Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-12-01
HAYTI WILL RESIST.
Expects United States to Assist In
Preventing an OPP
pres SiOn.

Washington, d. c., Nov. 29.-The at
tentiOn of the department OF state at
length has been formally directed to the
friction that has arisen between Germany
and Hayti as a result OF the arrest by
the officials of the latter country of Il
half-bood named Lueders.
While the department has been unoffi
cially watching the matter for some time
past it was not until today that the case
came formally before it through the APP
pearance there of Mr.. Leger, the minister
from Hayti to Washington. The minis
ter came to consult Assistant Secretary
Day and the attitude of Germany in the
Lueders case was discussed.
The intimatiOn was given out at the
state department that our government
has so far gone only to the length OF in
structing Ambassador White at Berlin
to watch developments and keep his gov
eminent informed. He WILL lodge pro-
test only i'll the event of the performance
by Germany of some GIt that is not con-
sistent with justice and international
law; something that is not anticipated
here.
In other words the state department
does not feel that it has right to inter
pose as long as the demands Of Germany
for redress are kept within the bounds of
sound practice in international disputes,
following in this the precedent set by the
last Administered ton when 1T permitted the
landing of British troops at Corinto Mic
aragua, to secure indemnity for the ILL
treatment of British consular officer. 1t
does not follow from this, however, that
the administration will look with uncon-
Germ on any harsh and unj just measures
that may be sought to be put in force by
Germany towards the little island repuD-
lie.
The department has been informed
I ,o+ 4 ho Of fnc hot a
made in the case of Lueders is somewhat
misleading in that it makes some i'm
pOrtant omissions. For instance, the
foundation of the claim of Hayti that it
had the right to punish the man as it
did, lies in the assertion that he was
citizen of Hayti. Lueders was born in
Hayti of a German father and native
Hayti woman, and according to the laws
of Hayti that made the child full
fedged citizen.
Again, as an explanation for the ap-
parently severe treatment of Lueders the
Haytan government is prepared to show
that he had been twice arrested and con-
victed of the same Offense, namely, re-
SlSting an officer. The first offenSe was
committed little over a year ago and
the Haytian law, like that in our cOun-
try III some cases provides for a much
more severe penalty in the case of &
second conviction. Also. as an indication
tIlaI lnefe was no discrimination pf0C-
ticed towards Lueders on the score that
he was a German subject. it can be
shown by the Haytian government that
the person arrested with him at the same
time for the same offense, a native. full
blOOded Haytian, was subjected to exact
ly the same penalty-S500 fine and
years imprisOnment-that was melted
out to Lueders.
Altogether the case is regarded at the
state department as one that might prop
erly be adjusted through the regular chan
nels Of diplomatic negotiations instead of
through the strong means of demOnstra-
ton in force, particularly in view of the
fact that Lueders is now at liberty and
III Germany, and the acute phase of the
case has been passed.
The Haytian minister states that the
republic is preparing for any eyentuality,
considering that its honor is involved in
the present trouble and that it cannot
yield to demons ira tons of force by
powerful nation. The minister says that
country has no navy, but has an army of
fair proportions. Naturally it could not
expect to contend against one of the most
powerful nations on earth. but with the
honor of the republic at stake, he declares,
it would resist to the last and would
prefer to be crushed rather than to yield
to what it regards as an injustice The
Haytian authorities consider that the
Monroe doctrine applies to the present
case and for that reason expect that the
people of the United States will not APP
prove the crushing of Hayti by a power
full European government, or that the
authorities here will not remain inactive
if the Monroe doctrine becomes involved.