New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-01-28
TIE HfYTTAN TRAGEDY.

In Hayti has occurred one of those bloody
events which have become characteristic OF
the desperation of tropical society. miser-
able drama, or at least most tragic chapter
in Haytian history, has ended with the violent
death of Slvain Salnave. The details of his
execution are barren enough, and, so far as we
know, he died in that brave and busincss-llke
WAY common TO men who deal with reyOlu-
tons, and who expect to shoot or be shot.
Yet his fate reminds us painfully of the death
of Iturbide and Macmillan, and of others who
have played with the blue fire Of ultra-SOuth-
ern democracy The shot which struck Sal
nave is a deadly note, awaking fearful echoes
from the past history of the Republican
struggle in the Indies and in South America.
Salnave came into power on the strength OF the
sans -cuottism, tempered by the military spirit,
which rose against Geifrard. That enterprising
ruler had given two hundred schools to llayu,
and seminaries, colleges, and small navy be-
sides He made his people cultivate cotton,
and had he been an ADLER ruler he would
have finally brought them to cultivate peace.
Salnaye represented a despOtic reaction with
the mob for its basis. and after three years OF
power has been overthrow by another party
of active Democrats, having the rude noun
taineer Picquets among their active supporters.
Who will dare affirm that when the revolution
rampant has once again become couchant in
the person of Salnave's successor, another strife
will not be matured in time?
There is a notion, common in all tropical his
tories, that revolutions are necessary to settle
ideas. and perhaps they are. But what revo-
luton will ever arrive to settle for the Hay
tians. and their fellow sufferers in anarchy, the
idea of revolution itselfl We hope they will
be fortunate, this time, with President Nissage
Saget we hope that Salnave's execution
will not be echoed year hence by
the shooting of anybody else; we
trust, in short, that lIayti has settled her
final idea, and that it is peace. Executions
however, are dreadful prognostics. That OF
Macmillan has had for comment the murder
of Patoni. and Banquo's ghost is always rising
up in this bloody way to frighten revolution
lists off their stools 1t is pity that the Hay
tians have not lived beyond the need of muir
der by cOurtmartial, for every shot fired IN
this way is an announcement that the spirit
which aimed it must die the death also. 1t Is
the old story over again somebody must exc
cute the eXecutioners
Admirers of our San Domingo bargain will
not fail TO notice that Salnaye was captured
by Gen. Cabral and his DOminlcans. There Is,
therefore, MISUNDERSTOOD and earnest am
ance between the party opposing the anneXa-
ton of San Domingo and the successful rcvo-
lutionists, whom, it is declared, our Govern
ment opposed by aiding Salnave. We have,
accordingly, two strong elements arrayed
against the purposes of our annexation
lists in IIayti, and the popular spirit
which brought Salnaye to his doom
NAV vet drive ont Baez. Considering
these things it would be unsafe to say that
our policy in San Domingo and Hayti has been
prudent, whether with reference to the man
who wished to sell the Mole st. Nicholas or
the one who sold us the Bay of SANTANA. We
may regard it as certain that very powerful
party has appeared against us, and that Saget
and Cabral are at present jointly the enemies
of annexation. Unless our bargainers can
purchase peace from them, we shall have an
unduiet bargain. Perhaps in time they, too,
will sell ont. Let it be our particular care not
to sell ourselves.