The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-09-23
MOLE ST. NICOLAS.
Mr.. Douglnss's Second Attempt 20 Explain
why the Negotiations TOR Its Acquisition
nv lur Government Failed.

Mr.. Douglnss's second Attempt 70 Explain
why the Negotiations Tor IT'S Acquisition
by Our Government Failed.
WASHINGTON. Sept. 22.-In the October num-
Der OF the North American Prrie'o Mr. Fred
erick Douglass. formerly Minister to Haytt.
concludes his account OF the futile efforts made
by himself and Admiral Ghcrardi TO acquire
a naval station on that island Tho most strii-
ing reflection suggested by this story Is per-
haps what II omits. for It entirely passes over
the circumstance that President Cleveland and
Secretary Bayard never turned to any practl-
cal account tho proposal Of Gen. Hippolyte
and Mr.. Firmin. while tho civil war was still
going on. to code such foothold in return for
aid The fundamental difficulty In oil the
subsequent negotiations was that the Indirect
aid afterward furnished by our Government
toward the overthrow Of Lexitime. by its course
in reference to the steamer Haytinn Republic
and to the pretended blockade Of the northern
ports. was not considered by Hippolyte as u
response to his original proposal
But. taking first what Is actually set forth by
Mr.. Douglass. no shows that an unfortunate
delay was caused by the want OF completeness
In Admiral Gherardps credentials. Mr.
Flrmin. tho Haytian Foreign Minister. de-
clared that our Government would not be
bound under those instructions by any agree
80
their modification. During the two months
which elapsed before the now letter OF cre-
dence came tho negotiations had become q
matter Of talk at Port-au-Prnce and had
aroused popular opposition. Whether this
was due to indlscrctlon on the part OF our
Government, or to the desire of Hippolyte to
sound his own countrymen. or to the crafty
Mr.. Nrmin's plan to make the ccssion impos-
sible. this last was the actual effect, since Hip
polyte would have risked his own Government
for the purpose Of gratifying the United States.
A second point made clear IL that Mr.. Doug
lass found himselfin some embarrassmentfrom
an application made to him to press the claims
Of Clyde l. Co. for subsidy Of $4,000 from
Hayti for a line Of steamers between that ISL
and and New York. The ex Minister says that
he favored the grant Of the subsidy. but con-
sidered It unfortunate that 1t should have been
asked for in advance OF our application for a
lease Of the Mole. He expresses his disgust at
the energy with which the agent OF the COM
pany pressed this matter upon him. overlook
Ing the fact that this. after all. was the agents
Eas1sss the twS st3Ss NJ dRong
the Mole was granted. But 1t is fair to say that:
while he greatly disaapproves the pressing OF
circumstances. he does not think that 1t prac-
tically Influenced the failure OF the negotia-
tons for the coaling station. In this he Is un-
saf ss !ik e. 6ousasss own connection with
this unto'rtunate business Is .s concerned: he
ssysd af he e 8
in the eee to he
up OF the formal application for the concession
Of naval station:
my snas iii:
the sq e
ny par. IN ssi. Important neiot..on. tie f.af. q
SSs s Ssa 20 s
credit Of ,sso,a a e The would have
neither part nor
treaties with foreign nations would have
enabled him to understand that int.usting the
"a stsag it. @
tiGe IN our dplomsacy and It might have di7
such feeling Influenced his part part in the neso.
tistions. and yet he expressly declares that he
qRhs IT, III Sy ass1 81
sstabiisSSsq elsi% Of tie SsstttsSs 4 H,pPe;
sssSshs tie Of Hpgp sR 70 no
md simple
facts The msR for the
satisfied himself that, he could not follow IN
this respect the lead Of Admiral Ghernrdi.
the lstte ti as ne SAYS had come from
sonal Instructions about his mission. his resi9-
nation became matter OF necessity.
iect 10 the fundamental difficulty that when
Hippolyte first applied for the, aid OF our Gov:
eminent nothing was done which could bind
him to any Subsequent concession Of naval
station. It Is perfectly true that It would not
have been in accordance with the dignity Of
taking part in the DOMESTIC troubles in Haytl.
Yet since, Hippolyte and Erminl both signed
our Government proposing the grant Of O
naval station, diplomatic skill might perhaps
made for them to
stitutional and not to be thought Of. AS the
matter turned out when Admiral Gherardl
urged the value Of the practical action OF the
United States in aid Of Hlppolyto the latter was
able to rely on the fact that no arrangement
that the original proposal Of naval station