.—Baez begs American Government for arms and ammunition.

November.—Conspiracy headed by Hungria; suppressed.

December 16.—Outstanding treasury warrants refused at customs-houses in payment of import duties except at ratio of 12 to 100.

December (or January, 1871).—Annexation treaty rejected by American Senate.

1871.

January 12.—Joint resolution of American Congress for commission of investigation.

January 24.—Commission composed of Benjamin F. Wade, Andrew D. White, and Sam. G. Howe, arrives in U. S. S. Tennessee, Captain Temple.

February 28.—Commission leaves Dominican Republic.

March 4.—Commission arrives at Port-au-Prince; corresponds with Cabral.

August.—Negotiations for amendments to treaty as to lease of Samana.

August.—Baez attempts to negotiate lease of Samana to Germany. Visit of British representatives in H. M. S. Sphynx.

September 30.—Quarrel over nonofficial matter between Baez and American consul.

October 10.—Casimiro de Moya, revenue collector at Las Vegas in 1867; condemned by supreme court for defalcation.

1872.

Baez’s policy of vigorous repression keeps country quiet except on Haitian frontier. Intrigues for succesion to Presidency among his supporters, Caceres, father of present President and chief supporter of Baez in the Cibao, a candidate. Baez determines to succeed himself, changing constitution and abolishing prohibition of continuous service. Dissatisfaction among a large number of prominent Reds.

September 14.—New constitution adopted, making presidential term six years counting from April 1, 1873.

December 28.—Contract leasing Samana Bay to American capitalists with same conditions as those of the United States under the treaty of November 29, 1869. Rent, $150,000 annually.

1873.

February 18.—Lease of Samana ratified by plebiscite. Joaquin M. Delgado, pioneer sugar planter, begins operations.

April 1.—Baez takes office for six years more with the privilege of being reelected.

[Page 579]

September.—Insurrection in Monte Christi Province. Baez declares martial law for whole Republic.

October.—Insurrection in Cibao; large portion of Reds join Blues to overthrow Baez.

November 25.—Puerto Plata pronounces; Gonzalez declared dictator.

November 10.—Military executions at Santo Domingo.

December.—Revolution spreads throughout Cibao and Seybo; Baez partisans in those provinces collapse.

December 24.—Army from Seybo besieges Santo Domingo.

December 26.—Army from Cibao joins in siege.

December 31.—Baez resigns and Gonzalez becomes dictator; jealousies between him and Caceres, who had been named joint dictator, but was later crowded out.

1874.

March 25.—Lease of Samana to American company repudiated; understanding with Haitian Government that the latter was to give Santo Domingo subsidy of $150,000 annually lost by such repudiation.

April 5.—New constitution proclaimed.

April 6.—Gonzalez inaugurated constitutional President. Cabral, Pimemtel, and Luperon recalled from exile. Large number of commercial concessions granted, especially to supporters of his administration. He has difficulties both with the Blues and the leaders of his own faction of Reds, now called “Greens.” Frequent changes in ministers.

June 6.—Bounties given for planting cacao, coffee, etc., planters exempted from military service; considerable extension of cultivation.

August.—Disturbances in Cibao. Gonzalez’s partisans there declare constitution abolished and Gonzalez dictator.

August 17.—National guard called to arms.

September 14.—Dictator Gonzalez summons national convention to frame new constitution.

October 14.—Convention with Spain signed, bringing into effect old treaty of 1855.

October.—Plenipotentiaries sent to Haiti to negotiate treaty of friendship and assistance.

November 9.—Haitian treaty signed; Haitian Government promises therein subsidy of $150,000 annually.

November 10.—Insurrectionary disturbances continuing, insurgents are warned to lay down their arms within eight days.

December 17.—National convention ratifies Haitian treaty.

1875.

January 20.—Haitian Congress ratifies treaty.

February 8.—Ratifications exchanged.

April 12.—New constitutions proclaimed; Gonzalez inaugurated constitutional President thereunder.

July 14.—National bank of emission, and with power to make government loan and build railways, chartered.

July 27.—Attempt to negotiate through national bank loan of $5,500,000 from Dutch capitalists.

August.—Revolt of governor at La Vega; dissatisfaction, especially in Cibao; salaries in arrear; Government refuses to accept outstanding treasury orders except at heavy discount.

August 15.—Conspiracy in favor of Baez at Azua; arrest of leaders.

August 18.—Carlos Baez takes asylum in American consulate.

October.—Disturbances in Cibao; financial difficulties increasing.

1876.

January 8.—Loan contract annulled and national bank’s charter taken away because Dutch capitalists had not made advance deposits on loan.

February 7.—Junta in Santiago pronounced against Gonzalez, and makes formal and specific financial charges against him and his ministers. Gonzalez marches on the Cibao. In his absence public meeting at capital demands that he submit to trial.

[Page 580]

February 16.—Unable to make headway in the Cibao, Gonzalez returns to capital and summons Congress for the purpose of hearing charges. He is acquitted.

February 23.—He resigns and goes into exile. Villanueva, his minister of war, takes charge of capital and intrigues to make Baez President. Exiled Reds begin to return. Anti-Baez element in Cibao and Seybo march on capital. Blues control cabinet.

March 11.—Villanueva flees into exile. Baez partisans imprisoned; also Caceres, who had returned from exile hoping to get Presidency. Blues and antimilitary elements unite on Espaillat, of Santiago. Delgado ships first vacuum-pan sugar produced in Republic.

March 26.—Espaillat elected President.

April 29.—Is inaugurated. Baez partisans promote disturbances on Haitian frontier.

June 27.—Villanueva, returning to get his family, is forcibly seized on board American merchant steamer Tybee against consul’s protest.

July 4.—Apology made, but Villaneuva kept in prison.

July.—Civil war spreads over most of country; Azua and Samana pronounce; Reds advance on capital, besiege it for two weeks and retire.

August 30.—Baez’s sisters banished.

September 27.—Serious dispute with French dyewood company, operating under Baez concession, arranged by compromise.

October 5.—Whole southern coast having been lost by Espaillat, Santo Domingo City pronounces for Gonzalez. Espaillat and his ministers take asylum in American consulate. Villanueva released and takes charge at capital.

October.—Great opposition in Cibao to accepting Gonzalez; Gonzalez Junta formed at Moca; fighting and attempts at compromise; three-cornered contest between partisans of Baez, those of Gonzalez, and the Blues.

October 12.—Gonzalez arrives at capital.

October 30.—Moca Junta dissolves and Gonzalez element loses ground in Cibao.

November 11.—Gonzalez installed at capital as dictator. Names delegates to secure submission of Cibao and Azua. Baez partisans are victorious and advance on capital.

December 6.—Baez partisans attempt to surprise capital.

December 8.—Gonzalez delegates in Cibao give up to their opponents, who are headed by Caceres.

December 9.—Gonzalez takes asylum and next day goes into exile. Capital pronounces for Baez.

December 27.—Baez arrives and is proclaimed dictator. Promises civil liberty and financial reforms. Country exhausted and Blues and Greens quiet for a few weeks.

1877.

January.—Salaries reduced 40 per cent; revenues required to be paid in cash and not outstanding treasury bills; debts to foreigners repudiated; attempt to refund pressing internal debts by a “Credit company” of local capitalists, who are to have 20 per cent of the customs duties; preference given to debts contracted by Baez in financing revolution against Espaillat and Gonzalez.

February.—Baez repudiates “Credit company” plan.

March.—Disturbances in Monte Christi Province; insurgent headquarters in Haiti. Baez appeals to American Government to bring pressure to bear on Haiti to refrain from helping insurgents; says he is still anxious for annexation to the United States.

May 10.—New constitution proclaimed; Baez inaugurated as President for term ending April 1, 1881.

May.—Renewed attacks in Monte Christi by insurgents; many imprisonments and banishments.

May 15.—Commission sent to Haiti to demand that aid be not given insurgents, and for subsidy promised by treaty of 1874, which Haiti had not paid. Ex-President Espaillat member.

July 1.—Uprising at Santiago; suppressed; prosecutions for conspiracy; army increased; business dull; general suffering and dissatisfaction.

August.—Revolutionary disturbances at many points, especially in the Cibao. Martial law declared for whole Republic.

September 10.—Remains of Christopher Columbus discovered in Santo Domingo Cathedral.

[Page 581]

September, October, and November.—Much fighting in Cibao without decisive results. Puerto Plata lost to insurgents and recovered.

December.—Insurgents operations slacken. Baez asks for Spanish protectorate or annexation.

1878.

January and February.—Formidable revolution in Cibao, headed by Blue generals Luperon and Heureaux; Baez partisans everywhere dispersed, except near La Vega. Seybo rises under Guillermo. Baez hemmed in toward capital. Desperate fighting east and north of city.

February 18.—Baez forces decisively defeated and virtually annihilated near Pajarito. Baez negotiates as to terms of surrender, and meanwhile collects money from importers by threats and offering discounts.

March 1.—Provisional government established at Santiago.

March 2.—Baez flees into exile.

March 3.—Victorious insurgents under Guillermo enter capital.

March 5.—Provisional government established in capital; Guillermo, President; Billini, Figuereo, Casimito de Moya, Tejera, and Valverde, ministers. Santiago and Santo Domingo governments each claims supreme authority, but pending election there are no armed conflicts between them. Baez partisans everywhere completely suppressed.

March 10.—Credit company (debt refunding and payment) reestablished.

April.—Arrangement with Santiago government by which Guillermo is recognized as provisional President, and local power in Cibao left with Ortea and Sanchez (recent minister of foreign affairs).

