The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-06-02

island are, therefore, kept in constant
state of expectation, and are ever
ready to espouse with enthusiasm the
cause of any claimant to the presiden-
cy who promises reforms in the gov
eminent and reduction of taxation.
The island was originally a Spanish
possession, and is supposed to have had
a native population of over 100000.
The Indians were all exterminated by
the Spaniards and the island was aban-
doned, then seized by the buccaneers
and subsequently ceded to France, the
Spaniards retaining only a nominal
control of a western portion, The re-
bellion led by Touissant L'Ouverture
against French authority led to inde-
pendence, which was finally acknowl-
edged by the French government.
Twice during it's somewhat variegated
history since, Hayti has been an en-
pire. Once under Henri Christophe,
who had himself crowned emperor I'M
der the title of Henri L; the second time
under Soulouque, who took the title of
Faustin 1, in 1852. Each emperor Gre
ated numerous peerage, and there are
still living in Hayti descendants of the
Duke of Marmalade and Prince of
Lemonade, titles which were created
by Henri l. who bestowed them on
members of his court and found the
names in those of country villages in
the interior. Whether under emperor,
president or general, both Hayti and
Santo Domingo have a mere travesty,
a caricature of government, good
enough for the population but laugh
other Spanish-American states.
During the war between the buccan-
GERS and Spanish the headquarters of
the former were in the famous Tortuga
or Turtle Island, off the northern coast
of Hispaniola, not far from the great
promontory on which is the Mole St.
Nicholas. Tortuga is a mountainous
island, with many good landing places
favorab suited for defensive opera
lions. When the buccaneers were driv-
en- from Hispaniola by the Spaniards
they took refuge on Tortuga, fortified
the island so strongly that it resisted
every Spanish force brought against 1t.
and from it as a center sent forth their
ships to prey upon Spanish commerce
in the Caribbean and gulf Traces of
the Notifications are still to be seen on
tested by the fact that for two CEN
turtles they have resisted the earth
quakes which devastate this portion Of
the West Indies and the tropical rains
which are almost as destructive.
The principal business of Hayti and
Santo Domingo is with the United
States, probably three-fourths of the i'm
ports into that island being from this
country, but the commerce is exceed
fngly variable. In 1895, for instance, the
imports amounted to s6,232, 1856; the ex-
ports to $13, 562; a year later the
Haytians bought about the same
amount, but had only SO, 500, 900 worth
of coffee, cotton and cocoa to sell; the
explanation of the discrepancy being in
the fact that a revolution took place IN
the meantime, and everybody dropped
everything to attend to the revolution,
so the exports fell off.
Santo Domingo, so far as the area Is
concerned, is in advance of Hayti, hav-
ing over $4,000 square miles of the 3d.
000 in the island, but in the matter of
commerce is considerably in the rear,
owing to the fact that the Black Re
public has better ports and is more ia
vorably situated for business. The