New-York tribune., 1868-02-01
THE VEST INDIES.
IIAYTI.

FRI Cur Correspondent
~ PORT AU PRINCE, Jan. s, 1868
The Paris MoHitepy has recently devoted an
article to the subject Of tho Concordat some years ago
concluded between Hayti and the Court Of Rome and
about which, il seems certain difficulties have unex-
pcrtedy arisen with the present Haytian Government
The subject is so novel; ana the facts stated as TO the
religious condition Of Ia) Of so interesting char
acter that the grtclo the main portion Of which we now
reproduce could hardly fail u attracting attention
Avery serious question the future Of Hayti, says
the Monie, has presented itself. and one with re
gard TO which il is somewhat difficult to discover he
intentions Of the Government. II relates 10 te Con-
cnrdat concluded with the Court Of Rome, under the
Presidency Of Cen Gelmrd Numcrgns difficulties have
arisen. appears as 10 Tie application OF ms acI pc
weeu the Clergy ana lie Government. NJ DcloIne tNe
Minister for Foreign Affairs, who formerly manifested z
strong hostility 10 the ConcOrdat Wien ~ was stnl'cu
he vote Of the Chambers, Is quite disloseu Is re
cether and President Sanave has shown himself 1t Is
also said, 10 better disposed TO defend i. 500
The C0ncordat signed on the 2Sh OF March, lstV
and has for object 10 regulate the Observance OF the
Catholic religion Ia tho country and TO determine the
power reality. It's design is to give the members
Of the clergy high position as 10 promote the lhtO
yOnd doubt IL derives, Also real Importance IN 10
ca point Of view When Is taken into account tat II
ons There attempt 20 conceal the fact tnat large
part Of the Haytian population follow idoa.r0gs pac
ccs very lUuc since tho altais tf the Nadou&
God ian African Deity stood in the very palace Of TIE
sovereign The Emperor 6oulouque. WHO never neg
ccted any OF the official and public ceremonies Ol INC
Catholic Church, kept sacred serpent which he even
went far as to wOifip Throughout large section o
tie country parts ana especially in the mountains, %
reproduce an the ancient supcrstiuona Of africa and
sometimes also their cutltics They have oIlen oStei
up human sacrifices Many Of tAe Governments which
have succeeded anoaCr IL Hay have made repeated
efforts 10 destroy this rhGion Neither severity
however nor pcIsUasIUh has succeeded ~ puttA& u
down. Morals ard civilization suffered equally nom ts
state 0f things, which lie clergy or hay 8en clAer
nom the isuOaut and debased portion - the polu
atlon composed OF foreigners unW1hy oi the nJile
priests, quite Gs pOTeTlc5 rs tie Government 20
IKE idea Of q Concardat with the Court Of Rome. in
s pfGr - ,rrfSr GoTr o. c5,ctT m 10 @ f nriesfho6d in
Hayu was long considered to DO the snest emeo iuI
eminent with the Court Of Rome renewed IN erect
1874; since which time three successive negotiations
nave taken place fo the conclusion Of COncorda Tho
1872 they seemed to have better chance u successwAcH
tho events broke them OF IN ie's. shoIt Iine
M Fauhert Baytau subject then in Europe was sent
a mission 10 open conference WITH tie hoy S,e ne
went 10 Rome, pracOusly received by hi. Hoi
the Pope, and with me hssstauce OF Mgr Dutos,
quiar, french cCc'tlasbc WHO " 10" AItlDIsnot Ui
i'oitauPInce lac finally conelnd an arrangement ~
Which, u may he said. the Court OF Rome was satisfied
with advantages than had ever before been secured
To it any act Of the same KIND Ihe toneoIia ic-
upon which the Haytian Constitution rests, and N
Nord allowed TO the civil as large part ana ihu
Tho Nomination II the bishops and the dIeblshols De-
longs tho President Of the Hayan Republic: the can
bishops and arcbishos take the oath from hc LANDS ~
The President while it j. administered 10 te otb-T M N
bers OF the ecclesiastical Hierarchy bY C'N authority
delegated by the President. the vaiiors members, VI
general, curates. ana wears are nominated ~ ls
tfee lV the arChhhuls and bishops hat Only those VINO
are acceptable 10 the government chosen The bouu
daTies of tie various doce. Is are fixed by tie Holy