May 15.—New constitution voted by Congress.

May 26.—Gonzalez elected constitutional President over Guillermo and Luperon, military chieftains.

June 25.—Santiago Junta dissolved.

June 28.—Law passed giving authority in each province to collect and dispose of duties payable on goods consumed therein; amounts to complete decentralization of government finances.

July 6.—Gonzalez inaugurated. Guillermo immediately starts organizing a revolution in Seybo and Luperon in Cibao. Heureaux is Luperon’s chief lieutenant.

August 3.—Luperon captures Puerto Plata.

August 23.—Guillermo besieges capital.

September 2.—Gonzalez capitulates and goes into exile. Under constitution chief justice nominally succeeds, but he obeys Guillermo’s orders.

September.—Azua pronounces, but after six weeks’ fighting is defeated and reduced. Country quiet for remainder of year.

September 5.—New cabinet, with Guillermo and Caceres, the principal candidates for the Presidency, both members. This revolution much less bloody than that against Baez.

September 8.—Heureaux made government delegate for the Cibao.

September 17.—Caceres assassinated; Guillermo suspected of complicity. No prosecution.

September 29.—Chief justice resigns Presidential functions and cabinet council exercises executive power.

November 20.—Original Clyde concession granted.

December 30.—All commerce over Haitian land frontier prohibited.

1879.

January 13.—Cibao governors authorized to arrange each his own loans and dispose of customs duties.

February 11.—New constitution.

February 23.—Law establishing university.

February 27.—Guillermo inaugurated President, having been elected without opposition on January 28. Casimiro de Moya and Gal van among the new cabinet ministers.

April 23.—Communes of Monte Christi Sabaneta, Guayubin, and Dajabon separated from Santiago Province as district of Monte Christi. June 5.—Law attempting to encourage immigration.

July.—President refuses to permit Senate to exercise its constitutional power of naming justice of supreme court. His partisans in southern and eastern province demonstrate for abolishment of constitution of 1879 and establishment [Page 582] of that of 1854. Assuming dictatorial powers, Guillermo refuses to let congressional nominees enter on their duties. Virtually declares constitution of 1854 in force.

October 6.—Puerto Plata revolts under leadership of Luperon, Heureaux, and Lithgow (uncle of the American vice-consul). Whole Cibao joins movement. Provisional government, with Luperon as President and Eliseo Grullon as one of the cabinet ministers, established at Puerto Plata as ad interim capital. Heureaux advances south against Santo Domingo; Guillermo goes out to meet him.

October 27.—Heureaux decisively defeats Guillermo at San Pedro Pass, 40 miles north of Santa Domingo. Guillermo goes to Seybo, his home province, to recruit forces.

November 3.—Iusurgents besieged at Santo Domingo.

November 7.—Guillermo surprised and defeated in Seybo.

November 15.—Heureaux’s forces close in on city on all sides.

December 4—Guillermo capitulates and two days later goes into exile. Heureaux takes charge of city and south as delegate of the Luperon government. Repudiates outstanding stamped paper which Guillermo had paid to government employees and sold to merchants at discount.

1880.

January 7.—Constitutional convention convoked for February 27.

January 15.—French Isthmian Canal Company offered any ports in the Republic to be used free of all import duties and port charges.

May 4.—All newspapers promised subsidy of $40 per month.

May 18.—New and liberal constitution voted; President’s term, two years; salary, $12,000; powers limited; had only single vote out of six in cabinet council which exercised the executive power.

September 1.—Padre Merino (subsequently archbishop and deceased in 1906) having been elected without opposition, is inaugurated constitutional President. Heureaux, Casimiro de Moya, Eliseo Grullon, Boscowitz, and Billini, ministers. President Merino liberal and enlightened, but military influence, especially Heureaux, predominant.

September 9.—General amnesty to all exiles.

September 12.—Heureaux goes to Haiti on secret mission.

October 18.—Export duties increased and extended.

November 3.—Macoris, having become important sugar center, is made port of entry. Total sugar crop of Republic about 7 per cent of crop of 1906.

1881.

Sugar crop short this spring on account of drought during latter part of 1880.

May.—Quarrel between Senate and military party controlling Executive; Senate demands accounting of public moneys; Luperon and Lithgow call anti-Senate meeting at Puerto Plata; Lithgow assaults and ejects from hall a solitary protestant; editor of English newspaper imprisoned for making comments; meeting calls on President to assume dictatorial powers; similar meetings in most towns of the Republic.

May 30.—President assumes dictatorship; summons convention and revises constitution. Decree attempting to abolish right of asylum.

June 7.—W. Lithgow (father of American vice-consul) granted concession for toll road from Puerto Plata to Santiago.

July 5.—Guillermo sails from Porto Rico with 100 men; lands in Seybo and starts revolution in that province. Dominican Republic protests against Spanish authorities in Porto Rico in permitting of equipment and organization of expedition.

August 12.—Braulio Alverez (present chief commander of rural guard) lays down his arms and goes into exile.

September 6.—Exequatur of American consul at Puerto Plata revoked. Edward Hall (present manager of Puerto Plata-Santiago Railroad) granted concession for railroad from Santo Domingo to Azua.

September 12.—Barahona, Neyba, Las Damas, and Petit Trou separated from Azua Province and formed into districts of Barahona; Barahona made port of entry.

September.—Seybo insurrection suppressed; Guillermo escapes, but many of his followers, including Spanish citizens, imprisoned; some executed.

[Page 583]

November 16.—Import duties raised 18 per cent. Two per cent by law pledged to payment of claims made through foreign governments, and 15 per cent to interior debt; refunding scheme enacted. Claims incurred by insurrection against Baez and Guillermo recognized in sums aggregating $4,000,000.

November 22.—Spanish citizens captured with Guillermo released.

December 28.—Request of the United States for permission to make survey of Samana Bay granted. During the year smallpox epidemic. Trade with United States increasing rapidly owing to peace, regular communications, and the investment of American capital in sugar estates. Mexican silver made legal tender at par, and United States currency driven out of circulation.

1882.

March 13.—Bani destroyed by fire.

April.—Smallpox epidemic ceases.

April 13.—Paul T. Jones, American consul since 1874, removed and H. C. C. Astwood, native of Turks Island, takes position. Sugar crop this spring largest ever known up to then.

May 12.—Dominican Government desires United States to appoint a minister or at least a consul-general.

May 16.—Congressional restrictions invalid internally requiring foreigners to register as such with provincial governors, and prohibiting them from making complaints through their own governments unless so registered.

June 2.—Bail in criminal cases abolished.

June 10.—Macoris separated from Santo Domingo Province and made into district.

June 30.—Commerce increasing; 16 sugar mills on south side of island producing and 12 being built.

July 1.—Heureaux elected President and Casimiro de Moya vice-president. Increase of 15 per cent in import duties.

July 5.—Coasting traffic forbidden to all foreign vessels except mail liners. Ordinance of city of Puerto Plata imposing tax on rum brought in from other parts of the Dominican Republic declared invalid by Congress.

July 10.—Revenues for 1883 estimated at $1,150,000.

July 26.—General amnesty to all exiles. At this time only 11 feet on Santo Domingo bar; several vessels run aground.

August.—American commercial agencies established at Macoris and Samana.

September.—Heureaux and Casimiro de Moya inaugurated; Figuereo, Imbert, Mejia, Marchena, and Wos y Gil, ministers.

September.—Samuels, president of American Samana Bay Company, asks for reinstatement of concession of 1873.

October 10.—American consul protests against revolutions as to registration of foreigners, etc.

November 15.—Insurrection at Moca, Heureaux marches and suppresses it quickly; makes tour of Cibao. During this year the railway from Sanchez to La Vega begun by Allen Crosby, an American citizen.

1883.

January 1.—Revised tariff schedules come into force. Santo Domingo bar shoals to 8 feet.

February 12.—Executive formally suspends appropriation law passed by Congress and operates unconstitutional regulation adopted by itself.

May 5.—Concession for Sanchez-La Vega Railroad taken from Allen Crosby, American citizen, and given to Alexander Baird, British subject. Baird continues work begun by Crosby.

May 7.—Concession given French company for free port at San Lorenzo on southern side of Samana Bay. Same port made.

May 11.—Contract with French company to deepen river and bar at Santo Domingo.

May 19.—French “Banque Nationale de St. Domingue” chartered; capital $2,400,000; sole right of emitting paper money; Government to have open credit of $100,000 and for loans to pay only 6 per cent. The ruling rate had been 3 per cent compounded monthly. Projectors unable to raise necessary capital. These French concessions had their origin in negotiations begun in Paris by General Luperon.

[Page 584]

June 26.—Francisco X. Amiama allowed to import free of duty materials to build and construct a hotel.

June 30.—Expenses, etc., incurred by revolutionary Blue chiefs during 1869 and 1870 in fighting Baez and annexation, recognized as part of “foreign debt” (which had been especially secured) at 50 per cent of amount claimed, a measure intended to attach Heureaux’s fighting adherents more closely.

September 6.—Great hurricane on south side of island; Santo Domingo and Azua suffer much; government aid given; all vessels (three) lying in Santo Domingo roadstead lost, including American brig Dauntless, with all her crew who were on board; American schooner Chatain, lying at Palanque, lost with all her crew.

October 9.—Dominican Government notifies United States that it desires to open negotiations for reciprocity treaty.

Sugar crop of 1883 largest hitherto known; 17,000,000 pounds, or 15 per cent of 1906 crop.

