The National tribune., 1899-08-24
STORIES OF HEUREAUX.
Character Of the L.,e pre.lsest .t So. Domingo.

Many interesting stories are told Of the
late President Heureaux of San Domingo.
1t was observed that when the first an
nouncement was made of his assassination
that the Consul representing the San Do
mingo Government in the United States, at
New York, said that he would want otIcial
confirmation of the report before saying
anything about it. This statement by the
Consul recalls the fact that some years
ago Heureaux, who was an absolute die
tator instead of a President, went out into
the country somewhere, two or three days
distant from telegraph lines, and caused
the report to be sent out broadcast that he
had been assassinated. The result was
that his many enemies, including the army
officers and people of influence in his house
hold, were jubilating and celebrating the
event with great glee. He took this method
of finding out just who were his enemies
and who were his friends, and the result
was that he had every person who was
iubilating over his death. whether per-
sonal friend or ere ny, killed when he came
back.
Another story is told of where he sus-
pected a regiment of being disloyal to him.
He ordered this regiment out on parade,
and surrounded it with the rest of the
army. He thereupon made a speech to the
soldiers, saying that all the officers of this
regiment were found to be disloyaI and ac-
cordingly ordered the men to kin tie Off
GERS. This was done very promptly, the
men knowing that their only hope of life
was in obeying the order. He then told the
men that nOn-commIssloned officers We're
disloyal and ordered them shot, which was
done by the regiment. He then divided the
regiment up into squads, and had one squad
kill another until the entire regiment was
destroyed. This regiment had joined i'll a
slight rebellion raised by some opponent of
Heureaux, and he had taken this method of
ridding himself of it. tits needless to say
that the balance of the army, either through
fear or affection, remained loyal to him
after that. 80
An officer of the United States Govern
ment was some years ago visitor in San
Domi go, and became acquainted with
President Helrreaux, and relates interest
ing conversations that he had with him.
This visitor asked him if he did not expect
tlat he might be assassinated some time
on account of the method of his Govern
ment He replied that probably he would
be killed some time, but his method was
the only ore by which he could govern
those people, and that in killing off sus-
pected enemies he was merely proIonging e
his own life. He predicted that the time
would come. when he would of course be
killed, but meanwhile, he said, he would
protect himself ard his Government to the
best of his ability.
The visitor also asked him what would b.
the result il some man in the army or some
man other than he should become candi-
date for President at the elections that are
held from time to time, and should make
speeches against the management OF
HeurealIx. Heureaux shrugged his shoul-
ders and said that such a thing was not
likely to occur. But suppose it should
occur?" persisted tie visitor. Heureaux
made motien with his thumb across his
throat and without saying word, emitted
a sound like s-S-S-S-t, and then grinned in a
fiendish sort of way. Heureaux never
came to the United States. saying that he
would not be regarded as President of San
Domingo, but would be considered as a
negro in the States. -