Father, m accord with the cSl authority. This Latter
liberty to institute or not chapter OF Gan0Es ana
also 70 create orders and religious cstab shnents In
short the arclbshOps aud bishops are paid by tho Gov
eminent while the cUrate Wears professors ara direct
OIs OF The scminarics ae 10 DO supported cut Oi the
The exchange Of ratacaons took place at Rome The
2;rh az September 1860 between Cardinal AntOnoi and
IN,
OF vast utility ia The mpr0y OF Tho morality oi ho
deprived OF good xampes wasnOt howeY er, received
with great enthusiasm oven by the upper classes Ihcsc
classes and that perhaps may be the Teasou assume an
Independence of ideas which amOnnt III fact, 10 Tgei-
gOn They imagine that they lower their dignity Dy
according The cOmmOncs token Of respect TO the Churoh
its representatives. and the lower is but too eager
% follow them. Not long time ago marriage was very
thing even In some OF the towns MS 10 e country
Districts t the present time as much as 9rrery coc
Diuage is an established custom, ana the WOfOundc@t
Ignorance ahd most RIDICULOUS suilsutlOn Piefh hlmg"t
eyegywheTe The Old clergy, being independent OF tue
have shown themselves extremely tolerant Ningy rec
onciDg supersons practices 10 the eDetS and morality
who naturally show but little sympathy Win the tstab
force respect for the laws OF morality.
In 1894 under the Presidency OF NJ Geffrard, kind OF
Adoubi, broke out principally among the wOrshpers
Of the Vad0pr god. In 1896 more enlightened oppos
COncOrGat IN this case the question related 10 the
charges for ecclesiastical services This IS in iact unor
tuuatey question upon which the critics are less spar
Eg of the clergy than upon any other These charces
are, however necessary according TO thc terms OF the
COncOrdat for the formation OF common iuDd 10 be
used in defrayng Chureh expenses ana Tor the mahte
nance or the priests.
longer sustained by the Government, az in The
time OF President Gcfrard aud il appears that majority
Of the Chamber has manifested hostility 10 H. The Court
Of Rome would accept the Concordat with the mod
incatons proposed. The Baytian clergy having com
petey Withdrawn Themselves from ts authority, Will be
TOO easily recruited from interced or
priests and the Holy Father cannot consent to accept
The moral responsibility for acts committed by priests
whom he had not chosen aud over whom he bas 10 con
In fact notwithstanding all the efforts which have been
made for time past 20 disseminate education as fr
as possible and to teach the knowledge Of the principles
Which govern society," Hayt is still far from being like
Europe In these respects With the exception OF the
hgher classes who do not avail themseves Of the modest
offices OF the country curaes intelligence ~ very rare
II stated moreover that the Deputies have decided
deprying the Archbishop OF the subsidy granted TO
his college az POrauPrince and perhaps even 70 cut
OF his proper allowances.
IL no doubt be regretted that in the face OF such
disposition certain members of the clergy have not mani
festcd in thcr relations with the Government that con-
ciatory spnt which is necessary, tie more so because
the installation OF the new clergy having been so recent
impression upon the Old ncnatiOns and habits OF the
people; .,,ovo ,ov.oror ., NJ no,o,-c and Con Sal.
nave are both too Tar sighted 10 come To an open rupture
They cannot deceive themselves 10 The real feeling
which exists m Hayt Ihey have enough intelligence
and enough experience 10 COmpre hend that il IS only 10
an enli ycned clergy that they cOnfde tire wOIk Of
mOralizng population. and inspiring IL with relish
for labor and tIanquity and as hey are aware OF the
difficulties which they have 10 encounter, The Govern
ment shOud, without doubt, itself make choice ~ the
clergy they prefer forgetting former Misunderstanding
an institution ~ rival Importance for the future OF the
country.
AZ meeting Of the Bibie Society Washing
ton d. G. an appeal made TO tho churches raise
means IN nav debt due 10 the present society of S29a
for Tt{i,le. Rev Mr. Pitcher said that