Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-04
MINISTER DOUGLASS HERE.
He Does Not Know Whether He VIII Re-
turn to Hayti or Not.


ne Does Not Know Whether He VIII Re-
turn to Hayti or Not
HIS ANSWER TO cRrrrcrsM-How THE NEaorrA-
TONS FOB THE MOLE ST. NICHOLAS WIRE EN-
BARRAssEp BY ANOTHER cLAIn-HH THINKS
HrPPoLYTR Is FRIENDLY TO THE UNITED STATES
Minister Frederick Douglass reached home
last evening on leave Of absence from his mis-
sion at Hayti.
When STAR reporter called on him this
morning at his residence at Good Hope Hill he
was walking through the tangle Of vines and
shrubs which have been running wild during
his absence
Being Joined by the reporter he led the way
up the steep double terrace to his house, and
seated in his study he talked most interestingly
for half an hour about Haytian affairs internal
and international. Mr.. Douglass looks O.
young and as cheerful as he has for ten years,
or maybe many more, and his striking person
anty gave an interest to his conversation. in
ADDITION to the fact that he was talking on a
subject the public is interested to be informed
on.
HIS ANSWER TO CRITICISM.
II have good answer" he said, ''to the un-
kind and unjust publications concerning me
and my connection with the mission at Hayti
which some persons have been indulging in.
told some reporters / saw last night that
they ought to 60 to the State Department to
get information on the subject. My reports
are there. But, as I say, l have an answer to
the criticisms that have been published. II
the time comes for me to do so shall speak
on that subject. At present retain my posi-
ton and am charged with certain diplomatic
work and may, go back to Hayt, therefore
VI UnflI NOT ha = l.
freely at this time. 1t is my duty a. q diplomat
to receive blows without returning them.
Ihere seems to be some anxiety 10 know
whether or not am going to resign. do not
know whether or not shall 20 back to Hayti.
l asked only for sixty days leave of absence
from my post of duty. Of course I have
not seen the President yet and have
not seen Mr.. Blaine for some time.
Until have talked the matter over some cam
not tell what am going to do. may or may
not resign. 1t might be that the administra-
ton would like to send younger man than I
to take charge of our affairs at Hayti. There
are several who want the position and are caus-
ing great deal to be written on the subject. 1
do not know what the desires of the President
are l may not get out Of this muss for
some Time or may get out very soon.
THE MOLE ST. NICHOLAS.
81 see that Admiral Gherardi is referred to
as authority for many of the criticisms of me
oh0 NY SouuuCb VIII EeldtlOn TO the COnC6S-
sions our country was seeking from Hayti. I
do not know that he has written anything over
his own name, but hear indefinitely of his
being authority for the statements, see him
quoted, DC. Now | am surprised at that, for
as colleagues dealing with this question We
were very friendly. was much interested in
the Mole San Nicholas, and WAS anxious by all
that was In my power to get the concessions
which my government asked for. l hear it
said that l have become more Haytian than
American-an absurd statement.
HIS POLICY IN HAYrL
"when went to Hayti had two objects in
view, which talked over with the President,
and which he was interested in and fully ap-
proved OF. One was to serve my own country
| and to secure for her the concessions she
sought, and the other was to aid. as far as pos
sible, the black republic in proving to the
world that my race were capable of governing
themselves and that they could form
the President and he said that be
hoped that it would not much longer
be possible to point to Hayti as an example to
| sustain the assertion that the black race is in
capable Of seh-Government The difficulty in
negotiating for the accession of Mole San
Nicholas Tor cosling station lay in the manner,
the time and the circumstances Of its asking.
l thought and still think, that the concession
of the mole could easily have been secured if
the proposition had been made at the right
'~A-AS "AA~ AA s~S AAeAs "oy "AtAOub wv many
restrictions.
HOW THE NEGOTIATION WAS EMBARRASSED.
Il do not feel at liberty to 60 very deeply
into this subject, but 1 will say to you this
much: If, in asking for concessions, those
asked for by Mr.. Clyde had not been put ahead
OF that OF the mole the United States would
have got what she asked for. You see our propo-
sition was illogical when we claimed that the
United States government had rendered vaIu-
able the HAYf1an ,,,a
asked for concessions, and then pressed for
ward the claim Of a single citizen Of the United
81 .tes for performing those services. In press
ing the Clyde claim for q concession the claim
OF the government for concessionaGwas weak
ened. 1t was contradictory and illogical. do
not Bay Mr.. Clyde, for he is a fine gentleman.
but his agent at Hayti asked for 81 600. 900. re,
duclng the claim later to $500, 900, from Hayti,
as subsidy for steamship line, upon the
claim that he had broken the blockade. Bv
pressing this claim first the government claim
to the mole was clouded. The Haytians argued
that what MIR. Ciyde's agent wanted $500. 600
for-to establish the steamship ine-other for
eigners had done for nothing
THINKS THERE Is STILL CHANCE
"Do you think that there is no longer any
prospect Of our getting the mole9''
"No, think we may yet, under more favors-
BILE circumstances, get the concessions"
is It true that Hyppoiite is unfriendly to the
"No, do not think that he is unfriedlv.
do not think that the concession was refused in
an unfriendly spirit, but that Hippoiyte felt
Obliged, In consideration of his own situation.
to regard the popular sentiment about him."
THE NAY REVOLUTION.
Speaking Of the internal affairs Of Hayti, Mr..
Douglass said: Everything is now quiet and
peaceable in Hayti and there has been no dis
turbance since the 2Sth of May. The trouble
OF the 28th Of May was caused by disturbers of
the peace who were plotting against the govern
ment They were outlaws and rebels, who
took advantage Of q holiday when Hippolyte
and most of the good citizens were in church
to incite q revolt, upon the pretense of
liberating certain political prisoners, but the
overthrow Of the government being their
real object. am informed that
Hyppolite expected the uprising and warned
the discontented spirits that they would have
to stand the consequences Of failure il they
made any attempt upon the government. Hyp-
polite is o very mild hammered man and,
as is true Of mild mannered men
generally, he can be more than ordi-
narily rigorous when occasion requires
He may have gone too far with his punishment,
but the men he was dealing with had shown no
regard for the rights Of the peaceable citizens,
and Hyppolite doubtless felt that the course
he pursued was not only justifable, but was
necessary to preserve the government. The
revolution lasted buta short while. The whole
thing was over in thirty minutes, suppose
but the bullets were flying thick and fast for
- Ah.~-~ -A-Ll II