November 3.—Cable concession exclusive for forty years granted to French capitalists; given right to build land lines and charge 20 cents a word for messages in the Republic.

1884.

Streets cut through city walls; population of city rapidly increasing with prosperity of sugar industry in its vicinity; suburbs building up.

March 25.—American minister to Haiti arrives at Santo Domingo; publicly believed that he will recommend reciprocity treaty to his Government.

April 17.—Congress declares unfounded condemnation of vice-president for defalcation by supreme court in 1871.

May.—Sugar planters subscribe $18,000 to aid Government in sending commission to Washington to urge reciprocity treaty letting sugar into United States at reduced rates.

May.—Imbert supported by Luperon and Monte Christi, Billine by Heureaux and Santo Domingo, and Casimiro de Moya by many in Cibao, candidates for Presidency. Heureaux’s relations with Luperon strained; former goes to Puerto Plata to effect reconciliation; Luperon imposes terms, which are at first accepted and then repudiated.

May 12.—Convention with Holy See preliminary to concordat ratified, archbishop (Merino) appointed; Dominican Government evades going on to framing concordat.

June 11.—Fred. Lithgow granted twenty-year concession for soap factory, with free entry of material and right to transfer.

June 16.—Congress approves en bloc Executive’s account for last three years.

June.—Moyer withdraws his candidacy. British Government brings pressure to bear for satisfaction of claim arising out of repudiation of Hartmont loan.

July.—Result of election officially declared; Billini, President, and Wos y Gil, vice-president; returns show 35,000 votes for Billini as against 23,000 for Imbert; charges of falsifying returns; in many localities Imbert leaders imprisoned on election day; in Santo Domingo City large vote for both candidates and no disorders.

July 30.—Commercial treaty with France ratified.

August 18.—Appropriations for 1885, $1,400,000.

August.—Moncion demands $36,000 for his expenses in Presidential election; is refused; fears that he will pronounce Monte Christi.

September 1.—Billini and Wos y Gil inaugurated; Lithgow, Eliseo Grullen, Perez, Damiron, and Casimiro de Moya, ministers.

September 4.—General amnesty to exiles.

October 2.—All export duties abolished; import duties increased 20 per cent.

October 4.—State aided immigration from Canaries.

October 8.—Credit Company’s operations extended and agrees to make loan of $700,000 to cover outsanding debt and of $300,000 to be at immediate disposal of Government; interest nominally 12 per cent, but advances are really made at 3 to 5 per cent as heretofore.

1885.

January 7.—Intense feeling against Haiti; Dominican individuals and revolutionists there and public meeting held.

March.—Guillermo permitted to return by Billini; latter is unable to satisfy the Heureaux element; meditates making combination with Guillermo and Moncion.

[Page 585]

May 4.—Juan I. Jimenez granted concession to improve navigation of Yagui River in Monte Christi Province. He receives 10 per cent of revenues of port of Monte Christi; 25 cents for each ton of logwood, and bounty on other articles shipped on river.

May 7.—Sanchez made port of entry; railroad line now open.

May.—Billini struggling in vain to meet administrative expenses; Credit Company absorbing $400,000 a year interest; salaries in arrears; local authorities absorb revenue of principal ports; definite failure to get foreign loan to pay off Credit Company; disagreements between President and Heureaux military clique.

1886.

January.—Marchena goes to Europe as financial agent.

March 20.—Congressional election in La Vega Province annulled.

June.—Election hotly contested between Heureaux and Casimiro de Moya; great public excitement; Heureaux followed by military and foreign commercial elements; he wins.

June.—Spanish consul dies of debility just after receiving permission to leave for his health; predecessor similarly died.

July 21.—Insurrection in La Vega headed by Casimiro de Moya. Monte Christi rises under Moncion, who had been chief there since 1863; Guelito Parchado, associate.

August.—Heureaux secures neutrality of Haitian Government.

September 29.—Conspiracy to take fort at capital; 27 captured with arms in their hands.

September.—W. F. Sprague, representative of A. P. Wilson, visits Santo Domingo; arrangements made by which Wilson is to lend $1,350,000 at 8 per cent, secured on 30 per cent of import duties.

October.—Moncion and Moya flee into exile.

November 22.—Heureaux returns to capital.

Sugar production of year, 35,500,000 pounds.

December.—Peace completely reestablished.

1887.

January 6.—Heureaux inaugurated president; Figuereo, Gautier, Hejia, Julia, and Pichazdo (Guelito), ministers.

February 10.—French Cable Company paid $34,000 for damages caused by insurrection of 1886.

May 27.—San Lorenzo free port concession annulled.

July 27.—Sanchez-La Vega Railroad given subsidy of 7 per cent of customs revenues of Sanchez, and 2 per cent more when branch to San Francisco de Macoris is finished.

October 17.—Leonte Vasquez granted concession to import free of duty for 15 years materials for fisheries in Samana Bay.

November 15.—New constitution; President’s term for four years; selected by electoral college and not by municipal suffrage; his prerogatives restricted to naming and dismissing ministers. Heureaux continued in force without election until February 27, 1889. Quadrennial elections November 27 of each leap year.

American consular agency established at Monte Christi.

1888.

January.—Cables laid from Puerto Plata and to Curaçao.

February 29.—American chargé d’affaires arrives from Port au Prince on U. S. S. Atlanta to secure satisfaction for imprisonment and seizure of property from C. E. Frary, American citizen. Protocol signed and ratified, giving him $10,000.

March 27.—Executive formally authorized to make foreign loan; Marchena, financial agent, Dominican Republic, goes to Amsterdam and negotiates with Westendorp. Large number of pensions given to serviceable citizens, among them Jose Vasquez and Jose Lamarche. Much activity in concessions. Name of Astwood, American consul, appears as concessionaire.

June 15.—Westendorp contract signed. Six per cent gold bonds for $3,850,000 issued; Westendorp appoints agency to supervise customs and collect $275,000 annually out of receipts. Agreement reached as to Hartmont loan of 1869, which gets $700,000 of new bonds. Net result of Hartmont and Westendorp [Page 586] transactions was that Dominican Government received about $2,250,000 in cash, $200,000 of which Baez got in 1869; Westendorp’s profits calculated on market-priced bonds in Amsterdam and Antwerp for that year $535,000, less expenses.

June 26.—Heureaux given honorary title of “Pacificator of the Republic.”

November 1.—Westendorp employees take control of customs.

November.—Disturbances in Puerto Plata; suppressed.

November 8.—Import duties largely increased; hereafter are fixed at 51 per cent of official values, these being greater than actual values.

November 27.—Heureaux elected President.

December 20.—American Consul Astwood removed for cause.

1889.

February.—Disturbances in Santiago and La Vega. Heureaux goes in person and suppresses them by combination of bribery and severity.

March 1.—Cabinet named; Figuereo, Perez, Wos y Gil, Sanchez, and Lithgow.

March 20.—Dominican gunboat fires on American sailing vessel Carrie A. Buckman; Government afterwards explains and apologizes.

May 4.—Minister of foreign affairs goes to Port au Prince and agrees with Haitian President that Dominican Government will cease aiding Hyppolite’s rebellion if he will expel Casimiro de Moya. Jimenez, then principal merchant capitalist at Monte Christi, had been furnishing munitions to Hyppolite at Cape Haitien, sent from New York with connivance of Dominican consul there. Shortly after Hyppolite overthrows Legitime, but Jimenez and Heureaux quarrel over division of profits. Jimenez makes contract with Clyde and German lines that they will ship for no other merchant at Monte Christi.

June 26.—Government votes $1,000 toward construction of Methodist Church at Samana. German consul forces Government to settle promptly with German merchant of Santo Domingo and pay $25,000. Bitter controversy over this matter because merchant had refused to go into courts.

July.—Hurricane in the Cibao.

July 26.—French company establishes “Banque Nationale de St. Dorningue;” $800,000 paid-up capital; exclusive right to issue paper money; makes large short-time loans to Heureaux at 12 to 24 per cent interest.

August 19.—Dominguez, Spanish citizen, paid $17,500 for wrongful imprisonment ordered by official at Puerto Plata.

October 30.—Permission asked and given for American naval officers to make astronomical observations to determine meridians.

December 19.—Charles Draper, native of Grand Forks, Minn., takes out Dominican naturalization papers.

December 24.—Lieutenants Norris and Wilson, U. S. Navy, arrive to make astronomical observations on the U. S. S. Yantic, Captain Rockwell.

During 1889 internal debt continues piling up with the recognition of claims of Dominican citizens; among them one of $18,000 in favor of Tomas Morales, governor of Seybo.

1890.

January 23.—Frederick Douglass, American minister to Haiti and chargé d’affaires to Santo Domingo, visits capital on U. S. S. Dolphin.

February 26.—General amnesty to all implicated in insurrections of 1886, 1888, and 1889.

March 6.—Insurrectionists unsuccessfully try to rush fort at Puerto Plata. Plot at Monte Christi; insurrection at Dajabon, headed by Pablo Reyes. Heureaux goes in person and defeats insurgents, driving Reyes into Haiti.

March 17.—Heureaux goes in gunboat to Cape Haitien to demand surrender of Reyes; Nord Alexis, then military governor there, refuses.

May 22.—Gonzalez granted concession for fisheries with thirty years’ exemption from duties and taxes.

July 16.—Issue of $2,000,000 silver and copper coin authorized September 8. Contract for new loan with Westendorps. Four million five hundred thousand dollars of 6 per cent gold bonds to be issued; Government guarantees $340,000 annually for interest and authorization and amortization; Westendorps to retain $2,700,000 of them for building railroad 42 miles long from Puerto Plata to Santiago; and out of the proceeds of remainder to pay $540,000 of internal debt owned by Heureaux’s favorites, besides allowing Government to retain out of current revenue due Westendorps or receive in cash $600,000.

