Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-19
THE BLACK REPUBLIC.
Found the People Enlight-
ened Beyond Expectations.
OF THE MASONIC ORDER.
A Case Where Church Interference in State
Matters Was Rebuked.
WHAT THE TRADE PROSPECTS ARE

country to the United States, writes ex-Min-
lister John NJ Langston in q recent contribu-
tion to the press. 1t is the greatest colored
Republic in existence, and it increases in
importance as the negro race grows in num-
bers, education and power. The late polit-
ical troubles in the island have forced it to
the front, and the importance which it sus-
tains to this country as forming the key to
the Isthmus of Panama makes it one of the
most interesting spots on the Western Hem
isphere. Whether we shall own coaling
station on the Mole San Nicolas, our title to
the Island Navassa and a number Of other
Important diplomatic problems are wrapped
up in it.
am surprised every day to find how little
the people OF the United States know about
this colored Republic. Port au Prince is
not the tunble-down village It has been de-
scribed. Even the poorer buildings are
picturesque. The prevailing color is white
with green blinds. The climate will stand
brighter colors than ours, and the buildings
are sometimes painted in hues which would
be out of place in an American city, but
which, under an equatorial sum- are in per-
feet harmony. Few of the houses have glass
in the windows, and shutters and lattice
work take the place of glass. The climate
is so mild that fires are only needed for
cooking, and the atmosphere is pure and
clear.
A Very Cultured People.
find that our people are usually surprised
at the culture and education of the elite of
this colored Republic. The better classes Of
the people are well educated. Many of the
leaders speak several languages, and the
common language used among the educated
classes is French. They have French news
papers and you may hear at one of these re-
ceptions as good French as you will hear in
Partisan drawing room. The lower classes
speak Creole.
The population of Haiti is estimated at
from 500, 600 to 500, 900, and these people may
be divided into three classeS-the military or
the political class the merchant class and
the farmers. Tile military class live OF the
Government, and the tendency in Haiti,
where the Government is democratic, is to
lead the young men to politics, and every
young II H.itian is educated like every Ameri-
can boy with the idea that he may some day
be President. The law is their stepping
stone to politics, and there are more young
lawyers than there is business. The mer-
chant class includes everybody who trades
or dickers- The third class embraces the
farmers and the extreme poor engaged in
cultivating the soil and growing fruits. A
market scene at the capital brings out this
class in all its glory and the markets of Port
au Prince are worthy of notice.
Scenes in the Markets.
have seen 10000 people engaged in selling
in this market. You can buy all kinds of
meats and large quantities of beef, mutton
for its coffee, and this market is filled with
coffee sellers. Hundreds of men and women
come to market with all their goods on a
little donkey not bigger than Newfound-
land dog. Nothing is too little for them to
sell. One may bring three or four eggs ten
miles to market, and if you asked his price
he will tell you they are worth 8 cents
apiece. A woman will carry four heads OF
cabbage number of miles to sell them, and
beside these peddlers you may see men with
four-ox wagons packed with fruit and
vegetables. Haiti has its own coinage. its
silver and its paper money. Both are at q
discount, and American silver brings
premium.
tropical fruits to supply the United States.
1t has the finest of oranges, bananas and
pineapples, and were it cultivated according
to the principles of modern agriculture the
yield of the land would be enormous Even
rs il is it produces more than 100000
pounds of coffee year. and this is of the
hnest flavor. The coffee industry OF the
island is increasing. Most of the coffee goes
to England. Cotton is produced in conSid-
cradle quantities, and the woods of Haiti are
among the finest in the world. You will
nowhere find any better mahogany, and log
wood Is more or less exported.
The Possibilities in Trade.
We might have a large trade with Haiti
If we wished. We already furnish all the
flour used in the island, and not pound Of
cured ham, cured meat or cured fish goes
there from any other country than ours.
We send them soap and hardware, drugs
and medicines and we have Deen lately ship
ping large quantity of cheap cottons.
Many of the arms used in the late revolution
were Of American make, and they have
even purchased some OF their war vessels in
this country.
The government of the whole island shows
an extraordinary union of Church and State.
prevails throughout San Do
mingo as well, and on both sides of the
all and ftor and dor
Catholics. The constitutions of both coun-
tries are modelled on that of the United
States, but there is Concordat established
by the Church under which are the clergy
and teachers of the various parishes. The
Government pays all the expenses con-
nected with this Concordat and the clergy are
white. The Bishop and Archbishop are Or
dinarily invited to attend the National A.
sembly, and they aid in all the great gather
ings OF state, but they take no part in the
Of the affairs of the Govern
ment.
Power of the Masonic Order.
In connection with this is the curious
strength of the Masonic order in Haiti. The
men seem to be all Masons. If e man of dis
tfnction is buried, the Masonic order renders
the last eulogies at the tomb and Masonry
runs throughout every branch of society.
The Church has been SO strong at times that
Il has attempted to dictate to the Govern
ment and this was the case when first went
to Haiti. Bairond-Canal was President Of
the Republic and he had nearly closed his
term OF four years, when through n revolu-
tionary movement Solomon came into
power. In the past 1t has been customary
when q man was made President for the
Masonic order to wait upon him and to ad-
wise him that the order would be glad to in
stall him as its Protector-General. 1t was
yiyen out that President Solomon had been
waited on by such committee and the
Church Concordat, feeling that the Masons
we're growing very strong with the Govern
nent, sent the Archbishop to see Solomon
md to protest against his acceptance. The
said:
Couldn't Brighten Solomon.
"Mr. President it is reported that q COM
nittee from the Masonic order has waited
lpon you and offered to make you Protector
General of the order. / here deem it my
iuty to advise you that the Church may
lave to consider the matter in case you ac-
,ept, and your accommodation may be
he result"
There was nothing cowardly about Salo-
non, and he replied in significant tones:
Mr.. Archbishop, what would you think II
he government should take up your case
md excommunicate you?"
No more was ever said about the matter.
that ever presided over Haiti. He
rad remarkable executive ability and
ne was a man of great natural talents.
When 1 came away he put his arms around
nv neck and kissed me on either cheek and
said: "Well Mr.. Langston, you have been
the most severe man in behalf of the inter-
ests of your country that your governments
las ever sent to us, but your demands have
been just and we are sorry to have youleave
u.s."
THE OLD FEATHER BED.