The Portland daily press., 1888-12-10
THE REPUBLIC OF HAYTI.
Country Who're Every Prospect
Pleases and Only Man Is Vile.

To the Editor Of the Press:
Hayti Is just now prominent subject Of
remark in all the leading newspapers Of this
country, not because reYolutionx one OF
the periodical kind, Is in progress In that
country, but on account Of the daring and
insolent seizure Of two vessels belonging to
citizens Of the United States, the steamer
Haytien Republic and a sailing vessel. The
United States government at once entered
vigorous protest against these acts on the
part Of Hayti, resulting in reference Of the
whole matter to our government in adiudlca-
tion. Our government having decided upon
purely legal grounds, that the vessels must
be returned and damages paid by Hayti, TO
eyerybody's surprise, Hayti with grim in
science worthy the middle ages coolly de-
clares that she needed the steamer just now,
being short Of war vessels, but that when
the war was over payment would be render
ed for her use. Our government does not
look at the matter In Just that light and has
peremptorily ordered the Haytian govern
ment to release at once the vessels and pay
damages or take the consequences.
II Is this act which has brought the repub-
lie Of Hayti into prominence and discussion.
Geographically. Hayti occupies the western
portion of the island Of Santo Domingo, pos
sessing about one-third Of Its entire area
Inc republic OF Sant1 o. Domingo occupies the
east OF Cuba, between the 10Th and 10Th
degrees Of north latitude, bordering upon
the Caribbean sea, the bright blue waters OF
which kiss Its southern shores.
The physical aspect Of Hayti Is mountain
Gus in the extreme. -Four ranges Of lofty
mountains run parallel clear across the
island from west to east, the lOftiest peak
reaching an latitude of 1900 feet In Hayti
the mountains leave but a small margin OF
shore and lowland, and 1t Is In these indenta-
tions into the mountain reaches that the
cities OF Haytl are built, containing popula-
tlon of a million and half, within a ter
rit0ry OF about l5O miles from north 10 south
and an average OF % miles from west to east
1t from necessity produces class Of noun
taineers, physically of suburb stature, vigOr-
Gus and capable Of great endurance.
The people are OF mixed origin and color
black predominating- Spanish, POr-
tugese, Indian and African blood being the
mixture. 1t Is the taint Of French blood
that makes this people so restless and the
Spanish mixture that produces the insolence.
While the physical environments are precise
ly Identical with those Of the people Of
Santo Domingo. Yet the difference In the
human characteristic Of the two nations II
remarkable. French is the spoken language
OF the people, who are fierce, restless, dis
trustful, inhospitable, treacherous and still
in condition OF standardization.
1t would make Yankee laugh 10 see the
armies Of Hayti. They remind one Of Fal-
staff's army. tall and short, fat land lean
men. clothed in nondescript suits, patched
and ragged, bright and faded, carrying gum
Of antique patterns and marching Ike a
mob. witnessed review Of troops In the
winter OF 1885 when there was trouble be-
tween that country and San Domingo. One
OF our new gunboats could travel around the
coast and burn every city without fear Of
molestation. The Haytian navy consists Of
two small iron steamers, which, were there
more OF them, we should class mosquito
fleet The people are natural towards before
a white man, ignorant, fierce, full Of bluster
and daring, possessing the tactics Of the In
dian, but having no knowledge Of the art Of
war. The law Of the country discOuTages
immigration, making it impossible for for
eigner to become the owner Of real estate.
The productions Of the republic are all
classes OF valuable woods and gums, mahOg-
any, Iogwood, satin wood, and lgnum vita,
being largely exported. Beeswax, tallow,
hides, coffee, sugar, cocoa and fruits are sta
pie articles. Her revenue from customs
reaches sl0,O00,000 annually. 1t Is this fact
that she Is so rich In natural productions,
and has such a large cash revenue, which
stimulates ambitious leaders to intrigue for
the possession Of the government, TO their
eyes legitimate spoils for division among
themselves. Gen. Legltime represents the
WOLoL clohchkSOl tnlS nation Oh seinl-plrhbcS,
and General Hippolyte the best. There Is
also one other fact which should be taken
into account in judging between these two
factions, the people Of the northern portion
contain larger element Of Spanish inlluen-
ces. Port au Prince, the capital, Is situated
In the southern part Of the country, Is dis
tinctly French city, while Cape Hayti on
the north Is as distinctively SDanish. IL can
matter very little to this country OF to civili-
zation which side wins. Until the laws Of
the country are changed and liberalized so as
TO admit and make II safe for foreign capital,
the republic will remain outside the pale OF
civilization. And yet 1t Is a country OF Won
derful natural resources capable Of supplying
the world with sugar, coffee, cocoa, and cot
ton. 1t holds the key to the Panama, guard
ing the principal thoroughfare, and posses
sesses climate naturally healthy and capa-
BILE Of endurance by white man. 10 Is a
yeritable Garden OF Eden in the possession
Of demons.
The question is arising whether 1t would
not be good policy for our government to
take possession OF that country. Do we
want II? What could we do with II unless
the demons were driven out?
III we refused In 1872 to receive Santa Do
mlng0 after her people had unanimously
voted for annexation, on what possible
grounds should we take possession OF Hayti
against the will Of her people? The people
Of San Domingo are mild, inoffensive and
ready TO welcome strangers, and the re-
sources Of the country are identical with
those Of Hayti-besides she occupies an area
three times the size of Hayti-and vet the
Senate.rejected this gift. The best thing Hayti
can do for civilization is to reproduce the
Kilkenny fight amongst themselves, and pos
sibly some day Eden may In that way be
occupation Of the white man. G. II. b.