The Indianapolis leader., 1882-01-28
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Haytien Affairs-A tempted Rev
OlutiOn-The Indians-Wilde
Oscar-Mis C el aneOus
Personal NOTES.-THE,
Etc, Etc.
From Our Special Correspondent


Hayti it seems, is again in the throes
of revolution. Risings have occurred in
different parts of the island, and an un-
successful effort has been made to assas-
sinate President Solomon. Thus far it
appears the government has been more
than match for the malcontents, which
fact nay be taken as a sign of the grow
ing tendency towards stability among
the Latin-American countries, which
has already reached Mexico and some of
the South American countries.
If Salomon maintains his authority |
to the end of his legal term and is then
quietly succeeded by his legally chosen
successor, then indeed will it look as if
Charles Summers views with reference
to this stormy island were being yeri-
fed. 1t will be remembered that he
opposed the annexation of Santo Do
mingo for the reason that he desired the
Negroes of this island, isolated as they
are from other countries and nations, to
demonstrate to the world the capability
of the race for self-government and ma
tional progressiveness. And it must be
admitted by the most ardent admirers
and supporters of General Grants plan
of annexation that this island of Hayti
affords the best possible opportunity in
America for the development of Negro
nationality. 1t is the only country in
the New World exclusively inhabited
and controlled by people of pure, or
nearly pure Negro blood.
Should Hayti maintain its independ-
ent existence, and the two distinct Re
publics now existing on the island unite,
as they of course will in time, the name
of Charles Sumner should be enrolled
high among the patriot saints of the ma
tiOnal calendar; for to him more than
any other man since Toussaint Louver-
ture is attributable the separate indie
pendent existence of the people of Co.
lumbus' Hispanola.
Louverture is their Washington, but
Sumner is their Lincoln and Grant
combined.
Representatives of the Chickasaw,
ChOctaw and Cherokee Indians are in
the city, fighting against railway ex-
tension through the Indian Territory.
The Choctaw legislature some time ago
granted right of way to the St. Louis,
and San Francisco road across the Ter
ritory, though not without strong Op-
position. Most Ofthe Indians now here
are representatives of the defeated fac
, ton, and are trying to influence the
Secretary of the Interior against the
railway intererests. They are men Of
education, influence and experience
among their people, and their reasons
for fighting the railroads are, doubtless
7 grounded in the fact that they know
, the coming of the iron track and the
. steam engine means the downfall OF
their petty nationalities, as we'll as the
rapid settlement Of the territory by
eastern people.
The aboriginal people, however
' might as well recognize the inevitable
and prepare for their own early absOrp
ton into the current of American ag
gressive progressiveness. Their feeble
opposition, far from staying the onward
e march of the latter, but givesit time to
. pause and gather additional force with
which to hurl itself resistlessly agains
each and every impeding opposition.
The idea that few thousand mission
. aryized Indians can permanently stay
S the onward march of American civil
ization into so fair and inviting a regior
as the Indian Territory, that region
, situated almost in the heart of the Ma
, ton, too, is quite too utterly prepOster
: ous to merit much consideration.
The Indians have been long enough
made the subject of game laws like ou
squirrels, rabbits and quails. Let then
e be forced by the logic of events-aI
t they soon must be-to adopt the habits
of civilized people and enter the strug
gle for life, fortune and fame just like
: the Negro, Caucasian, or Mongolian
} prepared to submit to the inevitable
e and eternal fitness of things as embraced
). in the law of the survival of the fittest
1t will probably be well enough to give
them little more than an equal chance
D as regards the acquisition and tenure o.
a real-estate, and then the territory should
be thrown open to immigration, rail
road building and progress Of every
sort. This is the only legitimate out
come of this question that any reason
y able person can hope for, and it might
as well come now as after awhile.
: The Indian has been nursed long
enough. Let him 90 to work now and
: live and die by his own efforts like
other people.
, Oscar Wilde holds the boards here
just now. Tonight (Monday) he lee
lures on the English Renaissance, al
< Lincoln Hail. He will doubtless have
.. a large audience, as the public is always
anxious to pay homage and money, too
to eccentricity or "crankiness," especial
lv when of the English type.
, Wilde is doubtles man of some r,th
4 mical genius, but his sense OF the beau
tiful, the good, and the true, seems tc
: be very literally leavened with the spec
ulative foresight of the money making
sharp. This accounts for his affectatior
5 of lilies, knee breeches, daffodils, etc.
;. He is aware of the existence of pruri
ent taste among large class of people
for any thing foolish, just so it comes
Z under the head of esthetic culture
p and he means to turn an honest penny
. for Wilde by satisfying this nonsensical