The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-02-14
The Recon, Revolution In Hayt,,

The Recent Revolution In Hayti.
The result of the revolution in Hayti,
which was published in full in our columns
on Saturday, opens new chapter in
the history of the msgoverned island of ST.
Domingo. Once before Hayti was a republic;
but by the cunning of the negro Soulouque an
empire was erected in the western part Of the
island ard after an existence Of ten years it has
fallen; the standard of the republican party now
floats over the capital of Soulouque's quondam
residence, and the ex-monarch like many another
before him, has sought the shelter of foreign
flag.
From the time that Hayt came under the GO
vernment Of the negro race its retrogression has
been towards barbarism. Every interest in the
country, except The private ones of Souiouque,
has been declining Favored with fine climate
and productive soil, ST. Domingo, under good
government would be one of the richest aud fair
est islands in the West India group; but under
the biiebting influence of the mongrel race into
whose hands it has fallen, it has lapsed into com
mercial insigniicance and political degradation.
Five and twenty years ago Hayti exported near
ly fifty million pounds of coffee million and a
baif pounds of cotton, and over two mil
lion pounds of tobacco, annually. Ten
years later the exports fell to thirty million
pounds of coffee and half million pounds
Of cottOn-the tobacco trade having even
before that period been wholly destroyed.
The population, too, has been decreasing--a fact
which affords the strongest evidence of the de-
cline of any country Thus it will be seen that
the history of Hay like that of Mexico and the
South American States, gives confirmation to the
idea that no country in which white blood does
not predominant can progress with equal foot
steps with those nations where that spirit and
enterprise which we are wont to call Anglo
Saxon prevails The normal condition OF these
nations is one Of disorder aud confusion. Upon
the verge of chaos, they are always trembling
ard until the white race takes the place of the
half barharous people who govern them, these
countries, with all their mineral wealth, their
as they now are. undeveloped.
Under the new order of things in Hayti there
may he chance for the people to prove whether
they are capable of redeeming their country
under popular form of government. There
may be wisdom enough among them to CONSOLE
date the two republics of Dominica and Hayti
under one head, and, by adopting prudent and
peaceful policy, restore to the island its COM
merce and its prosperity. But we confess that
we do not expect to see such result On the
contrary, we incline to the opinion that the
Gefirard fmaae is but the beginning of a long
spell Of disorder and bloodshed, and that
the negro republic will afford no better ex-
ample of good government than the negro en-
pire whose pillars have just been pulled
down. The negro is an initiative animal.
of Cef'r"rd followed by half a dozen others.
until, like Mexico, there shall be host of lead
ers, each contendng for the mastery, and tear
ing their unfortunate country into shreds.
Besides, the hostility which has always existed
between the Dominican republic on the eastern
side of the island, whose population is COM
posed OF the remnant of Spanish dominion
here and there with the negro
ace, and the empire Of Hayti, has not
subsidized with the change of government in
he latter. 1t is a deadly animosity, born of
The prejudces Of race and the memories of for
ner persecution, which, in the breasts of semi
oarbarous people, cannot be easily allayed: |
md as long as the nation occupying two. |
birds of the island, as Dominica does. is mimi |
aI to the interests of the other third. and ready
It any moment to come into armed collision.
bere can be no progress for the country In
ernal dssensiops and the ambition Of a brutal |
ace of leaders are insurmountable barriers to
he advancement of any people. St. Domingo |
possesses every advantage necessary to prosperi- |
y. The island contains an area of rs. 900 square
niles. The climate is rs salubrious as that of |
,uba. The soil is very productive, as the sta |
istcs above referred to abundantly prove.
sugar, coffee, tobacco and cotton can be raised |
here in large quantities. 1t has several fine
arbors, inviting an extensive shipping trade
Yet, with all these, its commerce is going
ompletely to ruin. Its financial affairs
re inextricably confused, and its people
we're, under the rule Of Soulouque, the most
oppressed and degraded probably 10 the world
oulouque adopted the same despotic course as
Dr. Francia did in Paraguay, and Lopez is adopt
ng there now, and with like results. lie absorbed
ii the trade of the country in his own private
populations, enriched himself at the expense of
very interest in the nation, and mercilessly
acriliced to his avarice and his ambition all who
pposed his schemes. But in spite of his tyranny,
he position of Soulouque was comparatively
I'm until the financial crash came upon Hayti,
bout year ago, which originated with the swind-
ng operations Of NJ. Reimbaud, smart broker,
18th whom it was alleged Soulouque had
zen engaged in some financial transactions.
bull and spiritbroken as the people were, the
'ide spread commercial ruin which followed the
light of Reimhaud, who, il is said, absconded
nth five millions of dollars, reused them TO a
ense Of the oppression under which they were
1feriDq This WAS the bey;pn;n NJ ~ A.; |