Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-04-17
NEGRO GOVERN OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
AND HAYTI

The spurious philanthropists and false phi
losophers who would reduce all mankind. OF
every race, cline, and color, to one common
level, who sacriligiously endeavor to blot out
the distinctive marks that great nature has
stamped upon them, and teach the doctrine
which Is IN contravention of all natural laws.
that universal assimilation and indiscrim;nate
amalgamation are practicable and proper, may
read in the dismal condition of Hayti, their
African Paradise, a practical refutation OF
all their doctrines.
Hayt, when discovered, was almost Para.
disc European cupidity and oppression turned
it into scene Of desolation and misery. In
process Of comparatively few years, the native
population was exterminated. Unable TO bear
the grievious burdens that relentless task
masters imposed upon them, they fingered in
misery..only to die in despair.
The whites then imported from Africa car
goes of hardy negroes to take the place of the
extinct native race. They multiplied like yer.
min. Their ambition increased with their
numbers, and, rising en- massc, 9hey subverted
the authority Of the whites, and established a
government of their own. How their experi-
ment has succeeded, we will now undertake 90
tell. Nor can we better express it than in the
language Of Hayti Abolition correspondent
OF the Abolition New York Tribune. This
correspondent thus writes:
"There is not the least doubt and we express
this with real phianthropical regret. that the
negro empire of Hayti is going down rapidly
with every year, and will be lost, without help.
The rotten machinery Of State and society went
on pretty well for while, as long as the illusion
OF the paper money lasted, and the ignorant
negro, by habit or want of reflection, received
the bad shinplasters Of this government for
good current money. During the time of
the Republic, the rulers Of Hayti were so pru-
dent as not to carry to an excess the manufac-
ture OF this paper, which has no specific basis.
Under President Boyer, the whole island formed
one single State, the expenses of Government
we're moderate, and living in Hayti was cheaper
than anywherelse in the West Indies
Even under the last President, Richie, the
amount of the paper money in circulation was
but Sl7,0OO,0OO. During the reign of the
Emperor Soulouque, the expenses of the State
have increased immensely, and in an equal pro-
portion the poverty Of the masses has augmen-
ted. The circulating paper money has reached
the immense sum of $50,0O0,000. Forged
bank notes have been imported in great guam.
titles, and are not easily to be distinguished
from the good ones. The paper has almost en-
tirely lost its value. All kinds Of goods have
risen in proportion, and living is actually rs
expensive in Port an Prince as in any
luxurious capital Of Europe. The army, the
public officers, the whole Government costs
now almost three times as much as Mt any time
OF the Republic, which, it is true, was likewise
by no means q model State yet even in its
worst condition did not attain such high dc.
gree of rottenness and corruption as the EN-.
pre.
Soulouquc seizes, as is we'll known, fifth
part Of the whole annual coffee crop for his
civil list, or rather for himself The coffee
cultvating negroes are obliged TO sell their
crop TO certain privileged. spectators, from
whom alone foreign merchants are permitted
10 buy. 1t is from the privileged SPECTATORS
that the Emperor receives this fifth part The
coffee crop is decreasing rather than augmenting
with every year. According to gentleman
well informed in these matters the coffee pro-
duct now am6hnts TO about 40,000,000 of
pounds annually, while, under the administra-
ton of President Boyer, it reached more than
60,000,000 Of pounds. On account of the in
creasing depreciation Of The paper money, and
the great injury suffered from the usury of the |
licensed spectators, the profit of the cpltiva- |
tors Of coffee becomes smaller and smaller: |
they dissuade certain things which they had
formerly bought from foreign manufacturers.
Their dress resembles more and more the |
simple primitive fashion Of their ancestors in !