New-York daily tribune., 1861-05-27
rHR LESSON OF ST. DOMINGO,

As the war now raging On this Continent involves
nearly the elements that entered into the revou-
tionary history Of the French part Of the leland OF St.
Domingo the teachings Of that history unspeakaty
iuporant 10 our Government at this moment Thougn
The st. Domingo crucible was smaller, and the chemi-
cal ingredients perhaps lte concentrated, the
result of that experiment must in the main determine
that of erander one except 30 far as we have the
wisdom to modify 1t by varying the manipulations.
no existing example of African Slavery, as the basis
of European civilization, is probably quite old
yas that of ST. Domingo at the time of its humiliation,
and none seems the whole, well fortified against
change It's was the first decisive encounter Of the social
forces that belong such state of society wherever
II exists and now that these forces have suddenly
rushed into conflict here if we wise we shall dis
card vague traditions that may be traced back TO reu
gee planters who threw themselves hospitality
under Galbaud in 1898, and verify, before believing,
the histories that attribute all the horrors to philan
throphy acting slaves, and recognize nothing but
ruin as the result.
The best sources of information in regard to the
revolutionary history Of ST.. Domingo being French,
are the least accessible. Bryan Edwards, and Rains
ford the principal English writer's, deal out most Of
the facts that at second hand with English
glosss Of their own and warped 10 suit an intensely
Pro-Slavery philosophy. The details OF white French
eyewitness, such as Gen. Pamphie Lacroix, and
Col Mslenfant, whose prejudces, if they had any,
were not in favor Of the negro, give wholly different
view Of the case. The daylight which 10 let in by
them here aud there becomes the clear and coudess
snnshne of consistent and natural story in the work
of Victor SchoIcher published IN Paris in iS4S and
sill more If possible, in the much fuller history Of
b. Ardoun, Paris, 1885, in which every important
statement is verified by ample quotations from the
original documents. After q carefGl study OF these
authorities present. briefly us possible TN unvar-
shed tale of the period which is parallel TO own
present crisis, and shall call particular attention to
some Of its points. The pride and prejudice Of race
and color may be great luxures, but St. Domingo can
teach us what they cost.
The French Revolution OF 1889 found the population
of the Colony of st. Domingo consisting of three
elases First there about 4J2 900 negro slaves,
chattels, whose lives were held cheap because they
could easily be replaced from Africa. Second about
5000 Whites divided into planters and pet'ts N0ncs,
or poor whites. All whites, Of pure blood, who did
not own than twenty slaves were reckoned poor
or little. Third, % 900 mulsttoes, or men Of mixed
blood in whatever proportions. Their blood was con-
sidered tainted and though free, they bad no equality
with white men IN the eye Of the law, which carried
their disabilities to such extent that one who pre-
snmed to strike white OF any condition was punished
by having his right hand cut off. Yet not few Of
them were nch and well educated, the class having
Possession Of onehrd Of the real estate of the COLONY
and one-fourh Of the personal including slaves. To
ss class belonged few freed Africans, who were not
more oontemned BY the whites than were the Iabest
Dnlattoes. The prejudice against color seemed to have
strength inversey proporiOnste to the difference of
color between the parties.
For many years prior to 1889, the eOloniss, especi.
ally Of the white proprietor class had been aching 10
sa'ow of the yoke Of the mother country and as an
sMonana 81 MARI