New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-05
HAYTI A NATURAL GARDEN.
A TALK ON THE REVOLUTIONARY
REPUBLIC.
ADMIRAL GHERARDIs PRACTICAL VIEWS
WEALTH WHICH DOES SoT NEED MANS
LABoR-DREAD OF REBELLION.

LABoR-DREAD OF REBELLION.
In Washington paper II was published day or
two ago that Rear-Admlral Gherards frequent visits
TO Washington had resulted in Pres dent Harrison and
secretary Blaine's receiving information con
corning the people, the products and the commercial
prospects Of the Republic of Hayt than
could be obtained from almost any other source II
Is true that Admiral Gherard made himself familiar
with all these things when in Hsytl: that he made
large number Of friends in Cape Haytien by his c0ur-
/ eous manner, and the friendship of President
lyppoite by his able diplomatic advice and aid, ana
through these sources received unusual privileges 10
obtain Information the needs of the Haytians for
their improvement He was asked Just before HIS
vessel sailed for Hayti Tuesday for his views OF
| that part of the island and its people lie said;
There IS nothing much protest against as
newspaper Interview Not that am not willing TO give
Information, but talking IS not my forte My idea OF
the agricultural condition of Hayt is that nature has
done everything that It IS possible for the SOIL The
natives do not Inclined else they do not know
Just what to do to help themselves in the way of the
cultivation of'he lands In the sense of production
by labor, there is no such thing coffee planting
among them, such you I'm Brazil and in other
parts of South America and in Central America
where coffee rs of the leading products. IL
IS known that the cOfce-tree Is net long
lived but there is no effort made to keep up the supply
The observation and experience of everybody who has
been on the Island proves that the natives are not to
be credited for the large coffee product aud that Its
growth and increase are mainly from natural causes,
that the seed is distributed by the winds tho birds
"Now Of the exports from Hayti, coffee makes
nearly, II not quite Is per cent The mon who grow
this rather who gather It after Il has grown, ought
make more money, and would If they could be made
10 see what advantage II would be TO them. II Is
collected from the gathcrcrs I'm packages OF twenty.
thirty or fifty pounds by the jobbers who 60 out to
buy up the crop They, in turn, sell it TO the ship
Icrs, and then It pays an export tax of cents
pound but this tax Is in American gold or its equva
lent, mind you, wsle all other paid in Hay
tan money. The revenue from the coffee exports
alone amounts 10 more than 81 100000 in American
gold annually. Aside from these regular exports, II
IS estimated that % per cent of the coffee product IS
struggled to the Bahamas and other islands by the
small trading vessels This Is gathered up by negroes
employed by Spectators in this country, anu comes
New York As the Haytans are great salt eaters the
principal return for this coffee IS in salt.
There also other wellpaying products OF
Hayti. Around GOnaves and ST. Marc there are picked
about 100000 pounds of cotton year and all this
goes to Europe As with the coffee so also the
cotton is not cultivated. Then there arc large
quantities Of lOgwOod mahogany, Hgnumytae anu
other woods common to the tropics. The mahogany
wood has been cut off largely except the Islands OF
Tortuga and Conave. you will observe that sis
latter spelled differently from the city Of
Gonaive, but think II an error OF the original map
makcrJ These two islands are completely covered
with all the valuable woods have mentioned II has
been suggested that American company with a good
working capital could make fortune for Itself and for
the Government of aytl by working these woods, and
that Hayt would readily grant concession TO It, The
claim Of the woman against Hayt that the island Of
Tortuga conceded her husband, believe, has
been finally settled.
at Is recognized fact among the most intelligent
and conservative people of Ilayt that It must be
proved 10 the labOrng classes that they lose more than
they make by revolutions. thai they the real sui
fererS The present Government IS inclined to Ell
courage such education. but it must be done in way
convince them that the foreign merchants and in
leaders stir up these stfcs In order 10 enrich
themselves If the people be assured that, from
the time the President takes his seat until his term eX
prs there will be no revolution, then they will be en-
counecd GO with their coffee raising, their cot
ton-rasinc and their other industries with profit TO
themselves and TO the world. As an Illustration. let
me recall the condition Of affairs santa Domingo as It
has existed for the last eleven years. In that
period there has been what you might call a
revhition; true there have been riots insignificant
troubles, but nothing There is no doubt that
this is due in great part TO association with the
Americas; also in part TO the exclusive conce sion
granted 10 American steamship line. by which
there Is condition tha the vessels may be cal cd
upon 10 transport troops from point TO another
q cases OF emergency. This quickness of concentra
ton Of armed forces has made the agtators wary |
about starting rcbcllons. Then, TOO. the American !
line ha, brought capital San'o Domingo. which has
buli MP santo Domingo CITY, Sainana ana other por s.
one result OF th, concession 10 American, has |
been ne Increased production OF sugar ami mOlasses
In SantO Domingo In 1851, the production OF sugar |
was ll46o4 hund ed gh AM Of m las :. l0O,7o2
hundred weight. In four years the production hal |
ilclcas 10 40G.l12 hundred weight OF sugar, ana |
41OD33 hundred weight of mOld--e- Tie exports |
Of sugar thai year 10000 tons, OF which qulte
80 PER cont this country. Ilayti, lmpoita |
lions Of goods not produced on The Island IN l77'
amounted In value TO St,s4o,oO'. OF winch |
IN the year her exports amounted |
to SIO,l5j3G6 " which not more than ten per cent
came 10 this country. We send quite a. nluch 10 |
sdno Domingo In proportion to population, but the
imports from there greater.
now We want TO extend our commercial relations |
with Hayt, or We shall lose what trade now have /
ties but must do all Of our business through fonlgn
cOIurail0n to which We pay big revenue; lnere
French bank az POri-au Prince. Its power win th'
Government j, tremendous, II stands In the poslloh
to liayil that the Bank Of England doe, 10 Eneaul'
II has agent, I'm every town. collects all the revenues
pays our drafts from the Treasurer and charges Dig
fees for 50 doing.
Another thing for us Americans to consider is Tho
social relations. ! found the iaytans, as RUE
ana especially the women, a, pleasant as agesaniI-
a. well educated and dgnifed any in our own
o"umN ihey have wealth ana POSITION i III e ~
lOOh upon them beneath our notlce iFIIthtP
hear them spoken OF a. 'Iaytian niggerN ms Is
a great mistake and everybody who becomes az
quainted with them finds IL out | Know ol
lady in this city now. the wife Of member OF one OF
the largest mercantile houses I'm llaytL VINO IS Os-
trlciSed, fwwncd upon, treated with ndignly alos,.
she i white II she has dark SKIN MdIS
Of these people have assured me that II theS come ~
New-fork. 10 any OF is hotels they are Almost
Isolated from the other guests In the assignment VI
rooms, and the table they stared al, almost IN.
suited, and are not received In society We must
live above this sor, Of thing"