[Page 587]

October 11.—Brewing company chartered; free entry materials.

October.—Heureaux begins secret negotiations for lease of Samana Bay as coaling station to United States.

November 11.—Westendorps offer a part of bonds to Dutch and Belgian markets at 77. On account of Baring panic issue unsuccessful. Holders of internal debt given $700,000 of bonds; a further amount (probably $2,375,000) taken by Westendorps themselves at a price unknown to writer. They send some money to build railroad, but Heureaux’s financial plans are completely ruined by the failure to realize as expected on this bond issue.

December 17.—Negotiations for reciprocity treaty with United States begun. Santo Domingo had refused to take part in conference of American Republics held this year in Washington, because the reciprocity treaty signed with her in 1884 had been ignored and failed of ratification in the Senate.

In 1880 large amounts were acknowledged as due persons who had assisted in putting down Heureaux’s enemies, and many pensions and monopolistic concessions were granted.

1891.

April.—Galvan sent to Washington as envoy to negotiate and conclude reciprocity treaty. Also takes secret instructions as to lease of Samana for coaling station.

April 8.—Heureaux takes monopolistic concession for soap factories in his own name.

May.—Goes to Cibao to forestall revolutionary plots.

June 4–—Reciprocity treaty signed; Dominican sugar goes into United States free, and many manufactures and food products from United States put on Dominican free list. Preliminary contract about coaling station at Samana.

June 8.—World’s Fair commissioner arrives. Heureaux offers to send Columbus’s remains to Chicago for loan of $100,000.

July.—American newspapers having published existence of Samana negotiations, great political excitement when news reaches the island. Heureaux denounced for selling national territory. He publishes formal denial and disavowal of negotiations, but intends to take up matter again as soon as public quiets down.

July 8.—Extensive smuggling by merchant politicians, to prevent which Heureaux forbids foreign goods to be sent from one port on coast to another. Public apprehension that political trouble will result from this measure.

August 10.—Yellow fever appears at capital; 6 cases and 3 deaths, among them that of apostolic delegate.

September 1.—Reciprocity treaty goes into effect; consternation among German merchants.

October 11.—Heureaux proposes offensive and defensive alliance with United States; loan of $1,000,000 by American Government; war on Haiti; seizure of Mole St. Nicholas and transfer to United States. His overtures rejected.

November 15.—German foreign office demands that goods now given free entry under reciprocity treaty if coming from the United States be also free under favored-nation clause if coming from Germany. Unless granted Germany will impose retaliatory duty on Dominican tobacco, whose principal market is Hamburg. This demand greatly alarms Dominican Government, because the Cibao was then dependent on tobacco culture.

In 1891 Heureaux’s financial position grew continually worse; to meet growing administrative expenses he stopped paying the 2 per cent of revenue solemnly set aside for old foreign diplomatic claims; also permitted merchants to import under private arrangements with him. Westendorps received so little from customs collections that they default on 1888 bonds, whose price thereupon drops to 16. Westendorps build only 11 miles of railroad.

1892.

January 11.—American minister arrives from Port au Prince at Heureux’s urgent call for help in resisting German demands.

January.—Westendorps open negotiations with Americans—Weed, Brown, and Wells (Improvement Company)—to sell out.

March.—Negotiations about lease of Carinero Island in Samana Bay as coaling station again begun; continued for some months without result.

April 8.—San Domingo Improvement Company chartered to undertake management of Dominican loans and collections of customs.

[Page 588]

May 16.—Clyde concession extended for twenty years; Clyde forgives $160,000 unpaid subsidy due under original concession of 1878 on condition that his vessels pay no port dues hereafter.

July 1.—Expiration of period of ultimatum imposed by Germany, France, and Italy in regard to free entry on their goods.

July 12.—Dominican Government refuses such free entry.

July.—Disturbances in tobacco district of Cibao; Heureaux goes in person and spends two months quelling and buying off resistance. In 1892 Heureaux sued French Bank, obtained large judgment, and levied on all bank’s property in country. French Government severs diplomatic relations and sends war ships; matter submitted to arbitration of Spain.

September.—Representative of Improvement Company arrives; is not received; manifestations throughout the Republic against financial arrangement with Americans and lease of Samana; Heureaux lets storm pass. Commander Crowninshield in Santo Domingo with war ships.

December 5 and 6.—Four hundredth anniversary of discovery of island celebrated.

1893.

January 28.—Heureaux forces through arrangement with Improvement Company. All outstanding 6 per cent bonds (about $7,000,000) to be refunded in $8,050,000 4 per cents; company to pay off internal debts to the amount of $40,000 gold, and $1,250,000 additional 4 per cent bonds issued to cover this. Market price of Dominican fours rises to 35 in Belgian market. Smuggling and private understandings with importers checked and revenues passing through collection agency rise 70 per cent in 1893.

February 9.—Gonzalez, then minister of foreign affairs, and opposed to arrangement with Americans, flees the country on Spanish war ship. Revolutionary plottings, but Heureaux goes to Monte Christi and heads off any serious armed outbreak.

February 27.—Heureaux inaugurated for another four years; Lluberes, Galvan, Valverde, Bido, Rivas, and Castillo, ministers. Figuereo, vice-president.

March 13.—New department (posts and telegraphs) created.

March 23.—Congress formally ratifies arrangement with Improvement Company. Simultaneously Improvement lends Government $250,000 silver.

March.—Political situation continues very serious; plottings by anti-Heureaux and anti-American party. Kearsarge, Captain Crowninshield, sent to protect American lives and property; Cleveland administration takes precautions to avoid appearance of giving political aid to Heureaux against his opponents.

July 4.—Twenty per cent import tax imposed on foreign silver coin. In fall Emilio Joubert, Antonio Navarro, and others permitted to return from exile, danger of insurrection being over for present.

December.—Insurrections at Azua. Governor killed; attempt to assassinate Heureaux; movement suppressed by president in person. Under mistake Dominican soldiers fire on boat of American merchant ship, wounding sailor. Heureaux accredits W. P. Clyde, American citizen, as Dominican plenipotentiary at Washington.

1894.

January 21.—American Consul John R. Meade dies of a fever which is pronounced by his attendant physician to be yellow fever.

April 26.—Carlos Anderson permitted to return from exile.

April 28.—Improvement Company issues $1,250,000 more 4 per cent bonds and retires $450,000 of international debt. Heureaux overwhelmed with demands for money and collections decreased on account of rapid fall of silver, the sole circulating medium. Import duties increased to 50 per cent calculated in gold on official values and really payable in silver at 2 to 1.

May 9.—Two million five hundred thousand dollars national silver authorized to be coined. Base metal used and Government makes large profit.

July.—Disturbances in Samana and Cibao. Heureaux goes there.

October 1.—Reciprocity abrogated.

November 13.—Emilo Brodas permitted to return from exile.

November.—Naturalized French subjects murdered at Samana. French Government demands execution of guilty parties and indemnity of $40,000 under pain of blockade and bombardment of ports.

December 27.—Jimenez permitted to return from exile; 1894 tobacco crop short and cyclone in fall does considerable damage.

[Page 589]

1895.

January or February.—French war ships and Minister Pichon arrive and secure satisfactory settlement of French claims. Improvement Company agrees to buy as Heureaux’s agent controlling interest in bank so as to get rid of its claims. This subsequently done.

March 30.—Clyde concession extended to May 21, 1917.

April 18.—Manuel Lamarche permitted to return from exile.

April 23.—Rev. Carlos F. Morales the same. He had been engaged with his brother in attempted insurrection at Sanchez.

May 16.—Improvement Company issues $1,750,000 more 4 per cents.

June 8.—Heureaux goes to Cibao.

June 18.—Boundary question with Haiti submitted to Pope’s arbitration; he refuses to act.

June 10.—Victor Tiburcio condemned after appeal to supreme court of murder of Castillo and Mejia in Seybo; executed; much sympathy with him.

August 8.—Wenceslao Sanchez permitted to return from exile.

September 11.—Federico Velasquez the same.

November.—Heureaux again offers to lease Samana for cash rent.

In 1895 Heureaux purchased gunboats and large stores of military supplies and artillery, probably with view to war with Haiti. He believed he could make himself ruler of both countries.

1896.

March 26.—Castillo, minister of war, and Jose Estay, governor of Macoris, executed by Heureaux on same day. He goes to Cibao to head off conspirators.

May 20.—Import duties largely increased to furnish funds for guarantee of recent loans.

June 3.—San Francisco de Macoris, Villa Rivas, Matanzas, Cabrera, and Castillo separated from Espaillat (Moca) Province and formed into the “Pacificador” district.

June 11.—Harbor improvement works started at Macoris which give contractor rights to receive about 4 per cent tax on total commerce of port for ninety-nine years.

August 19.—George Stephens, native American, becomes naturalized Dominican citizen.

September.—Plottings in Cibao; come to nothing. Constitutional prohibition against President’s being elected to more than two consecutive terms removed.

In 1899 the sugar crop was a record in quantity, but the price was low, and the export tax thereon felt as a burden.

1897.

Heureaux inaugurated; Vice-President, Figuereo. Cabinet: Jose Pichardo, Alverez, Valverde, Tomas Morales, Henriquez, Bido, and Sanchez.

