New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-15
THE CASE FOR HAYTT.
STATED ON AMERICAN AUTHORITY.
A LETTER FROM A HAYTIAN CITIZEN, SON OF
THE BISHOP OF HAyTI, REVIEWING THE
TESTIMONY OF CAPTAIN COMPTON


AND CAPTAIN RAMSAY.
To the Edtfor Of The Tribune
Sir: As a citizen Of the Republic of IIayti and one
who as a missionary IS Interested IN her moral and
spiritual uplifting. would request OF you hearing
before tho American public through the columns OF
your newspaper Public sentiment IS being dashed
into fury b. the publication of sensational reports not
only TO the detrirnent OF HayIan national interests.
but at the expense OF candor. truth ana justice l
herein purpose TO submit to the unbiased judgment
Of the American people facts culcd not from aytian
but American sources: facts which were given pub
licltv but which have been rccgaied to oblivion.
probably from an idea that the publlc's memory is
limited
Captain Compton denies any knowledge OF blockade
and asserts that his actions did not admit OF the
Interpretation given them. How will he explain tho
following: In an interview printed in The Tribune
Of the 4th inst, Captain Ramsay, Of the Boston,
saws plainly: The first port the IIayten Reprblc
touched was at Cape Hayten, then in the hands Of
the Insurgents where she sold her cannon. the only
piece she had board to the Insurgents To claim
that this acton was lnfracon of the neutrality
laws or to maintain that a captain would sell his
only cannon without some ntmatlon as 10 what use
1t would be put to, s, to say the least pucr!e. In
its issue of November 10 "The New-York World
publishes an interview with Mr. T.. Lockwood OF New
Haven. Conn., who Is interested I'm the logwood busi-
ness in IIayr and who also brings facts concerning
the American steamer Hayden Republic, and who has
personally convcrsed with Captain Compton, This
gentleman distinctly says: "Whilc at Cape iIaytien
Captain Compton carry about 500 armed rebels
from there to Gonavcs. l cautioned the Captain
but he said he could not be held liable, he
only carrying them ordinary passengers These
armed passengers Informed landed at
Gonalves just as Legime's troops entered the town.
and that " a lively sklrmlsh the result.' Can
the worthy Captain plead ignorance of this incident!
The interview continues: then went from the Cape
to Port de Paix. l also met the Haytien Republic
there. l saw Captain Compton take on board over
500 armed rebels, whom he carried to st. Marc. l
told the Captain TO look out for HIMSELF as he would
be captured, but he did not heed my advice. The
result Captain Compton was captured in less than
three days by a Government man-Of-war, for the
very thing advised him not to do'
How is It, that in the face Of such testimony the
same paper in a transport Of rage qualities the I'M
offending citizens Of that Island as the miserable
negroes in Haytr? Aye, If they but " miserable
negoes' they are tenacious Of their indsputable
rights. Democratic oppression cannot be extended
from the South to Haytl
But to continue: Captain Ramsay IN his interview
further says OF the Hayden Republic: She next
STOPPED at Port de PAX, and took aboard about go
soldiers and went TO Gonavcs where she landed them,
ard returned to Port de PAX and got about ninety
more doubled on her voyage and took on those she
had let OF al GOneiNcS anu dHucu lHfH All a. o.
Marc, except nsurgcnt ENJOYS that she took to
Miraeoanc Aux Cages and Jacmcl She then returned
to 81. Marc, and while entering the harbor there,
the captain of the Dessalnes claims to have fired
a blenl. cartridge and then shot that went within
a quarter Of a mile Of the lIaytien Republic" The
least that can be said Of the above Is very damaging
Can Messrs. Lord Sc Austin consccnilously scrt
that Captain Compton consulting their interests
Certainly not in the face of such rrefutable state
olv. that thn p1tfaf
fred but that he had the impression that the Iaytan
officers were practising with their artillery. How
preposterous for Haytl TO be making target OF an
American merchantmen! Seven shots fired. one
Of which was blank, but strange enough the heroic
Captain thought no Ill Of the Iiaytans for dropping
shells dangerously near 10 him. Yet, the Claribel
and Ailsa of the Atlas 6. s. Company each OF them
hove-to soon blank shot was fired, and
altered their course after being Informed of the block
EIDE Of the ports they about to enter Apparently
the shippers of this line of steamers are better In
formed in maritime customs.
Again, II the Of the IIayten Republic claims
caught the drift Of the remarks and lnsinuatons
Of the Hayden prize and soldicry, while a Port
au Prince and that I'm spite OF their always speak
ing their native language Is It unreasonable 10
conclude that Captain Compton more than understood
tho reasons which were leading his ship out Of its
accustomed course, especially from remarks which
must inevitably have fallen from the largo numbers
he was carrying? But at any rate, why did he per-
slst in refusing TO show his papers to the Prize Court
Truth never shuns the light.
Attempts are being made to raise American indig-
nation by picturng the Haytans savages, capable
Of any outrage VIII facts bear this statement out
On November oG. the state Department wrote to
Ncssls Lord & Austin, TO this effect: Captain Of
Boston reports that lives and property OF Americans
ia IIayu are in no danger, and that the Provisional
Government has expressed its willingness to refer
the matter Of the Haytien Republic to Government
ard etc" l. II not reflection on Captain Ramsays
integrity perss, in this oucr that danger threatens
American lives and interests If they were vlndlctve
savages, would the stars and stripes have been left
to this day floating at the masthead of ship whose
crow entirely al their mercy Was 1t not con
sideroton purely and simply for the remorse felt by
guilty and socacd heroic captain But, as II to
confound these propagandists Captain Ramsay says:
Captain Compton never complained Of nltrealment
at the hands Of the Haytans," but TO show the mag
nanlmity Of the authorities, he admits that for being
denied admission to the Hayden Republic but once
the officer who responsible for II was punished,
and apology sent him Was this action character
represented! | fear not Let no one say that fear
prompted IT, for Il would the Boston have returned
For twenty years Hayu. confident of her right.
resisted the claims Of the American Government for
{. Pelletcr. She even acquesccd have an
American act arbitrator No one will soon forget
the famous decision OF Secretary Ba-ard wherein these
notorious claims nulied, and the conviction
expressed that mis- ht not right
do indeed regret If the report be true, that
1Iaytian resident IN this city should have said
that Captain Compton should have been shot this
This regret IS intensified lest he should he considered
representative type Of the IIaytiau born and
bred But be 1t known that he IL but a recently
natnIalzcd foreigner and inasmuch America would
not hold herself responsible for the violent sayings
OF recent. naturazcd Celt, those Iaytlans who
proud Of the orbearance shown by their country
I'm 30 tr.inc issue would not have their country
held res p0nsible for such violent utterances Her
en ghtened sons do indeed deplOre the internal up
rs.ngs which tear asunder her very vitals. | have
RETAINED from expressing sympathcs with either
OF the contendlng factions mine are for the country
AZ largo. for lis progress, and dignihed autonomy
chas by Christian influences Together with The
Herald J. condemn the nonobscrvance Of the
neutrality laws, whereby this country should moi
become base OF operation for supplies which Will
pTplong unhappy strife, aud regret that it IS
ports with military supplies Has Il" The WorldT for
gotten It's caricaturc Of an American naval demon
slration? Yours respectfully,