The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1891-05-09
aLEss TAX AND MORE lcrIOS.n

Hampton Roads, NAY Sin the
( phraseology Of diplomacy, the Haytian
"ineidenth appears 10 be @elosedr at
least for the present. And ii has
closed with the defeat Of the United
States commission. On Thursday of
last week the Haytian Minister Of
Foreign Affairs delivered to Admiral
Gherardi the final answer Of the Hay
tan Government to our demand for
the eessIon of coaling station at ST..
Nicholas Mole. This answer was q
decided refusal. Two courses were
left to our Government in view of this
refusal The powerful squadron avail
able might have seized the mole and
held it by force, justifying the step by
the promise of President Hippolyte of
two years ago or the United States
force might be Immediately Withdrawn
with the Implication that the support
heretofore given by our Government
to President Hippolyte could no longer
be continued. The substance of the
Haytian reply having been telegraphed
to Washington, orders were received
almost Immediately from the Navy
Department directing that this squad
ron should sail at once for Hampton
Roads.
The object at which the whole bust
ness aimed was, of course the acquisi-
ton of coaling station at Nicholas
Mole, on the northwest corner of the
island. The Importance of this arises
from the now almost certain compile
tion of the Nicaragua canal. The
United States must control this or any
other canal that may be built across the
isthmus. To control it navy will be
needed first of all, aud next coallng
station and base of supplies in the
West Indies Nicholas Mole is an
ideal place for such station. Its
climate is healthy, the northeast trade
wind blows across it at all seasons of
the year. The habor is naturally ex-
cellent and could be adapted to all our
needs at very slight expense. Ii is
easily defensible, and its situation at
the entrance to the important Wind
ward Passage is strategically perfect.
Years ago an attempt was made by
the administration of President Grant
to secure similar base ON Mono Pas
sage by acquiring Samana Bay, but
this became involved with the more
far-reaching question of the annexation
of San Domingo aud was defeated, as
all the world remembers.
If the State Department considered
that the resources of diplomacy we're
exhausted, and If it proposed to try
the effect of actual force, then it was
right that the five powerful ships
should bo just where they were. But
if argument and persuasion were to be
still employed, then it was a mistake
to take a step which had all the ugly
look of a threat. Those who know
the Haytians best and who wished to
see our object attained hoped that the
fleet was here for business. One of
the most intelligent of the foreign
residents at Port au Prince, man
who knows the country aud the people
thoroughly, said to your correspond
ent; what is needed to carry your
point with those people is less talk and
more action"
The outcome of this affair is natural
If not fitting. 1t truly reflects negro
characteristic vain pride of snubbing
aud disappointing superior. ln this
case II is exercised even at the cost of
aid and influence which has been the
main stay OF this foul blot upon the
civilized world.
The truth Is this miserable Haytien
so called government ought to have a
protectorate which would keep it in
decent and orderly ways, would see
that the natural advantages and re-
sources of the Island are not utterly
lost to the worlds maritime uses and
commercial demands II would have
had this long since but for the policy
and moral weight of the United States
-excrted jealousy against any exton-
sion OF European influences on this
si1p tho world