The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-05-12
UNCLE SAM AND HAYTL.
Objections to Furnishing Our Navy
With a Naval Station.
OUR TREATY WITH SAN DOMINGO

from tne tfaultlOnal pOncy or the |
Haytien nation, dating from 1916, ex-
cluding aliens from the holding of real
property and the strong sentiment
which still exists in support of 1t among
the ignorant majority of the popula-
tion, there Is a practical obstacle of no
small Importance to the acquisition by
the United States of a title in fee sim
pie to a coaling station anywhere on
the shorts of the island. This is the
secret treaty between Hayti and San
Domingo, in which each republic
pledges itself never to cede to any
eXtraneous power any portion of its
territory for whatever purpose or use
1t may be desired.
American ministers to the twin re-
publics have discovered that this treaty
is really a more serious impediment to
the progress of any negotiations look
ing to the acquisition of the Mole st.
Nicolas or Samana bay than the senti-
ment of the people. There is no doubt
that the Haytien government would
have small scruple in getting around
the constitutional prohibition, by per-
petual lease or otherwise, If 1t were not
for the embarrassing position in which
IL would then be placed in relation to
San Domingo. That republic, on the
other hand, is restrained by a like
reason as concerns It's obligations to
Hayti. A double commission to treat
in both capitals at once, with the OBJ
ject Of bringing the two governments
to a joint convention in favor of the
naval requirement of the United States,
might be successful where separate ne.
gotiations would continue to fail.
There is ground for the belief that
both the administration of Hayti and
that of San Domingo are now more
cordially disposed towards America
than for some time past. and the cause
of this fact is largely to be found in
the decisive step which the United
States has taken to insure the freedom
and self government Of Cuba Popular
sympathy among the Haytians and the
Dominicans is almost wholly with the
Cubans, and there has even been some
talk Of raising naval battalion to be
Joined to the American army of in
vasion.
Friendship for America among the
Haytian political class suffered at the
crisis of the Lueders difficulty, through
the negative diplomatic course of the
United States government. 1t is GER
tain that If America had at that time
actively interviewed to see that exact
| justice was done as between Lueders
and the Haytian municipal authorities,
restraining Germany from an act of
| pure despotic coercion, President Sam
| and all the statesmen of Hayti who
count for anything would for the ask
| ing have placed the future of the coun-
| try absolutely in American hands. We
| then could have obtained whatever
| coaling station we desired in Hayti
In diplomatic circles here 1t Is per-
fectly well known that the Spanish
| representative is mainly dependent
upon M. Theodore Meyer the French
minister to Hayti, for his knowledge
of the attitude of the European gov
ernments toward the Hispano-Ameri-
can war The Spanish charge d'affaires
has been in almost daily consultation
with him. 1t is said, in reference to
possible advantages which the United
States may enjoy in Haytien ports and
waters through the clauses and arti-
cles of the treaty of 1864, which pledge
| each of the republics to reciprocal aid
and comfort in case either of them Is
at war with another nation. 1t Is sug-
gested that this treaty, if closely con-
strued and faithfully observed by
Hayti, would put her in the attitude of
an ally of the United States. Article 10
permits American men-of-war to take
refuge in Haytian ports and to undergo
repairs and be provisioned there. But
the question is naturally asked whether
Spain would not regard the observance
of this article on the part of Hayti
as an act of hostility.
M. Meyer, the French minister re-
ceved your correspondent without any
| fnr oil ttrh n NJ with ri ha
ing cordiaHty. He spoke at first of
the traditional sympathy between
AmericG and France, but added sig
nificantly that in the present crisis the
immediate solicitude of his country was
for Spain, her next door nelghbor,
whom she had done much to ruin in
the past, but whom she did not wish to
see perish from the earth.
There is one very serious fact in the
situation" said NJ Meyer, land that is
the undoubted irritation of all Euro
pean nations except Great Britain over
the American method of procedure in
the Cuban affair You are a great peo-
pie endowed with wonderful strength
and resources. You have many fine
ships in your navy, but Spain has more
and better torpedo boats. Though one
cannot doubt that if the struggle con-
tinues long enough America will win,
the consequences of the first success
upon the nations that are spectators,
irrespective of the side that secures it,
must be potent and far reaching.
am astonished that the Spaniards have
not shown greater enterprise at the
outset. They ought to have gone di-
rect to New York with a fleet of say
80 of their best ships"
} When your correspondent remarked
that the defenses of New York had
been considerably strengthened of late
M. Meyer seemed surprised and ex-
pressed doubt that they could really
keep out a strong fleet.
Two million Americans suffer the torturinl
! pangs of dyspepsia. No need to. Burdocl
Blood Bitters cures. At any drug store.