Arizona silver belt., 1892-11-12
A LEADER OF SLAVES,
ROMANTIC RISE AND FALL OF
 ToussAlNT L'ouvERTuRE.

NfN~'f' = - v v -i'f S''e-s
 4 Character in History Which Has Fur.
 uished a Theme for Poets and Orators
 NapoIeon's Base Treatment of tbS Great GeneraI.-Hls UntimeIy End.
 Thirty years ago Toussaint L'Ouver. ture was name 10 conjure with. Poets and orators described his virtues and his genius and citod him as an illustrious example of the capabilities of his race.
 A romantic interest will always attach to his name. The fact that for fifty-four years he lived in deepest obscurity as l slave on Haytian plantation and the epic character of his subsequent achieve. ments give tinge of antique heroism to his history.
 The Freuch colony in Hayti was long one of the greatest slave marts in the world At the time of the French revo- lution there were in the colony 30,00O whites, 20, 900 free mulattoes and 800, ,000 slaves. The mulattoes, many of whom had been educated in France, took ad- vantage of the revolution and obtained recognition of their political rights from the French assembly,: the whites of Hayti refused to recognize the decision and war broke out which was soon complicated by an uprising of the whole slave population. On memorable night in August, l10l the plantations were fired and many of the whites were mur- dered.
 Toussaint had not at this time ac- quired the name of L'0uverture. This word. meaning the opening, was ap- piled to him afterward because he opened way for the freedom of his race through the chaotic conditions of the following years.
 In the dreadful wars of the years fol- lowing the uprisal of tue slaves his ext traordinary influence over his race and his military genius gave him pre-emi- hence over all other chiefs. A design of freeing his race, which could only be accomplished by making it the ruling race of Hayti, gradually took shape in his mind and forms the key note of his career
 France, Spain and England each bid nigh for bis alliance, but France de- clared for the freedom Of the slaves and he finally ranged himself under the French flag. Ii was evidently his desire 10 maintain desirable connection with European power which would yet leave hin at liberty 10 odeyelop his plans for bis own racc, but the realization of his idra required q disiuterested coop eration of which no European govern uleIt was capable,
 In few years he had been recognized by France as commander in chief of the army of Hayti and was practically die tator of the island,
 As ruler of Hayti he surrounded himself with the poinp of prince, az though personally he retained habits Of severe simplicity He ate sparingly and slept little, being possessed of exraor- ,linary powers of endurance. In dignity of manner he was entirely equal to his position Hc endeayored to reconcile conflicting races, and his rule wa3 iu- partial and able
 But Napoleon was not the man to al- low dictator under himself. He sent an army of 30,OJO men to Hayti to re store slavery aud reduce the colony to sgblectiOn
 SHspCcting the true purpose of the e2. petition Toussaint resisted the landing of the army, bat finally laid down his arms after be had been assured that there v3s 20 intention of restoring slavery and that he injured the cause of his ruce by resistance.
 He WIS still too powerful 10 ba openly seized but he was decoyel into tho French quarters and WAS then hurried on board vessel and carried to France He hoped to meet Napoleon and defend his conduct, but on landing he was SC cretly hurried to Q loaely fortress in the Alps. where he shortly afterward died Many wild stories attributing his death to murder found credence at the time. Negi,Ht and the change from tropic to an Alpine climate doubtless hastened his end
 By his removal tie progress of tda race was incidentally retarded,
 While Toussaint's fate and place of i'm, prisou;nent were srill unknown, Wads- worth wrote tho beautiful sonnet, ITO Toussaint L L'Ouyerture." His history is the subject of drama by Lauartine, aud or a novel, The Hour and the Man by Harriet Martineau During the autislavery agitation in the United States he was cited as most illustrious example of the real capabilities of his race A poem by Whittier and an ora. ton by Wendell Phillips commemorate his virtues and his genius. Detroit Frge Press.