The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-08-27
MINISTER DOUGLASS AND HAITI
Mr.. Douglass Had Mistaken Views About
His Mission-11is Differences with Ad.
mirni Che rardi-Iis Rcsienntion.

mirni Gberardi-Mis Rcsisuntion.
WASHINGTON. Aug. 26.-The account given
by Mr.. Frederick Douglass in the North Amert-
can Rerien OF the negotiations for the noouisi-
tion OF Mole ST. Nicolas. carried on while he
WAS United States Minister to Hayti. does not
materially alter tho impressions OF that trans
action already received BY the public.
Mr.. DOUGLASS makes his statement as per-
sonnl vindcation against charE. q that he was
responsible for the failure OF the negotiations.
Tho truth Is. that Tho real failure was nndoub'-
edly duo to President Hippoly,e and shreWd
Mr.. Firmin. his Minister OF Foreign Affairs.
who werc afraid that the concession asked for
would be used against their interests by their
enemies. Hardly had Lteitime been over
thrown and Hippolyts established In control
than plots began TO lie formed against the lat
ter; and those have continued to tho present
time. One serious outbreak has boon quelled.
yet no ono would be surprised at its renewal.
Various aspirants TO the Presidency. living in
exile at Kingston. are studying how to pool
their interests to effect the downfall OF Hippo
lyte Under these crcumst ances. Irobably no
American Minister at Port au-Prinoe would
have been able to secure tho desired naval
coalinc station at Mole st. Nicolas for the rea.
son that Hippolyte was tempted to ignore any
obligation to the United States rather than
give his enemies the slightest chance OF excit-
ing popular feeling against him.
Admitting this point md admitting also. as
Mr.. Douglass socks to prove that his color
was not the cause OF his failure. and. still fur
thor. that he was not Indifferent to the acqui-
si,ion OF Mole st. Nicolas. he himself fur
nishes. in his present appeal to the public.
some clear evidence OF mistaken views as to
his task. He aillrms that ut no time during
the first year of his residence in Hayti was he
charged with the duty OF negotiating for a
naval station. aud hence tho accusation that
he wasted n year in doing nothing to secure
Mole St Nicolas must fall to tho ground. But
It is clear that when. last January no learned
that he was to have something to do with such
negotiations. and learned 1t from Rear Ad-
m I Gher1rd' Who had p arrived At Pnrt.nns
much offended at being informed. also. that
the Admiral was special Commissioner and
that he wa> to be only an assistant:
My connection with this negotiation. as all may sec.
Was was very h.me!. seeondary .aoor,ins'. The
70 ne new Min.ssr wa. made .ubie,t 70 me Com
~; Nj; no. WIN sa "a"
hands , Of my uoysrnmen,; s,r.ngely enough al Of
%'' i:"s ire
neatens and the wants and wishes OF The "overn s
msrt and l. naturally enough received tho law from
ny situation suggested the destination Of my Office
that such course wond subject me TO- scons,rnc.
Nn , Gaa than arse Thsa IL The I
The misarprehension here is obvious. The
practice OF sending n special Com missioner to
IL foreign country for the purpose OF neGot-
ating u treaty da,e back more Than a century.
gress upon the ioliiel II the diplomatic sys-
failing that system or abolish ing It altogether.
VI course. thore are many instances 81 treaties
to to- coecs very list t Of
important treaties in which special agents and
envoys had been sent out to conduct tht nego-
ticaliy .,ureI sed ed by Rear Admiral Ghsrarii
that this misconception was anything but
pn WIN M his Not en
f. mef years Justify the selection Of snseiaI
ni the nor KEEPING s!0ifr' : ast at
whereas an o nee Who could Freely and nd
leisurely discuss the Mole St; Nicolas, CUES
ton wt the OF stats stats at Wash
OF the grounds on which they we're TO be bnsed.
represents, that he and Admiral Gherard
were il not at cross purposes in n, he mater at
lie says based our Claim Tor this &c %
SRs FL. to the IL
made to, our Government. by Hippolyte and
Iirmln through their agents; while the reyoln.
Would fd'Gs 81 ed mr. bcus S
tie AJmirais views. he tells us tnt with The
idea that the concession "was in the line of
Go9j nsighnorhooI and nuvanred civilization:
OF Hayti; urging that tho concession would be
u source Of strength rather than OF weakness
lation was n policy of the past"
Willie it is certainly true that these two sets
cign SecreIary OF IInyu may well have sus-
peeted that the two nego'iators we're not in
presses himself as follows:
Without intending TO breas the force Of the Admirals
s9nsnon IN at M Nn PLAINLY tsw W. he
81. Unit. S,Ie, III rsrT.s , our
Country sov.rtly assis.iny il putting down
me r.. s, up ana M sshsr ,
eoalmx station A. the mole smoke IN the Interest and
not strike mo that wh,t wa. claimed bv admiral
t" ~Srs es wh" ne ia not say .
armed eluiprei mannei, and SUPPORTED by the Amer
Which ] could base my aipl%masy. i tn. was a
s Tn.
my country
1t may be entirely true that Hippolyte and
Firmin did not discover this difference in the
they did no, present IN identical front and
ion as to the task with which they are charged
j. rlenr from Mr.: ronglass's own opinion. 1t
is no less cear that the Government Mt Wash-
inGt2n was entitled to have tho grounds on
which it chose 10 nut its claims to the mOle
thoroughly presented and insisted on. Mr..
Douglass In this article distinctly states that
hc could not accent tho areur ents which Ad-
since the Admiral knew his most seer eli In
ten ions" Thus bv his own acknowl ed Gment
he shows that II had been imperntivey neccR-
sary. aprrt from the sanction OF custom for
the Stnte department to send special Com
missioner in order to present with proper en-
ergy grounds on which il chose TO rely in IFS
ncGotistons. Whntsver the merits OF those
Father than Minister Douglass was tho nroper
lndge OF them and was entitled to select It
own foundati,n for It's diplomacy. Since 1t is
question is ended. 1t is further evident thn' it
was time for Mr.. DouGlasss services in IIayti
to be terminated.
VIII Secretary Noble Resigns