Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-10-01
HAYTI.
Some Interesting Points About q
Peculiar People.
Their Node of Living-An Inter.
view with Minister LanEstOn.
Nashville American.

view with Minister LanEstOn.
Nashville American.
John Mercer Langston, for some
tine and now minister from the
| United States to the republic of
1 HAyti, is in Nashville visiting his
daughter and son in-law, j, C.Napier.
In appearance Mr.. Langston is neat Of
dress, Of swarthy complexion, full
beard and is nearly six feet tall. His
conversation and language denote a
man Of intellect and reflection, while
bis demeanor, though dignifed, is yet
elastic at moments when warm with
the subject under discussion.
During a call at the editorial rooms
Of the American yesterday, to look
over some old files, Minister Langston
was invited to speak at length upon
Hayti and the results Of the mission
thus far. His speech is fluent and it
is marked by clearness Of diction;
whst he says is the combined outcome
of good judgment and earnestness Of
purnnse While it is evident that he
enjoys the elevated station and cult.
walton OF mind he has attained, he
sees in it mainly the reflection Of the
favorable opportunities his race have
fallen heir to. l iQ1 p
Hayi is an island OF the West In.
dies. After Cuba it is the most beau.
tiful Of the West India islands, lying
at about l7e Of latitude, about 4O5
miles long and 1855 miles wide at its
greatest width. 1t is only AS miles to
the southeast Of Cuba, and llS north
east Of Jamaica. Its population at
present numbers some 500. GOO mula.
toes aud blacks. The government is
modelled upon our own, being CONS
posed OF a president, who is at
present native Haytian and a
negro and, by the way, is a man OF
high culture, with an extensive &c,
quAintAnce In Europe and Of great
local popularity and influence. He
has a cabinet OF FIVE members in whose
hands is placed, by an intelligent dis
tribution, the work of carrying on the
details Of government These are
controlled, as with us, by Congress
which meets once year for session
Of general three months, composed Of
a lower and upper house; the lower,
or Chamber of Deputies, numbering
seventy-fve, and elected directly BY
the people, the upper, or Senate, be.
ing created by this Chamber, and
chosen from prominent natives. The
President himself is elected by this
Congress from the ascertained favo.
rites Of the people at large. His term
is for seven years, during which he
draws the handsome annual stipend
Of $4,000. Foreigners cannot hold
Office nor, in their own name, real
estate. The language spoken every
where is French aud a patOis Of that
language.
The conversation with Minister
Langston turned upon Hayti's com.
mercial relations with this and other
countries, during which it was ascer-
tanned that the bulk, both Of ex
ports and imports, is with the United
States. fbr
What" Mr. Langston was asked,
lis the value Of this trade with usl"
Between fourteen and twenty mil-
lions per annum," he replied. I'VE
have the trade both ways; and often
exports which are bought for Europe
an markets are sent first TO New York
to be rehandled and reshipped.
who carries this merchandise"
1T is largely in the hands Of the At,
las steamship company, IAN English
concern, which has been built up from
nothing in ten years, to be owners Of a
| full line OF steamers between New
York and Port au Prince, the CHIEF
port Of the island. In addition to this
there are many sailers plying between
Hayti and New York and Boston and
q great deal Of lumber is carried from
\ Wilmington, N. G. The growth Of
this company, with its twenty or more
magnificent steamers is certainly an
evidence Of the /: richness 'of this
island and the value Of its trade"
What relations have Southern
ports with the island?"
! Not so much as there should be,
with the notable exception Of vii.
mington. N. Q. New Orleans might
invite fruit imports from Hayti which
cannot be shipped as. far away as
New York, Newport News,
the recently opened coalinp
station near Norfolk, offers its pc
euliar and exceptional inducements.
Baltimore and Richmond ought,to
be able 10 introduce their flour into
the island-they have 10 point Of fact
apparently no ambition that way. all
the flour imported into Hayti
is out Of New York and Boston,
though much Of it is Of Western pro.
duction and might easily be sent out
through Southern port"
|. Continuing, Minister Lapgston said,
The Haytians are thoroughly inn
pressed with the greatness Of the
United States; the natives preferred
this country in every particular over
all others. Americans are received
With the utmost cordially. and
given every facility in the way Of
trade. The growing Importance Of our
trade with Hayti is being more fully
recognized by our government and
people. We ship to that country
nearly all the provisions, such as the
flour, pork, beef, fish and most Of the
tobacco used; many agricultural i'm.
plements, and other American bro.
duets, all Of which find their way
rapidly into the favor Of the natives
In fact American energy is gradually
eitectlng a peaceable revolution in The
island, very different indeed from the
rebellious war going on there at the
present time which, by the way, il
slowly gazing ground, but which would
not seem to promise 10 upset the pres.
ent administration. Americans have
introduced street railroads and many
articles Of household service. There
is a wide field for cotton goods of
American production. A feature OF
interest is the extensive use Of soap.
which chiefly comes from one firm In
New York city. They are the clean.
lest Of people, and their method Of
washing is novel sight done BY
women, who, at Port au-Prince. 70
halt naked into a neighboring stream.
a thousand at time frequently, where
rubbing and pounding OF clothes With
the hands and upon stones is prosecu
ted with untiring yigor. The climate
"a OF a mean temperature over all
the island OF about 75s, the noun.
famous region TO the center Of the
island being included in the
average. At Port-au, Prince, how.
ever, the heat il Of a nrolonged