April.—Concession for oil refinery at Romana given to Dumois, representing American capitalists; crude petroleum made free; in practice oil was bought from United States wholly or partly refined.

May 17.—The issues of debased silver coin reached $1,500,000 and endangered the circulation of Mexican silver; apprehension lest the country be forced to a fluctuating and irredeemable standard; further issue suspended.

August 6.—General refunding arrangement satisfactory to French and Belgian bondholders, to Government, and to Improvement Company and its British creditors. Issues of 1888 and 1899 replaced by bonds in double the original total, but drawing only 2¾ per cent interest at first and l¼ per cent deferred. Net result of various transactions as to this part of the debt that the Dominican Government had received about $2,000,000 cash and the nominal ownership of an unremunerative railroad 42 miles long, and gave securities of a face value of nearly $14,000,000. In addition, $7,500,000 of 4 per cents were to be issued and the $4,250,000 outstanding of 1893, 1894, and 1895 issues exchanged into them. These new bonds were to be known as “French reclamation bonds,” although the French claims were paid out of their proceeds only partly or not at all. The bonds remaining after refunding former issues were to go to the Improvement Company for $1,000,000, to be furnished the Government for the discharge of its floating indebtedness and $150,000 for the [Page 590] payment of the French diplomatic claims. This $1,500,000 was not finished as agreed, and the Improvement Company afterwards returned the Government $1,750,000 of the 4 per cents. The Improvement Company authorized to dispose of $2,500,000 additional 4 per cents as its compensation for building 18 miles of railroad from Santiago to Moca and improving the existing line from Puerto Plata to Santiago. This arrangement was never carried into effect.

August 16.—Railroad from Puerto Plata to Santiago formally opened. In the fall of 1898 the Improvement Company makes unsuccessful efforts to float the 4 per cent conversion bonds and the railroad bonds. Foreign and domestic creditors press Heureaux hard.

1898.

January 13.—Eighteen hundred and sixty-seven treaty (commerce, friendship, and extradition) with the United States abrogated by notice from the Dominican Government. Other treaties with the great commercial nations also abrogated to get rid of “favored nation” clause.

February 17.—U. S. S. Brooklyn, Commodore Crowninshield and Captain Cook, and Montgomery, Captain Converse, visit Santo Domingo.

April.—Spanish gunboat at Samana.

May 24.—Employees of French Cable Company at Santo Domingo suppress American consul’s message in regard to shipment of Canet guns on French steamers to Spaniards in Cuba or Porto Rico.

June 2.—Revolutionary expedition in Fanitta, which had been fitted out in New York and was led by Jimenez and Augustin Morales (brother of ex-President) lands at Monte Christi. Takes town, but is quickly defeated by government forces; Morales killed and Jimenez escapes. Heureaux attempts to confiscate Jimenez’s harbor and other concessions at Monte Christi, but a German bank claims that they had previously been transferred to it.

July.—American consulate raised to consulate-general.

July 7.—Heureaux makes and Dominican Congress ratifies secret treaty with Haiti, by which Santo Domingo virtually cedes disputed territory for $1,000,000, of which $600,000 was to go to Haitian claimants against Santo Domingo and $400,000 was to be paid in cash. The official accounts of Santo Domingo show that only $200,000 of this sum was received; disposition of the balance unknown; possibly was never paid; possibly was secretly divided between Haitian officials and Heureaux. About this time Heureaux drew draft on Haitian Government in settlement of claim, which, being insufficient in amount, was returned by claimants’ representative. Heureaux did not appoint the commissioner to the Holy See provided for in the arbitration clauses, and, though joint commissioners to survey the boundary line were appointed, they disagreed at the outset and abandoned their work. The only provision of the treaty carried into effect was the payment by Haiti.

August 15.—German minister arrives and blocks the confiscation of Jimenez’s concessions.

September 10.—American Weather Bureau station established in Santo Domingo after permission had been asked and obtained of Dominican Government.

October 17.—Heureaux in negotiations with Spanish Government for purchase of two small gunboats.

December 5.—Columbus monument within Santo Domingo cathedral dedicated.

Early in 1898 Heureaux, being unable to extract any more temporary loans from local merchants, determined to make an issue of paper money. The French bank, now under the control of the Improvement Company, which had the exclusive right of issue, refused for several months, but finally yielded after its manager was convinced that a further refusal would imperil his life. An issue of $1,600,000 in addition to the already outstanding notes of the bank, redeemable in silver, was made, the Government assuming responsibility for its redemption, although it was nominally by the bank. These new notes were legal tender of 2 to 1 as compared with American gold, but a panic immediately ensued; merchants protested against receiving them and farmers refusing to market their produce. The opposition was especially determined in the cacao and tobacco regions of the Cibao. Heureaux visited the different towns in person, threatening and coercing recusants and making especial arrangements with large merchants. But in spite of his efforts the market value of the notes rapidly depreciated.

[Page 591]

In 1898 foreigners were installed as agents at every custom-house; smuggling and corrupt understandings between employees and importers were consequently diminished, but on the other hand Dominican prejudice against the Improvement Company increased and Heureaux, as the backer of the Improvement Company lost ground with the office-holding classes as well as with the farmers and retailers. The revenue at the disposal of the Improvement Company materially increased before the currency emission, and the bond interest payments were met in April and October.

1899.

The paper money drops to 10 to 1 with a further downward tendency. Revenue receipts demoralized. Heureaux determines to return to a metallic basis and promises to effect redemption by July 1.

April—Semiannual bond interest defaulted. Heureaux endeavers to secure European protectorate.

May.—Heureaux visits Mole St. Nicolas and confers with Haitian President about boundary question and mutual protection against revolutionary movements. Agreement reached to arbitrate boundary by commissioners and umpire and not by Holy See. He agrees to draft reciprocity treaty with the United States; submits a project drawn by himself for American protectorate; rejected.

July 26.—He is assassinated at Moca, a cacao town in the Cibao. Fatal shot fired by Ramon Caceres, member of a land-owning family known to be opposed to Heureaux’s financial policies and relations with foreign capitalists. Caceres and his relatives believed that Heureaux had come to Moca with the purpose of putting them out of the way. Vice-President Figuereo succeeds to the Presidency.

August.—Revolutionary movement in Monte Christi Province by friends of Jimenez; they send for the latter. About the same time Caceres and Horacio Vasquez, his cousin, start a revolutionary movement at Moca, which quickly spreads to Santiago.

August 25.—Minister of war is defeated at Monte Christi; his troops desert him. Provisional Government installed at Santiago; whole Cibao gives its adhesion. Vasquez marches on capital.

August 30.—Figuereo resigns.

September 6.—Provisional Government installed at capital; Horacio Vasquez, President; Brache, Ferrera, Moya, Caceres, and Cuzman, ministers.

October 20.—Election held; followers of Vasquez and of Jimenez in accord; old Heureaux party takes no part.

November 15.—Jimenez inaugurated Constitutional President and Vasquez Vice-President; Carvajal, Alvaro, Leonte Vasquez, A. Gonzalez, E. Bache, and Deschamps, ministers. Afterwards Jobert, Hernandez, and Cuello enter cabinet, reinforcing to some extent the Vasquez element.

December.—The French Government brings strong pressure for immediate payment of balance unpaid by Heureaux on M. Boismare and Cacavelli claims (total $254,000).

1900.

January.—French fleet arrives; amount necessary to satisfy demands raised by popular subscription.

January 11.—U. S. S. Machias, Captain Logan, arrives.

February.—Small insurrection in Santiago Province headed by Pedro Pepin, formerly governor there under Heureaux; suppressed.

April 21.—New agreement with Improvement Company, providing that payment of interest on bonds be deferred for three years, and the 43 per cent revenue devoted to the service of the debt be divided between the Government’s and the Improvement’s floating debts, domestic and foreign. The French and Belgian bondholders refuse to accept this arrangement and it is abandoned.

May.—Maximo Gomez visits Santo Domingo; is received with great demonstrations.

June 2—Law passed establishing gold standard.

October 7.—Insurrection in San Francisco de Macoris headed by Jose Pichardo; suppressed.

1901.

January 11.—Agents of Improvement Company expelled from custom-houses by Government decree.

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March 25.—Ad referendum agreement with Improvement Company as to payment of American and British bondholders; Congress refuses to ratify it.

May 1.—All export duties abolished.

June 3.—Separate agreement with French and Belgian bondholders; they consent that their annual interest on total outstanding bonds, including those held by Improvement Company and its associates, shall be reduced from $570,000 annually to $300,000; payments thereunder made for a year; Improvement refuses to agree, and proportion of interest applicable to its bonds held on deposit in Paris and Antwerp.

Early in 1901 signs of serious divergencies among the various elements which had overthrown the Heureaux régime became evident; Jimenez accused of favoring politically and financially his personal followers at the expense of the public and the friends of Vasquez; in April Joubert, Hernandez, and Cuello resigned from cabinet; in the latter part of the year the division between the Jimenistas and Horacistas become well defined; Jimenez reverted to Heureaux’s old practice of giving pensions and allowances to supporters of his administration; the amount pledged to be set aside for the foreign bondholders was trenched upon; the finances fell into disorder; salaries were unpaid; Horacistas in Congress accused Jimenista ministers of peculation; and the failure to reach an amicable agreement with the Improvement Company and to pay the interest on the Belgian bonds, as well as various debts to Italians, Germans, and Spaniards, threatened international complications.

1902.

February.—American Government intervenes in regard to Improvement Company matter and strongly recommends voluntary agreement.

March.—Decree reducing salaries to one-half. Government accused in Congress of misappropriating and failure to account for $450,000 during 1901.

