The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-09-26

lame mighty problem confronted both-to
still the mad passions of the excited people
and bring social order out OF anarchy. Yet
Napoleon, prince of the whites, murdered
Toussaint, prince of the blacks.
The revolution In France extended In all
its herceness to the French colony In Santo
Domingo The white planters arose against
the king and preached the liberty Of man.
Themulattoes initiated them, and the black
slaves demanded admittance to the broth
erhood of equality. Toussaint was a black
slave 80 years old, living In a cabin with
wife and children. a confidential family
servant. He could read, and spent his lei
sure studying the lives OF great command
ers and political leaders
When the mulattoes and blacks organized
IN 100 to enforce their Interpretation of
the great doctrine of equality, Toussaint
held aloof, coming his Bible, C@sar's Com
msntaries" and the military memoirs Of
Europe. The blacks arose In 1901 and
turned the island into roaring furnace
paved with the charred bones of their for
mer masters. Toussaint secreted the fam
fly Of his master until the holocaust was
ended. then conveyed them with cargo Of
riches to safety beyond the sea. The chains
Of slavery, having Of themselves dropped
from his black limbs, he hearkened at last
70 the oft ignored cry Of his people and
marched to their camps.
VI The humanity of Toussaint in the care Of
his master was not exceptional. 1t was his
nature. and 1t placed him under the suspi-
cion Of the thrcc chiefs who headed the ne
eroes-Biassou, Francois and Jeannot, who
were equally unscrupulous and cruel in
their war on the whites. The black popu-
lace. however. appreciated Toussaint's 8 abil-
titles and character. Though the chiefs at
drst humbled him by q subordinate ap-
pointment caring for the woundedD his per-
oonal popularity soon made him q brigadier
general. one Of three In the negro army.
Napoleon was at that time coquetting with
Republicans, Royalists and Moderates in
Paris, waiting for his star to turn. It turn
"a the day he opened the guns of the direc-
tory upon the Paris mob. Toussaint's turn
I'd the day he struck the daggers of mob
Of blacks from the. breasts Of hundred
whites doomed to massacre.
The directory sent commissioners to
Santo Domingo to regulate its affairs.
Word reached the blacks that the commits
oioners were peaceable, and they sent negro
emissaries to the council to talk about
peace. They were spurned as emissaries of
j k{OAO0u uekfoess kuilty ucu anu unre-
pcntant," /" to whom "justice would be meted
out" and were ordered to withdraw from
tho assembly. The bearers Of the olive
branch returned to the negro camp where
al the army and the civilians hopefully
awaited the response to their appeal. Their
news was brief. The sigh for peace was
changed to blasting breath of war. Tnesame
old cry. death to the whitesl" rang from
the lips of the mob, and Biassou, the fiery
and vindictive black who ruled the army,
ordered 100 white prisoners slaughtered in
the inclosure Of the camp. But there were
= cool head and strong heart in that
|throng Of outraged and ferocious savages.
'Toussaint pressed his way to his chief,
spoke . few calm, firm words, and the fend-
ish order was recalled.
That dsed. with others which followed,
lbore the name Of the black hero to French
ears Throughout all the bloody era of
hprisinsS and instructions the negroes
had kept their loyalty to the king. To dis
arm that devotion the revolutionary assem-
bly, Of France made the negroes the polit-
ical equals Of the whites, at which the
white colonists reselled, and the mulattoes