254 CUBA AND PORTO RICO 



the latter year the western portion, embracing the present 

 republic of Haiti, was ceded to France. In L785, the two 

 hundred and seventy-fifth year <>f Spanish rule, France 

 was given sovereignty over the whole island, which was 

 formally abandoned by the Spanish government in 1801, 

 Toussaint L'Ouverture taking possession in the name of 

 France. Then followed Haiti's independence of France, 

 and the period of the black Haitian empire under Dessa- 

 lines until 1806, when Spain for the second time reestab- 

 lished herself in the eastern half of the island, under the 

 old name of San Domingo, Haiti continuing as a separate 

 country. In 1821, during the period of general Spanish- 

 American revolution, the San Domingoans proclaimed 

 their independence of Spain, and established for them- 

 selves a republican form of government under the flag 

 and authority of Colombia. At this time most of the oh} 

 Spanish element migrated from the island. In the follow- 

 ing year the two republics of the island again united their 

 destinies under a government known as the republic of 

 Haiti, which continued until 1843. In 18-44 San Domingo 

 revolted from Haiti and established the Republica Do- 

 minicana. From that date to the present Haiti and San 

 Domingo have remained independent of each other and 

 have grown more and more distinct. In 1861 Spain for 

 the third time established its authority in San Domingo, 

 which was retained for four years, until 1865, when 

 its flag was withdrawn. Since then San Domingo has 

 maintained its autonomy. Thus it will be seen that 

 within less than a century San Domingo has been suc- 

 cessively under the Spanish, French, Haitian empire, 

 Colombia, Haitian republic, independent, Spanish, and 

 independent flags. Moreover, the country has been torn 

 by internal revolutions, and up to within recent years 

 by constant warfare with Haiti. The people, realizing 

 the hopelessness of their isolated position and the need 

 of a strongly organized government, in 1869 voted to 

 annex themselves to the United States. A commission 