March 17.—Vote of censure passed by Congress.

March.—Revolutionary movement in Barahona.

April 4.–—Extends to Azua.

April.—Representative of Improvement Company arrives to try and reach an amicable settlement.

April 26.—Formidable revolution headed by Vasquez, Caceres, Cordero, two Cabrera, Ginebra, etc., breaks out in Cibao. Jimenez makes Wos y Gil minister of war. Guelito Pichardo abandons Jimenez and joins with Vasquez. Caceres, Vasquez, etc., advance victoriously on capital. Sanchez, former minister under Heureaux, joins them.

May 2.—After short siege of capital government troops desert; Jimenez takes asylum in French legation and Wos y Gil and Henriquez y Carvajal in American.

May 6.—Vasquez enters capital without resistance; is installed as provisional president; Guelito Pichardo, Cabral, Cordero, Tejera, Castillo, and Sanchez, ministers.

May 15.—Jimenez goes into exile; likewise Eugenio Deschamps, the governor of Puerto Plata.

June.—New provisional government takes hold of problem of debt. “International debt,” owed mostly to Italians and Germans, funded at 3 per cent and about $160,000 annually devoted to its amortization. Amount owed Improvement agreed upon by compromise at $4,500,000, to be paid in installments of $225,000 annually, but deadlock ensues because Improvement refuses to give up Puerto Plata-Santiago Railroad. Fifty thousand dollars paid to Sala American who had been partner of Heureaux and furnished goods for government.

October 11.—Monte Christi Province pronounces against Vasquez under leadership of Navarro and Demetrio Rodriguez.

October 21.—Government forces take town of Monte Christi; Navarro and Rodriguez surrender under conditions, but small local “jefes” keep up a guerrilla warfare continuously through the fall and following spring.

The Vasquez administration started in with a vigorous effort to settle the debt, foreign and domestic, and to reform the financial administration; Tejera reduced salaries and expenses and practiced rigid economy; Vasquez and Sanchez were inclined to propose lease of Samana Bay to American Government for cash rent, but nothing definite was done. Until the insurrection broke out in Monte Christi in October Tejera’s financial plans appeared to be likely to bring some order out of the confusion inherited from the Jimenez administration, but the expenses of fighting and the failure to agree with the Improvement Company weakened the financial and international standing of the administration.

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1903.

January 31.—Protocol signed by which Dominican Government agreed to submit to arbitration the question of the delivery of the railroad and the amount of interest and yearly installments on the $4,500,000.

February 23.—First provisional installment paid in accordance with the Improvement protocol.

March 6.—Government, on demand of American minister, withdraws decree reducing port charges; American representations based on protest of Clyde Steamship Company, whose concession contains a clause exempting it from payment of port charges and forbidding reduction to other ships or lines.

March 6.—American chargé obtains agreement to pay Ros, harbor concessionaire at Marcoris, $40,000 as remuneration for dues lost by refusal of shippers to pay. Tejera resigns as minister of finance rather than sign this agreement

March 14.—Sugar tax of one-tenth cent per pound.

March 23.—Political prisoners at capital escape under leadership of Pedro Pepin and take fort and government buildings. Vasquez was at this time in Santiago, and hastens at once toward the capital with forces gathered in the Cibao. Insurgents solicit Figuereo to form proposed provisional government; he refuses; Wos y Gil accepts,

April 1.—Insurgents defeated with great loss at Pajarito.

April 6.—Pedro Pepin killed in sortie. Desperate fighting under walls of capital.

April 18.—Assaulting party under Cordero and Alverez penetrate city but is annihilated. Vasquez gives up and flees to the Cibao and thence to exile. Wos y Gil forms provisional government; Despradel, Febles, Enriquez, José Barche, Rafael Galvan, Frias, and Deetjen ministers.

April 22.—Vasquez forces fight for the last time in Monte Christi Province, Learning that the president was leaving their country their chiefs give up and the men adhere to Wos y Gil administration.

April 24.—Vasquez and Dementrio Rodriguez go from Monte Christi to Cuba on gunboat Presidente. All resistance to Wos y Gil ceases. Jimenez returns from exile. Lilistas and Jimenistas reach understanding.

May 21.—Elections called.

June 8.—Italian minister arrives.

June 21.—Elections held; no opposition to Wos y Gil.

June 22.—Contract with Bancalari, Italian citizen and merchant in Samana, admitting a large claim he had against Heureaux administration, and assigning specifically customs of Samana for its amortization.

July 4.—Protocol signed for payment of claims of Italian citizens damaged in revolutions or making advances to contending parties. By it Dominican Government agrees to set aside $80,000 a year out of customs of all ports for their payment. This protocol was not published as required by law until after the overthrow of Wos y Gil.

July.—Jimenez named as financial agent abroad.

August 1.—Wos y Gil and Deschamps inaugurated under constitution.

October.—Government proposes to Congress to neutralize Samana Bay and make it a free port; believed to be in German interest and opposed by Horacistas and nationalists. Project abandoned.

October 24— Carlos F. Morales, governor of Puerto Plata, revolts.

October.—Raul Cabrera, Caceres, and other Horacista chiefs at Moca head insurrection and cooperate with Morales. They take Santiago. Guayabin comes from eastern Monte Christi and joins them. Practically whole Cibao comes under control of insurgents.

October 30.—German and Spanish consuls succeed in getting falling Wos y Gil administration to sign protocol recognizing and giving specific security to claim of German-Spanish commercial firm. The debt was contracted in Heureaux’s time and was claimed to be due by him personally.

November.—Morales remains at Puerto Plata while Horacista forces march on capital. Insurrectionary movements in Azua and Barahona.

November 4.—Wos y Gil besieged in capital. American (Baltimore and Newport), French, German, Dutch, and Italian war ships arrive. Horacista forces led by Eliseo and Raul Cabrera, Epifanio, Rodriguez, and Carlos Ginebra. Later are joined by Guelito Pichardo, Demetrio Rodriguez, Sanchez, and chiefs from Azua. Wos y Gil sends expedition by sea to neighborhood of Puerto Plata; it deserts him; he is without money.

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November 24.—Wos y Gil gives up and capital occupied by insurgents. Morales forms provisional government at Puerto Plata; Reynoso, Alfau, Enrique Jimenez (nephew of Juan I.), Pou, E. Cabrera, Victoria, and Ginebra, ministers. Vasquez and Caceres decline to be candidates for President; Horacistas refuse to accept Jimenez as candidate. All the chiefs of the successful revolution agree to hold an election in January and to submit to the result. Morales makes agreement with Raul Cabrera and Caceres that in return for Horacista support he will give them control of the cabinet and most of the provincial governorships. Intrigues for advantages between the Horacistas and Jimenistas.

December 5.—Morales arrives at capital. Guelito Pichardo and Manuel Machado succeed Reynoso and Alfua in cabinet.

December 10.—Jimenez and his partisans determine not to allow Morales to become President; they control the governorships in nearly all the Provinces, because the officials nominated by Wos y Gil had been selected from among anti-Horacistas. Anti-Morales pronunciamentos in Santiago, La Vega, Puerto Plata, San Francisco de Macoris, and Monte Christi. Horacistas under Caceres, Guayabin, and Cespedes gather for resistance. Jimenez goes to Monte Christi and makes it his headquarters on account of facilities there for getting munitions. Confused fighting near Santiago, La Vega, Moca, San Francisco, Samana, and Sosua. Both sides short of ammunition. Jimenistas dependent on supplies received by the Clyde Line and Horacistas on those from Morales at Santo Domingo.

December 13.—Plot to take capital itself from Morales; fails and Jimenista governor takes asylum.

December 17.—Morales goes to Macoris and issues decree exempting sugar from taxation for twenty years on cash payment of $15,000 by planters.

December 18.—Morales leaves Macoris for north coast, carrying 500,000 rounds of ammunition. Demetrio Rodriguez, governor of Macoris, pronounces immediately after his departure. Morales gets the ammunition into the hands of the Horacistas in the Cibao.

December 20 (?).—Azua and Barahona Provinces pronounce against Morales and select Pelletier and Carlos Mota as provisional president and vice-president. They advance eastward toward the capital.

December 23.—Guelito Pichardo resigns as governor of capital and minister on account of Horacista jealousy.

December 25.—Morales returns from north coast, having left one gunboat to assist in operations against Puerto Plata.

December 26.—Insurgents from Azua continue to advance on capital in spite of capture of boats carrying ammunition.

December 28.—Azua forces besiege capital on west side.

December 29.—Sanchez throws in his lot with Morales and is appointed minister of foreign affairs in place of M. Machado, who was last member of Jimenista leanings left in the cabinet. During the latter part of the month desperate fighting in the Cibao and near Puerta Plata; Jimenistas lose ground when they run short of ammunition and regain it whenever a Clyde boat arrives from New York. As a rule they retain possession of most of the towns, while the Horacistas gather numbers and momentum in the country districts. Bancalari buys for Government large quantities of munitions in Europe.

1904.

January 3.—Macoris retaken by Government.

January.—Caceres and Guayabin gain ground in Cibao; Cespedes successful at Sosua and advances west along coast on Puerto Plata. Navarro leads force from Cibao to aid in siege of capital. Demetrio Rodriguez operates on east of capital.

January 15.—Morales, Sanchez, and Horacista leaders at capital having determined to carry out pending protocol with the United States, and to seek American recognition and financial protectorate, Sanchez starts for Washington as special envoy.

January 15.—Columbia, Captain Miller, relieves Newport, Captain Mertz, at capital.

