Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-11

The resignation Of Mr.. Frederick Douglass
as minister to Hayti, the announcement Of
which was made in yesterdays STAR. has been
the main subject of talk in diplomatic and po-
litical circles today. A number of ridiculous
stories have been circulated in the press and
otherwise as to the reasons for the step which
the distinguished minister has taken. A short
talk which STAR reported had with Mr.. Doug
lass this morning will serve to set at rest some
OF the marvellous tales OF administrative CO.
ercion which have been circulated.
HIS RESIGNATION NOT REQUESTED.
Minister Or rather ex-Minister Douglass was
found at his residence at Anacostia endeavor-
ing to keep cool by means Of a suit of white
fiannels. His first remarks showed the reasons
for the resignation, which seem to have been
purely personal. Il wish to deny" said Mr..
douglass, ''in the strongest manner possible the
statement in the morning Post as coming from
me, that my resignation was requested. In
no manner whatever has either the President
or the state Department ever intimated to me
that my resignation would be acceptable. On
the contrary have received only the kindest
treatment from both the head Of the admins
tration and the department to which wns i'm
mediately connected. My resignation was
rendered on purely personal grounds. The
labors at Hayt had become onerous to me, as
foresaw would be the case, and my resignation
therefore followed. At the time l accepted the
ministry to Hayti informed the President that
1t would only be possible for me to hold the
position for two years and that then l should
ask to be relieved. When / was here last year
l stated to the President that l would only be
able to stay in Hayti one more year. So, you
see, there was nothing sudden or forced about
my resignation at this time.
NO COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE PRESIDENT.
"No, have no complaints to make against
the President or the Department of State.
Against some others, and especially against a
number of newspapers, 1 consider l have full
cause for grievance The statements which
have been made regarding my official work as
minister have been outrageous, and at the
proper time propose to answer the charges.
1t has been charged that have been derelict in
obtaining the concession of the Mole st. Mich
olas from the Haytian government. Why, the
obtainment OF that station has been one of my
to get the concession from Hayti did during
my stay there. A man may lead horse to
water, but twenty men cannot make
him drink. For various reasons was
unsuccessful through no fault Of my own
in obtaining the Mole st. Nicholas for
the United States, and the affair has been
made a hook on which to hang all manner Of
charges of failure. incapacity, slothfulness and
lack of interest, which, as have said, pro-
pose to answer i'll time. For fifty years have
labored more or less successfully, and l do not
propose that at this late date my career shall
have added to it the intimation Of failure In
the diplomatic service.
HIS COLOR DID NOT LESSEN HIS INFLUENCE.
mo, sir, do not believe that the question
Of my color either added to or detrscted from
my usefulness as minister to Hayt. have seen
in the papers, and have no doubt the argument
has been made to the President, that a white
man would be able to accomplish more in Hsyti
than black. The makers Of these statements,
however, show little knowledge Of the Haytis
nation. At Hayti it was not deemed incongru-
GUS that black man should hold the
public. Hayu has been free 100 years
and appreciates it's position. Among the
lowest plantation laborers there may be found
still a slavish bowling down to the white race,
found nothing Of the sort. The Haytians have
among them a considerable number Of white
men, and several foreign nations have white
ministers. These Representatives gain no
especial advantage from their color, and often
directly the opposite.
HIS RECORD WAS TO HIS ADVANTAGE.
"While the matter Of color acted neither for
nor against me, do believe that my record and
long labors for the advancement Of the negro
race we're tremendous advantage to me. As
matter Of fact more has been accomplished
vious. President Hippolyte recognized this
fact and spoke most fatteringly Of my lsbors
in two Of his messages. A most important
mercantile concession was made during my
stay, by means of which sailing vessels were
put on much more satisfactory basis and
freed from the old vexatious law by which the
vessels were held if the dues ON the cargoes
were not paid by the consignee. Then again
two important claims, the Van Boehlen and
the Parsons wharf claim, were settled by the
Haytian government.
HIS FUTURE PLANS.
"What are my future plans? Why, my dear
sir, am going to be free once more. To go
here, to 60 there, or stay at home. just as
please. l shall still work and shall resume
many of the lines Of labor which were
snapped by the necessity of leaving the
country.
"No; naturally have nothing to say as to
my probable successor, as / have in fact not
received an official notification Of the accept
ance OF my resignation.