Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-08-08
MOSES OF HIS RACE
FRED DOUGLASS HOME oNA
SHORT VACATION.

SHORT VACATION.
The Americans Opinion of Hippolyte-An
Amiable But Not Weak Ruler-The CHI
mate of Hayti Very Tropical and Condu-
Give to Incidence.
The New York Suns Washington spe-
clal says Frederick Douglas, United States
minister to Hayti, is home on sixty days
vacation. In an interview Mr.. Douglass
said
may Still look strong, but time is tell
ing on me; and the ten months IN Hayti
has made my step less firm. I enjoyed
another birthday while away, being now
past rs, aud when see again the beauties
OF Washington and taste the joys of my
own home 1 wonder why in my closing
years should be robbed of all these bless
lngs. But Port-nu- Prince is a beautiful
city, too, and can hardly imagine the pos
slbilltles of that land under the hands of
thrifty Americans. TIE climate is tropical,
and al tropical fruits abound in profuson
almost without the effort of man. These
conditions invite to leisure, even to indo-
lence, and possibly our own people could
not long resist such seductive charms.
may almost say the people find th ir wants
supplied on every bush and merely pick
what trey need for a living. The chief
proanct is coffee. aud the government ex-
pense Of S5,00o,00O annually is more than
supplied b. AL export duty on this luxury.
Mahogany and lcgwood are also extern
si'ely exported, and country cannot be
deemed lazy one that carries on such
commerce in proportion to population"
What of the statements that Hayti
thought the United States should have
sent a white man to represent us there?"
Such statements were published in the
press of the United States, but were with
out the slightest foundation. The popula-
ton of that country is composed of black
and colored people who are proud to see
one of their number honored with any
public trust. My stay there has been ex.
tremely pleasant SO far as my relation with
that government is concerned. It would
be more pleasant for me there if were
familiar with French, which is the official
language of the country. Unhappily for
us Americans, We are too we'll satisfied
with our English to learn any other Ian
guage, and through such neglect our COM
merce to the south is no doubt affected.
Most Of the leading citizens of Hayti can
speak two or three languages, French be-
ing universal, and Spanish, German and
English quite common, though the latter
is little used at present. thought it was
never too late to learn, but found l could
forget as much French in the afternoon as
could learn in the morning."
What is the condition of the present
government and the probable future of the
country, Mr.. Douglass?"
when Legitime was driven out of the
country by the revolution year ago, Hyp-
polite, the opposing military leader, was
chosen president III constitutional way,
and has since preserved peace and main
tanned strong hold on the people, giving
evidence of the permanency of his govern
ment. He is an amiabie man, but by no
means weak one. As to the future OF
the country, I will say in word that, tax.
ing everything into consideration, have
come to the Hibernian conclusion tina
Hayti's future is before her. There is ii
Hayti a love Of change and vacillation o.
policy that seems hard to remove, but it ia
great deal for people to rise, as they
have done, from the most abject slavery by
revelation that was condemned as cruel
and brutal by all Christian countries, and
the Haytians held in adherence for their
achievement of liberty. Though the slave
holding nations, including our own
America, refused for many years to recog-
nize the new government, it was main
tanned by the self. emancipated slaves of a
tame and tropical climate. For eighty
seven years their government has endured,
and that fact alone is some assurance for
the future. One president was continued
in power for twenty-five years, and several
have held the chair for eight years. They
have a constitution in many ways
similar to our own, house
and senate, and judiciary. The
people are generally mixed with
French, where not pure blacks, and have
many characteristics of thought and &C.
ton. They have progressed as rapidly as
any people of similar antecedents would
have done, and have great hopes for their
future. visited the country twenty years
ago, and, on my return there ten months
ago, saw marked improvement. The
schools are better and more generally at
tended, and the people are better and
more modestly clothed. True, one may
still see naked children on the streets, but
this is the exception and by no means the
rule. Ihave seen hundreds Of neatly attired
and we'll behaved children on their way to
and from school. The schools are mostly
taught by Catholic priests, the Catholic
religion being recognized by the state.
Hayti, however, enjoys freedom of wor-
ship, and in Port-au-Prince there are sew
eral Episcopal and Methodist churches.
The climate, as have said, invites to ease.
1t is said that if you want tea to show its
strength you must put it in hot water, and
so mankind shows its metal most when
placed under the lash and sting of neces-
sity."
"Are there many Europeans now resi-.
dents of Hayti?"
"a considerable number Of the merchantl
ore French, German or Spanish, who are
familiar with the habits and language Of
the natives. I met many Europeans there
who had been il the country from ten tc
thirty years, aud assured me that they had
enjoyed as good health there as in any part
of Europe or the United States. Port al