The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-04-05
AFFAIRS IN THE BLACK REPUBLIC,
LegItime's Proposals for Peace and
hIppoIyte's Reply.
We Are High In the Favor OF the In
surgents.
The French Chamber Votes In Favor
of Prosecuting BouIanger.

CAPI dAfTlEN, daytl, Marcn ZI-ln q
proclamation issued March 9th President
Legitime declared the insurgent ports of st.
Marc, Port de Paix, Gonaiyes and Cape Hay
tian to be in state Of blockade and in effect
from that date. There is semblance Of a
blockade at st. Marc and Gonaives, but at
this port 1t exists only on paper, no armed
vessel of the opposition having appeared off
the harbor since Jan. II. Admiral Gherardi,
commanding the United States naval squad
ron. has directed Commander Kellogg of the
Ossipee to proceed with his vessel to the
ports under the so-called blockade, note its
efficiency, and to see that American interests
there are not illegally jeopaIdized. The Gal
ena, In the meantime. continues to guard the
rights Of Americans at Cape Haytien.
The English steamer Delta arrived at Cape
Haytien March 10th. bringing peace COM
mission, composed OF Messrs. dAubigny.
Mot and Hermann, who are respectively
the Uruguay, Denmark, and Belgian repre-
sentatives at Port au Prince. They did not
appear as agents Of their governments, but
as representatives of the mercantile interests
at Port au Prince. but they were empowered
by Legitime to offer the following terms;
Legitme to retain the office Of President, and
grant amnesty on submission to his authority, TO
all now IN arms against him; also, to allow the
Northern Generals to retain command OF their
respective forces
These terms the Hippoiyte party declined
to accept, and substituted:
That both Presidents should resign and the
Hippolyte and Legitime agreeing not TO appear as
candidates.
The convention met March 21st, but as the
meeting was held with closed doors and its
proceedings were kept strictly secret, the
result can only be imaged.
An Interesting lQffQr vvriffQn Eahru-
airy 10 to the Haytian minister Of for
eign affairs, Mr.. A. Firmin, calling his atten-
ton to the fact that the official journal Of the
Legitime faction at Port au Prince had
the North had dispatched an envoy extraor-
binary In the person Of Mr. Frederick Ellie
to the United States, charged to obtain rec
ignition Of the rebellious departments as
belligerents; also to solicit the protectorate
OF the United States and to offer Mole st.
Nicolas to the Americans as guarantee. On
behalf Of the protesting departments DIR.
Auguste asked the minister for an explana-
tion of the article, which was given as fol-
lows;
United States to attend to the emission of
paper money, which the provisional govern
ment had projected In conformity with the
opinion OF the entire press Of the three pro-
sufficient authority to seek our recog-
milton as belligerents, question which
has been pending since October last.
but there Is no question Of soliciting the pro-
tectorate of the United States, taking the
word 'protectorate' in the narrow sense
which makes the country protected a semi
dependency Of the protectors as, per example.
TuniS and France. Although the
three departments have resolved to disappear
in preference to be under the yoke Of the
usurpers Of Port au Prince, the provisional
government will never consent to ALLEVIATE
single inch Of our territory, even to obtain
the triumph Of our just cause.
Having made this declaration / wish In
no wise to dissimulate the sentiments of
sympathy and profound gratitude of the
provisional government for the noble con-
duct Of the government at Washington in
the strife which actually separates the Hay
tian Republic. While other governments
have seen fit to close their eyes to our legiti-
mate claims and close their ears TO the lie
galties and horrors committed at Port au
Prince, by openly upholding the nsurpers in
manner absolutely In opposition TO the law
OF nations, the government Of the
United States has shown the most correct
views, by observing the strictest neutrality
to accord any more consideration to one par
ty than to the other. Such conduct is calcu-
lated to command the esteem and admiration
OF the three protesting departments. For
this reason, | feel, for my own part, no re-
luctance to accord to the United States ex-
clusiyely. all economical advantages. COM
mercial and maritime, which are not In con-
tradiction to our national sovereignty.
II express this opinion personally, with all
the freedom possess outside Of the acts OF
the provisional government, and think that
opinion is shared by the entire population Of
| the three departments. 1t is homage rem
dered to the virile generosity of the great
| people of the United States, who each day
right and justice, which they pursue with
marked devotion"