Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-01
THE TROUBLE IN HAYTI.
Something About 1t by One Who Has
Resided on the Island.

"Do you believe that Legitime really desires
peace, as stated in recent Dispatcher asked
STAR reporter of a gentleman who has made
several visits to Hayti and is thoroughly
familiar with the unfortunate condition of
things in that island.
Certainly do" was the reply. 'Iegitime
is humane man and deplores the present
instruction. In this respect he is totally
different from the late president of Hsyti, SAL
oman, his immediate predecessor. Saloman
was cold. cruel, brutal sort of a man, who
believed that the only way to govern his people
was to rule them with rod of iron. 1t was
this tyrannical disposition that finally excited
the opposition to him, and when he had been
elected for the second time he felt no restraint.
When he did leave the island it was ON three
hours notice. Then there was called the con-
stitutional assembly, and this body elected
Legitime, so he is the legal president of the
republic. Hyppolite is simply the leader of
rebellion"
rs the government strong enough to ulti-
mately put down this rebellion?"
That remains to be seen. / should tell you
that in Hayti the people are divided into three
classes the blacks, the colored, and the whites.
The blacks are, of course, the most numerous
and they are also the most ignorant. The col
ored are those who have mixed blood in them,
and form the intelligent portion of the inhabi-
they are the only class competent to conduct
the government. The whites are those white
men who go down there as merchants. Many
OF these marry the coiored girls, and then. of
course, become more thoroughly identified with
the best interests OF the government. The peo-
pie generally, particularly the colored portion,
have curious mixture of traits. You know
the negroes as race, are impressionable and
excitable. Well. they have these qualities
and, in addition, the mercurial temperament of
no fnr ly oil H.
complete their education. This combination
makes them difficult to govern, for there is a
natural jealousy between the blacks and the
colored and so affairs are generally more or
less unsettled. The present rebellion is the
most serious that has occurred for many years"
''What interest has the United States in
Hayti?"
We'll there Is an immense amount of Ameri-
can capital invested in trade with Hayti and
many merchants are engaged in the enterprise.
The trade is In coffee, sugar, bananas, log
wood. DC. OF course the present contest has
greatly unsettled trade and has proved disastrous
to merchants and there will be a great many
claims by Americans against the Haytian gov
eminent when affairs are quieted down."
That will require some nice diplomacy,
won't it?'
Yes, indeed, and just at this time the great
est care should be taken in the selection of the
next minister to Hayti. You see for several
years we have been represented by a colored
man, White England, france, Germany and the
other European governments have their inter-
ests looked out for by men who have been long
In the diplomatic service and many of them
have had years of experience on that very
island. Our present minister, Mr.. Thompson,
Is certainly unable to cope with the representa-
tiyes of other powers and unless some one is
selected who knows thoroughly the island and
its people who can work in harmony with the
other diplomatic representatives.. who is tho
roughly American i'll his feelings and who is
sufficiently firm to maintain his position, our
American merchants will suffer greatly and
lose considerable money in the settlement of
these claims
Will Legitime or Hyppolite eventually be
the president Of the repubhc?'
THAT l can't tell now. There was a trick on
the part of the Legitimists in securing ma
jorty OF delegates for it is stated that three of
them were on board tine Haytien Republic
steamer and were induced to go ashore and
vote. Yet they had an actual majority, and so
Legitime was legally elected and his govern
ment has been recognized by foreign powers
1t Is the hope of those who do business with
the island that he will ultimately be sustained.
for he is intelligent, educated and humane. and
would give much more rational government
than Hyppolite. who. as l have said, is of the
same stamp as the late President Saloman."
.