Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1899-12-16
LESSONS IN HISTORY

his knee.
"Do you know any more stories about Rus
siay" asked Tom. II thought they we've aw.
fully good"
81 expect could think of another story
about Russia if | was to tTy real hard, re-
piled grandpa. II spent nearly five years
of my life in Russia, and learned many
interesting things about that interesting
country, but read something to-day about
a little country-it is Just part of rather
small island that is quite near our own
country--that reminded me of a story. 1t
is a story of black man, the son of an AT
rican king, who became great power in this
! little island and has figured in the history
of three OF the great nations Of Europe.
| Would you like to have me tell you story
about himy"
THAT would be nice, said Nell. 81 think
| II would be nicer than a story about Rus
sia, but thought they were pretty nice"
1.-THE father of the man of whom / am
going to tell you had at one time ruled
nation of black savages in Africa. In fact,
he was real king, and to his people was
as important parsonage as any Of the kings
Of European countries In those days, how.
ever, there were men whose business it was
to capture the black people of Africa and
take them to other countries, where they
were sold as slaves. When they captured
black man they never inquired whether he
was a king OF not, for they did not care, as
kings were just as valuable to them as any
Of their subjects. So it was that our hero's
father was captured and taken away from
his home, to be sold as q slave in the island
Of Santo Domingo"
ooh, / know where that is" said Nell.
"It was in our geography lesson to-day, and
our teacher said it was very interesting
place, and that some of the people there
wanted to have the island joined to the
| United States"
you bet it is interesting" said Tom. In
my history lesson the other day read about
Columbus starting a colony there, and that
was the first colony of white people that
ever settled in the land he had discovered" :"
And did your history lesson tell you that
Columbus was the first governor of the col
ony he had established on the island, and
that it was from there that he was taken
back to Spain in chains because of his
cruelty" asked grandpa.
But to go on with our story. Toussaint,
for that was this black mans name, was
born in the island, and of course he was
slave also. When he grew large enough his
master selected him as his coachman, and
after awhile he made him an overseer of his
other slaves, and in this position he demon.
strated his ability to command men.
'His first opportunity came in 1871, when
he was 4s years old At that time the slaves
rose in rebellion in the island and massacred
all the whites they could get hold of. But
at this time Toussaint remained true to
mis- master until after he had helped him and
his family to escape from the terrible venge.
ance the blacks were taking for the cruelties
that had been inflicted upon them, and then
he began a career that was to lead him first
to glorious achievements and then to a
prison.
"He had crude knowledge of medicine
and the curing qualities OF different kinds Of
herbs, and he joined the negro army as a sur
geon, and began to scheme TO secure higher
rank. AT that time the governments Of Eng
land, France and Spain were at war in the
island, each of them claiming it, and Spain
recognized the ability Of the black soldier
and made him the commander of a regiment
Of the native troops in the Spanish army.
He won several brilliant victories for Spain
against the French, but when the English
tried to conquer the island and wrest it
from the other two nations that we're con-
tending against each other as well as against
the blacks and mulattoes he found that he
could secure a generals rank in the French
army il he would fight against the Spanish
and the English and so he changed sides.
He won such brilliant victories against the
armies of Spain and England that when
they were driven away from the territory
claimed by France he was made a lieutenant
general in the army and the French govern.
ment also made him the deputy governor
general OF the colony.
But Toussaint was not satisfied with the
honors he had won, and five years from the
time he had assisted his master to escape he
started out to drive the French out of the
island and make himself the master of the
| territory. His black followers supported him
and he succeeded il l798 in attaining his
highest ambition.
He had proven himself great general,
and had not only secured the freedom of the
slaves in the island, but had made the slaves
the masters Had he have been as great in
peace as In war it ia possible that the beauti
full little island would have been peaceful
and prosperous afterwards, but he was not
He had heard Of the great courts Of Europe,
and especially of the greatness Of Napoleon,
who was just then winning his great vic
tories in Europe, and he tried TO initiate
him.
"He established an elaborate court, built
beautiful palaces for which his people had
TO pay, attempted to enter into treaties with
England which were to acknowledge him as
king Of ths island, and these things resulted
disastrously. The French sent new gov.
ernor and more soldiers TO compel the blacl,
man to recognize French authority, and the
mulsttoes, who had helped Toussaint to win
the battles before, turned against him and
Iided with the new French governor.
After a little time, however, he defeated
the French, and then Napoleon sent new
commissioners over 10 recall the governor
and allow Toussaint to remain as chief in
command of the island. OF course Napoleon
intended that the island should remain a
French colony, but Toussaint intended diff.
ferently, and In 1901 he published a con.
stitution which proclaimed himself the pres
ident of the country during his lifetime and
allowing him to appoint his successor. Then
he again began the building Of magnificent
palaces and the organization of big army,
all Of which the people did not like.
by these measures Toussaint lost the re-
spect and confidence Of many of his people,
and when Napoleon sent another expedition
10 the island they were not so ready to help
him in his fights against the French. Ma.
poleon had not intended that Toussaint
should set up a separate government when
he had made him the governor of the island.
"But the French soldiers did not easily
capture the black president His army was
not strong enough to fight the French, but
on the other hand they could not capture
him until they invited him to a conference
at which he was overpowered and taken to
France, where he was imprisoned in a castle
until he died in 1903. What different end
inp his life rnirht have Ind Ind he tunrl III