January 19.—Cespedes takes Puerto Plata from Deschamps. This was a decisive blow against Jimenez’s success. Ammunition and reinforcements immediately rushed up to Caceres and Guayabin.

January 20.—American chargé recognizes Morales government.

[Page 595]

January 21.—Caceres takes Santiago, and shortly the other towns of the Cibao.

January 24.—Demetrio Rodriguez defeats and kills Eliseo Cabrara near Macoris and retakes that port. About the same time Morales lands expedition at Sanchez and captures it. Active operations against Jimenista bands near Santiago and San Francisco.

February 1.—Machinist Johnson, U. S. Navy, Yankee, killed by orders of Demetrio Rodriguez at wharf in capital. Shots fired by insurgents besieging city from east side of river.

February 11.—American S. S. New York fired at and struck by insurgents on east side of river. Newark, Captain Wainwright, and Columbia, Captain Miller, shell insurgent position and land party which drives them back from the water front.

February 12.—Horacista forces from the Cibao approaching capital to raise siege. Morales forces make unsuccessful sorties.

February 15.—Siege raised by retirement of Pelletier and Mota toward Azua, of Navarro toward Ciboa and Monte Christi, and of Demetrio’s men to Macoris.

March 12.—Demetrio marches out to meet the attacking column; is defeated but escapes with most of his men across the country to Monte Christi; Macoris falls into hands of Government, leaving Morales-Horacista combination triumphant everywhere except in Monte Christi Province. Azua Province still disturbed, but Justan Diaz and other leaders of insurgents there are disposed to treat with Government. Small bands stray out in the woods near La Vega and Barahona.

March 30.—Morales goes to Cibao to make arrangements for decisive campaign against Monte Christi.

April 30.—Export duties increased; cacao $1.50 and sugar 10 cents per quintal; sugar planters refuse to pay.

Throughout April and well into May hard fighting with varying results in Monte Christi; Epifanao, Rodriguez, and Cespedes generals on Government side; Arias and Demetrio Rodriguez of insurgents. Azua and Barahona are not completely pacified and Perico La Sala stays out near La Vega. Rest of country quiets down, exhausted.

April 25.—Elections called for May 30.

May 1.—Protocols signed with Italian minister recognizing preferential contracts of Bancarlari and Vicini, and fixing November 1 as date of beginning payments on them and on the previous Italian protocol of July 4, 1903. Belgian and French bondholders formally protest against such diversions of revenue previously hypothecated to them.

May 14.—Import duties increased 12 per cent.

May 16.—Martial law suspended.

June 18.—Insurrectionary plot at capital; two participants executed.

June 19.—Morales and Caceres inaugurated constitutional President and Vice-President. Caceres, Sanchez, Valesquez, Pelegrin Castillo, Lamarche, Epifanio Rodriguez, and Bernard Pichardo, ministers.

June 3.—Through intervention of Captain Dillingham, U. S. Navy, peace agreement signed at Monte Christi between Government and insurgents. Desiderio Arias to be continued indefinitely as governor of province and not to be interfered with; insurgent troops to be paid off by Government.

A little later Sanchez goes to Azua and makes similar arrangements with insurgent band there; Justan Diaz, formerly insurgent, continued as governor, but subject to orders of Central Government.

June 28.—First American minister appointed to Dominican Republic arrives at Monte Christi. With Admiral Sigsbee makes tour of all ports of the Republic.

July 14.—Arbitral tribunal in Improvement Company case gives award. Requires Dominican Government to pay $450,000 for two years and $500,000 thereafter. Consternation among the members of Government, who think that it is impossible to meet such an amount, since, taken with all other annual obligations contracted since 1900, the total is more than revenues. Equal consternation among representatives of foreign creditors, who think they will receive nothing if so much is diverted to the Improvement Company. Government repudiates outstanding treasury orders heretofore accepted from local merchants as payment of customs. Great opposition to such action among merchants, especially in the north. Government finances in hopeless confusion; no money in treasury and no credit.

August 19.—On behalf of his own and the German Government, Spanish chargé protests against execution of the award.

[Page 596]

October 17.—Possession of Puerto Plata custom-house delivered to John T. Abbott, vice-president of Improvement Company, and appointed by President as financial agent ad hoc. This was on demand of American minister after strenuous diplomatic resistance by the Dominican Government. Latter reserves right to attack hereafter the reasonableness of the award, and begs the Improvement Company to allow it, at least temporarily, to use a portion of the revenue from that port in paying salaries in the northern provinces. Improvement at first allows such help at the rate of $20,000 a month—Puerto Plata revenues run from $50,000 to $100,000 a month—but withdraws it in a week. This action increases already bitter feeling existing toward Judge Abbott and his company, especially on the part of the Government and the political and commercial community at Puerto Plata and Santiago. Merchants who had made short-time loans on the security of the current customs are deprived of means to collect; employees are dismissed and salaries cut down, while the authorities at Santo Domingo are compelled to draw from the already depleted revenues of Santo Domingo and Marcoris funds to meet budget expenses in the Cibao. Improvement Company offers to guarantee the Government $30,000 monthly if the latter will request Judge Abbott to take charge of all four northern ports. Horacistas threaten revolution against Morales if he consents.

November 12.—Italian chargé protests against award on the ground that it interferes with the government’s ability to begin payments in November on Italian protocols. French chargé insists that the payment of $310,000 a year to French and Belgian bondholders be immediately resumed.

November 27.—President Morales begs that American Government take charge of custom collections at all ports as soon as his Horacista ministers become convinced that loan can not be obtained to meet improvement installments of $37,500 monthly and to facilitate arrangement with other foreign creditors.

November 30.—German war ship Bremen makes visit to capital. Her commander sees Dominical officials and European charges, but not the American minister.

December.—Minister of finance returns from Santiago and Puerto Plata, having met with no encouragement in regard to proposed provisional loan; finds it impossible to obtain from creditors concessions necessary to enable Government to continue in existence.

December 15.—Belgian chargé arrives from Habana to insist on renewal of payments to French and Belgian bondholders interrupted since early in 1902. He and French chargé intimate to American minister that system similar to that in force at Puerto Plata under award should be applied to the southern ports upon whose revenue receipts those payments are first chargeable. French fleet proceeds from Martinique to Port au Prince, and its intention of soon visiting Santo Domingo is announced.

December 30.—Negotiations looking to collection of customs by American Government at all ports begun.

1905.

January.—Spanish chargé endeavors to block Morales’s negotiations with American Government by assuring Tejera that German banks stand ready to furnish money for refunding loan. Tejera declines to bring suggestion before his associates of the Horacista party, which controls the executive council and Congress.

January 21.—Draft of proposed customs-collecting and debt-arranging convention signed; is immediately published by Morales in order to reassure public, which believes that annexation had been extended; insurrectionary plots cease; terms when known are exceptionally well received throughout the country except at Monte Christi. Admiral Sigsbee proceeds there. General amnesty declared.

January 29.—Local banker at Santo Domingo agrees to advance $75,000 a month to Government on security of turning over to him of the revenues of all ports except Puerto Plata; these advances to be temporary and pending the negotiation and ratification of a convention.

February 4.—In view of Governor Arias’s hostile attitude the Government requests the United States to take charge of Monte Christi custom-house under provision of improvement award.

February 7.—Convention signed and sent to Washington.

[Page 597]

February 10.—Admiral Sigsbee obtains Arias’s consent and Lieutenant-Commander Leiper, U. S. Navy, is peaceably installed in charge of Monte Christi custom-house as collector under the award.

March 14.—Italian war ship Calabria arrives; her commander has instructions to insist on fulfillment of Italian protocols; on being informed of the provisions of the pending convention and of the financial position of the Dominican Government he becomes convinced that an acceptance of its terms by all parties offers the best security for an ultimate discharge by the Dominican Government of its obligations.

March 20.—Calabria leaves for Kingston.

March 20.—News of Senate’s adjournment without ratifying the convention received at Santo Domingo. Immediate activity in revolutionary plottings throughout the Republic. Government doubles guards and arrests prominent Jimenistas.

March 23.—Belgian chargé formally demands immediate resumption of payments to French and Belgian creditors. Threatens to withdraw at once to Habana. Italian chargé, at request of Italian creditors, sends for Calabria.

March 24.—Minister of finance proposes that American minister take charge of all customs collections as agent for Dominican Government, paying 45 per cent thereof to Government for its budgetary expenses and holding 55 per cent for the creditors. American minister declines. Minister of finance then proposes that the President of the United States suggest an experienced customs man and a bank of deposit. Finding upon inquiry that such arrangement met the approval of all foreign creditors represented at Santo Domingo, American minister communicates the proposition to Washington.

March 28.—Calabria returns and remains about two weeks.

March 29.—President of United States consents to suggest American for customs receiver and an American bank to act as depositary.

March 31.—Dominican Government issues decree putting into effect proposed financial modus vivendi.

April 4.—George R. Colton’s name is suggested by President Roosevelt and he is immediately appointed general customs receiver by Dominican Government.

April 10.—Dr. J. H. Hollander arrives as special agent to investigate details of Dominican financial situation.

April 25.—Colton enters upon the discharge of his duties; leaves Dominicans in custom-houses; puts Americans in central office, in traveling auditor’s department, and on Haitian frontier. Organizes customs guard to prevent contraband over Haitian frontier, and puts into effect rigid and exact accounting system. The customs revenues immediately began to rise, and by the end of a year were almost double what they had been under exclusively Dominican administration. The proportion received by the Dominican Government gives the latter a larger and more regularly paid cash income than any administration had ever had at its disposal. Salaries paid promptly and armed forces begin to be put on better footing.

