New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-05-21
Hay,i and the Emitted states.

drawn toward Hayu oy the lnVeIEeu''ou
which our Government has undertaken--
fruitlessly, as it seems between the Hay
tisns and Dominicans. As We have lirtle
LIGHT TO cast on that affair, it seems proper
to clear up at the same time the previous
policy of the United States toward the
people of the Island.
That policy we have already alluded to
as bad and inconsistent alike with the
honor and interests of our country. We
are sorry to say that though some OF the
secret transactions of former times are not
now initiated, our avowed public course
does not seem to have undergone any con-
siderable improvement in the hands of the
present Administration.
After the United States, Hayti was the
FIRST region in the New World TO declare
its independence of European rule. That
fact should have insured to its people
consderate and even friendly treatment
on our part. They were comparatively
Ignorant, uncivilized and weak in every
thing except courage and the indomitable
resolution to be free another reason why
we, being stronger, older, wiser, moro high
" favored, ought to have helped them
forward on the best road toward intelll-
gence, order and prosperity. Moreover
thew were blacks, Of race hitherto eX-
cluded from any but the most servllc posi-
ton. Now they had set up for them
selves. and every dictate of humanity re-
ouired us to look with kindness on the
attempt of this down-trodden and untOr-
tunate people to enter on the career OF
self government and progress. Besides,
they had done at least their part for the
general cause of liberty on this Continent.
When in 1916 the LiberatOr, Bolivar, hav
ing been driven from bis own country by
the Spaniards, ard from Jamaica by their
attempt to procure his assassination, fled
to Hayti, Potion, then President OF the
Southern part of the Island, furnished him
with AIMS and means to make the final
effort which freed Colombia from the
Spanish yoke. And last but not least, our
interests as a commercial power required
that we should cultivate smicablerclations
with a peoE 10 above million in number, at
our very door, needing the products of our
soil, our workshops and factories, and
ready to maintain with US profitable and
increasing trade.
1t is vain to say that the peculiar origin
of this negro State relieved rs from any
duty toward it. Its origin was indeed
marked by cruelties, but the rigorous YER
dict Of history is that the fury Of tho
b, acks in revolS was equaled by tho cruelty
and perfdy of the whites who had before
owned and still sought to enslave them;
and that the savage rsgeof Dessalineswas
fully matched by the cold bloOded inhu-
manities of Rochambeau. The wickedaess
was far greater on the side of the whites,
for they called themselves enlightened,
while what could be expected Of people
half whose number were personal impOrta-
tons from Congo, with sheir native ferocity
only stimulated by their experience as
slaves.
In short, the duty, and, above all, tho
interest of this country, should have made
our Government recognize the indepeud-
erce Of Hayti as soon as regular Admin
istration was there established. Certainly,
after the whole Island was united under
Boyer, in 1921, there was not the slightest
valid excuse for Withholding this recogni-
ton.
1t is vain to say that the internal dis
sensions of Hayti have been such as to
preclude US from such a step. They have
been no greater, nor so great, as those Of
some South American States which were
recognized without hesitation. From 1913
to l843 Hayti was comparatively tranquil
under the Government of Boyer; in 1925
the independence of he Island was recog-
nized by France; ithas since been recognized
by England and other powers, but up 10
this day our Government has not seen fit to
make any proper recognition Of H.yti,
although to have done so would have con-
ferred great advantages upon our COM
merce, to say nothing about any other
considerations.
The reason of this is palpable. 1t is
that the policy of our Government has
been dictated by Slavery at home, and has
been Slsvish policy. Had the Haytians
been of whittier complexion, or had they
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