The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1890-08-02
Minister Fred Douglass at
Home on a Two-Months'
- Vacation.
The Americans Opinion Of Hippolyte
IAN Amiable but Not Weak
Ruler.
Newfoundlanders Would Like d
Have Annexation With the
United States.


The New York Saa's Washington spe-
cial says Frederick Douglas, United States
minister to Hayti, is home on sixty days
vacation. In an interview Mr. Douglass
said:
Il may still look strong. bnt time 10 tell.
ing on me; and the ten months IN Hayti
has made my step less frm. ! enjoyed
another birthday while away, being now
past 70, aud when see again the beauties
of Washington and taste the joys Of my
own home wonder why In my closing
years should be robbed of all these bless
ings. But Port-an- Prince is . beautiful
city, too, and can hardly imagine thu pos
sibilities Of that land under the hands Of
thrifty Americans. The climate is tropical,
and al tropical fruits abound In profusion
almost without the effort OF man. These
conditions invite to leisure. even to indo-
lence, and possibly ouF own people could
not long resist sneh seductive charms.
may almost SAY the people find their wants
supplied on every bush and merely pick
what they need tor q living. The chief
product is coffee, and the government ex-
pense Of $4,000, 900 annually is more than
supplied by an export duty on this luxury.
Mahogany and iogwood are als0 extern
sively exported, and country cannot be
deemed lazy one that carries on such
commerce in proportion TO population"
Whist of the statements that Hayti
thought the United States should have
sent white man 10 represent as there1"
Such statements were published In Tho
II 4m1 Ar.e
out the slightest foundation. The popula-
tion OF that country is composed of black
and eolored people who are proud to see
one OF their number honored with any
public trust. Ny staySshsrs has been ex-
tremely pleasant 30 far rs my relation wilh
thai government IN concerned. II would
be more pleasant for me there IL / we're
lauaiiiar Nth EFsn0h, which II the Official
Language Of the eountry. Unhappiiy for
Us Americans, we are too wall satisfied
with our Eaglish to learn any other lam
guage, and through such neglect our eon-
merce 10 the south la 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
Ia little used at present. thought II was
never too late 20 learn, but found could
forget a. much French In tho afternoon M
| could learn In the morning.
What Ia the condition of the present
government aud the probable future Of the
conntry, Mr.. Douglassi"
When Legitime was driven out Of the
country by the revolution year ago, Hyp-
petite, the opposing military leader, was
chosen president IN @ constitutional way.
and has since preserved peace and main
tanned a strong hold on tins people, giving
evidence of the permanency OF his govern
ment. He is an amiable man, but by no
means weak one. AS TO the future Of
ths country, / will say Ia sword that, TAX
ing everything into consideration, have
come TO the Hibernian conclusion that
Hayti's future - before her. There Ii In
HaYts q lore OF change and vaciffGtion 6f
policy that seems hard TO remove, but II is
a great deal for apeople 10 rise, as they
have done, from the most abisct slavery by
q revolution that was condemned aa cruel
and brutal by all Christian countries, and
the Haytians held In abhorrence for their
achievement Of liberty. Though the slave
| holding nations, including our own
/ America, refused for many years 10 recog-
nize the new government, II vas mann
tanned by the self emancipatsd slaves Of .
tame and tropical climate. For eighty
seven years their government hss endured.
and that fact alone IL some assurance for
the future. One president was continued
/ in power for twenty ave years, and several
have held the chair for eight wears. They
have q constitution Ia many ways
similar 10 our own, honse
and senate. and Judiciary. The
people are generally mixed with
| French, where not pure blacks, and have
many characteristics Of thought and ac-
tior. They hare progressed as rapidly rs
| any people of similar antecedents would
| have done, and have great hopes for their
| future. visited the country twenty years
ago, and, ON nay return there ten months
ago, saw marked improvement. The
schools are better and more generally a.
tended. and the people are better and
more modsstly clothed. True. one may
| still see naksd children on the streets. but
this is the exception and by NO means the
| rule. Ihaye seen hundreds Of neatly aatired
and well-behaved children ON their way 20
and from school. The schools are mostly
| tanght by Catholic priests, the Catholic
religion being recognized by the state.
Haytl, however, enjoys freedom Of wor-
ship. and in Port-au- Prince there ara sew
esal Episcopal and Msthodist ehurohsa.
The climate. as have said, invites 10 ease.
II ID said that Il ron want tea 20 show IA
strength you must put it In hot water and
80 mankind shows its metal most when
placed under the lash and sting Of mecca
SHY"
Are there many Europeans now resi-
dents Of HaytiS"
"a considerable number Of the merchants
are French. German or spanish, who axe
familiar with the habits and language oi
the patssss, met many Europeans fhers
who Lad been Ia tho country from ten 20
thirty years, aud assured me that they heJ
sujoysa - good health there = II my pan