May 11.—Admiral Bradford replaces Sigsbee in Dominican waters.

June 1.—Lamarche made minister of interior and Leonte Vasquez of public works.

June 9.—Law providing for rural guard on Cuban system passed.

June 21.—American gold made legal standard.

June 24.—Epifanio Rodriguez resigns as minister of war to take governorship of La Vega in place of Guayabin, who is disgruntled with Morales because the latter has not protected him from criticism in Congress on account of alleged arbitrary acts. Perez takes war portfolio.

July 1.—Candelario de la Rosa heads small insurrectionary movement in Barahona Province; suppressed in few weeks.

August 7.—Montolio, formerly Morales’s private secretary, succeeds Pelegrin Castillo as minister of justice.

September.—Under modus vivendi administration running with smoothness unprecedented in Dominican history; power now being worth having and permanency of Government assured; rival ambitions in ruling combination begin to clash. Sanchez, Perez, B. Pichardo, and Montolio line up with Morales, giving him five of the eight votes in the executive council. The straight-out Horacista ministers, Velasquez, Lamarche, and Leonte Vasquez, fear they will be dismissed, but know they can count on the support of Caceres and Horacio Vasquez, a majority of Congress and the much-feared Horacista generals from the Cibao, as well as the dominant element in the capital.

[Page 598]

October 20.—Caceres, having become convinced that Morales is intriguing to expel Horacistas from participation in the administration and to replace them with Jimenistas or independents, suddenly visits the capital and demands the dismissal of Perez and B. Pichardo. Morales yields with bad grace. Perez sent as governor to Puerto Plata. Luis Tejera and Eladio Victoria enter cabinet, giving straight-out Horacistas control of executive.

November 6.—Small insurrectionary outbreak near Macoris headed by Berroa Canelo, nominally in Jimenez’s interest, but is suspected of having secretly fomented by Morales. Suppressed within ten days.

November.—Strained relations between Morales and Horacista having become publicly known, the former receives many assurances of Jimenista support. A representative of Arias and Rodriguez comes to capital and president makes secret arrangement with him. Minister Lamarche goes to Cibao to rouse Horacistas to a sense of the threatening danger. President discusses publicly with friends the advisability of reorganizing the cabinet; makes tentative offers of positions in it.

November 26.—President requests minister of war to dismiss the commanding officer of the Santo Domingo garrison. On refusal he verbally announces his intention of dismissing all the Horacista ministers.

November 27.—Minister of war closes gate of fort and gives orders that no resistance be made if American forces are landed to protect American lives and the custom-house. President retires to his residence. Street conflict imminent, with chances decidedly against President. Contending factions request American minister to be present at interview between leaders with view of facilitating compromise. Agreed that garrison commander be dismissed and that all positions outside of Monte Christi be held by known Horacistas. Caceres arrives and Morales renews former agreement to consult him before making any changes in cabinet. Luis Tejera made garrison commander and Ginebra takes war portfolio.

December 5.—At Caceres’s request majority of Congressmen caucus and agree in writing to vote for ratification of convention providing it be so modified as to provide that American intervention to preserve order can not be invoked without the consent of Congress.

December 6.—Many Horacistas believe that Sanchez is counseling Morales to make up a coup d’état, suspend constitution, and make himself dictator. Threats of killing Sanchez made by radical Horacistas; he sends word to Admiral Bradford that he is in danger of his life and that street fighting is imminent. Admiral sends landing parties from Olympia and Des Moines to Scorpion, which is anchored inside the river. Populace flies to arms, believing that the Americans are about to attack city and forcibly sustain Morales. Band of armed men enter palace with intention of killing President, who, they believe, has requested such intervention. American minister is present and at his request Caceres induces mob to leave palace. Sanchez takes refuge in American consulate. Great excitement, but no further disorder. Admiral withdraws landing parties. Lives of all resident Americans threatened by excited and irresponsible Dominicans. Sanchez resigns.

December 18.—E. Tejera made minister of foreign affairs.

December 22.—Perez takes measures to hold Puerto Plata for Morales, expecting to receive word of definite breach immediately.

December 23.—Morales consents to cabinet decree removing Perez, but secretly sends him word not to obey it.

December 24.—Morales clandestinely leaves capital with small party; intends to go to Monte Christi either overland or by gunboat, if the latter can pick him up on the coast. Commander of gunboat unable immediately to act with Morales because of orders from minister of war sending troops on board for transportation.

December 25.—Perez surrenders governorship of Puerto Plata to government nominee and sails for Monte Christi to join Jiministas there.

Decmber 26.—Morales breaks his leg trying to cross the Hiana River only 10 miles west of capital. Local “jefes” of Jaina resist government forces sent to capture Morales. He escapes into the woods near the road from the city to Jaina and lies concealed. With him is Enrique Jimenez, whom he had sent for to take position in his proposed new cabinet.

December 26.—Arias, Pichardo, Navarro, and Rodriguez pronounce Monte Christi. Gunboat deserts Government with arms and money on board and takes them to Monte Christi.

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1906.

January 1.—Special session of Congress impeaches President and calls on vice-president to exercise his functions pending trial.

January 2.—Rodriguez, Perez, and Deschamps, having landed forces brought from Monte Christi on gunboat near Puerto Plata, attack latter town. Bloody fight; 700 engaged; losses 162; insurgents defeated after entering town and Rodriguez killed. Same day Pichardo and Navarro, having marched up valley on Santiago, attack that town; they are easily defeated by superior numbers.

January 5.—Gunboat lands force under Barba and Perez on Samana peninsula; Sanchez attacked.

January 10.—Pichardo and Navarro defeated by Guayabin at Guayacanes and driven back on Monte Christi.

January 11.—Morales takes asylum in American legation.

January 12.—Morales resigns and is taken to San Juan by U. S. S. Dubuque, Captain Fechteler.

January 13.—Gunboat surrendered to Government in Samana Bay. Good offices of U. S. S. Paducah, Captain Winterhalter, asked by both sides and successfully given.

January 15.—Government forces enter Monte Christi, and Arias and others take asylum on board American war ships. Are taken to San Juan by U. S. S. Nashville, Captain Chambers. Insurrection over except for operations of small bands in country districts.

January 22.—Band under Pedro Mota and Peguero cross Samana Bay to Seybo Province and they are relentlessly chased through the woods and hills by Rubirosa and Presbyterio Hernandez for a month and are finally killed, captured, or dispersed.

January 27.—Barba surrenders on Samana peninsula.

January 31.—The two bands out in Barahona Province surrender.

February 10.—Cepin starts insurrectionary movement near Dajabon. Caceres announces his intention of resigning and calling Congress together to elect Vasquez, on account of pressure on him to dismiss Velasquez, minister of finance, brought to bear by merchants and military leaders in the Cibao.

February 15.—Dandelario de la Rosa starts an insurrectionary movement in Barahona Province. Zenon Ovando drives him into Haiti.

February 19.—Caceres agrees to serve out his term or at least until convention shall be ratified; this on account of urgent desire of more conservative and cautious element of his party.

March 7.—Vasquez arrives at Santo Domingo; his first visit for three years. He puts himself in accord with Caceres-Tejera-Valesquez programme in regard to convention ratification and economy in administration.

March 7.—Cepin killed in course of negotiations between Guayabin and insurgents for agreement as to local authorities at Dajabon, Guayabin, and Sabaneta. Insurgents under Mauricio Jimenez determine to make uncompromising resistance to Government. Mauricio is quickly joined by several hundreds, but is not able to undertake aggressive or extensive operations owing to lack of ammunition.

March 14.—Montolio retires from cabinet and his place taken by Bido.

April.—Guayabin leaves Monte Christi for visit to capital in order to get more money and reach understanding with central authorities. Insurrection gains ground.

April 20.—Congress passes law exempting sugar from taxation after August 1.

May 19.—Government buildings rushed in in night by 20 men.

June 9.—Velasquez goes to the United States in order to make arrangement facilitating a quick voluntary settlement or refund of debt immediately on the ratification of the convention and without compelling all creditors to await the completion of the investigations of a commission. Success would relieve current stringency beginning to be felt on account of heavy remittances to New York by receiver-general.

June.—Congress passes resolution declaring Italian protocols invalid; Italian consul protests.

Limardo takes Guayabin’s place as delegate in Monte Christi.

July.—Limardo’s conciliatory offers rejected by insurgents. Camacho’s attempts to catch and decisively defeat them also fruitless. Government troops desert in large numbers.

August 6.—Thurston and Milbourn, Americans in employ of general receiver, are killed by smugglers at Las Matas, a town near the Haitian frontier and [Page 600] for generations a center for contraband trade from Port-au-Prince. Ringleaders are allowed by local authorities to escape into Haiti, where they are captured by Haitian officials and sent to Port-au-Prince.

August.—Navarro lands on Monte Christi coast; Pichardo comes out of his hiding place in the interior; both join Mauricio. Insurgents take the aggressive and capture ammunition at Dajabon and Guayabin.

August 20—Archbishop and ex-President Merino dies; Adolfo Nouel, coadjutor archbishop, succeeds him.

September 20.—Large reenforcements sent to Monte Christi with Zenon Ovando, Justan Diaz, Zenon Toribio, and Presbyterio Hernandez as generals to assist Camacho. Government abandons policy of conciliation.

September 28.—Velasquez returns successful from the United States.

September 30.—Chief murderers of Thurston and Milbourn brought to Santo Domingo from Port-au-Prince.