The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-10-08
HAITI IS DEEP
IN BARBARISM
A State Unconquerable and on the
Verge Of Savagery.
A VERY UNDESIRABLE BURDEN.
American Interference May Come in
Their National Affairs, but IL Is to
be Hoped the Idea of Con-
quest VIII Not Arise.

IL Is often remarked IN JdlAdiSa, anu
expect 1t IS said in the United States also'
that the obvious destiny OF the olacK re-
publics of Hispanioia Is TO belong TO the
limited states. and that within the next
few years. This used 10 be said even be-
fore the conquest OF Cuba and Puerto
Rico. and naturally since then II has BE-
come a commonplace remark that halu
alone Is wanted now TO complete Amef'-
cas- "necklet Of Caribbean gems. Inc
revolution in Santo Domingo consequent
upon the death Of President Heureaux is
expected TO precipitate the "benev-
client assimilation" OF tndt republic by the
United States. a powerful American de-
yeiopment company controls the hnahces
of santo Domingo. and OF this company
the late president was firm friend. Inc
successful revolution following upon MS
Gea,n VIII almost result in the pIunder
Of this Company and or American ana
| other foreign Residents IN san Domln5O'
! that would necessarily .recipate action
] by the United states. Inc interests Oh
American commerce would suifer con-
! siqerably il a government more barbarous
| than that of HeureauX came into pO"r'
! During the last few years Santo Domih-
! Oh has attained higher level Of ciyii-
/ zation than the sister republic OF hdl'-
/ or perhaps Il would be more accurate 70
saw IL has not sunk TO such low depth
/ OF barbarism. The reyolutiOnaries are the
reactiOnary anti-American party. lheT
triumph would be fatal 10 what httle CIV
/ illzati0n exists in the republic. ms TACT
| will Doubtless necessitate American lhleI-
vention, even if the rights OF American
uffTr
us f1pe that any action which may be
| taken will never assume the dimension OF
! an attempt to conquer either republic.
That were saddling the United states
with an intolerable burden such as not
even Mr.. Klpling could expect IL 10 carry.
THEIR HEAVY DEBT.
Haiti. poverty-stricken through CEN
fury Of revolution and barbarOus misrule,
is now seeking 10 consolidate its large
! floating depts. redeem It's valueless paper
currency and generally get upon It's feet
again. At least that IS what Haitians
say and upon the strength OF these
promises OF reform President Simon Sam
is trying 10 borrow 100000 from the
bankers Of New York. Probably hts real
reason is simply that he wants SOC WN0
70 play with. II the money is lent 10
Haiti 10 be administered by Haitian hnan-
liars II will befst0lcn and shared among
the politicians Ia The Old-fashioned way
none Of II will be applied TO It's proper
purposes. and at the end OF five or SIX
Years # viii all be gone and the iinancal
state OF the country left worse than ever.
NJ American capitalists lend money 10
Haiti they should control the Haitian
finances. But this the Haitians would
, never agree to. The state department
at Washington IS said here 10 be very
anxious TO push the loan through. OBJ
Nously It would secure a firm hold upon
Haiti by making IL the insolvent debtor
Of the United States. In Europe the
statesmen Of all the great powers are
agreed that President Mckinley wants to
plant the stars and Stripes over both
black republics anu France is desper-
ately jealous on that account. Already
European diDlomatists have been discus
sing what they shall 10 if America siezes
the opportunity afforded by The death OF
President HeureauX TO proclaim a pro-
tectorate over SantO Domingo.
CRUSH TT OUT.
II President Mckinley has any ambition
TO annex Haiti and Santo Domingo he
will be wise TO crush il out of his heart.
Ii would be another Philippine business
only worse. True. any power with a
navy can wiring indemnities out OF Haiti
by threatening to lombard Port au
Prince. England. Germany and other
European nations have done It. time and
again But TO conquer the country Is a
different matter. The Haitian army Is
an indefinite quantity; it may contain
anywhere from l5.OD0 10 COCO men, all Of
them absolutely undlsciplined
In the time OF President Ieffrand the
army was comrOsed thus: General officers
and general staff. G5o0 regimental officers
100: soldiers. 6J00: total, 10000 Sir
. Of q faxu
ago at Is 900. including 1900 generals Of
division. The cause Of the plethora of
generals Is that the honor Is literally
conferred as a cheap reward for political
services. President Salnave once raised
a common negro iabOrer to the rank OF
general OF brigade. As the new general
had no money TO buy a uniform. he began
nv stealing pair Of golt-laced trousers
from a tailor's shop. He was caught and
naraded around the town on a donkey.
his face toward the tail. and the stolen
trousers tied around his neck This was
the same dav that he received his gen.
erals commission.
The army. as such would not trouh'e
an invader much but the people Of HAITI
are fercely independent. They would rise
as one man 10 carry on a ruthless i'm
practicable. murder0us guerilla warfare.
Away in their mountain recesses and
amid their SWAMP thew could easily bid
defiance to the best white troops as they
did In years gone bv 10 the armies OF
France and Spain. Haitis best internal
defense Is its climate. When the great
NapOleon invaded Russia the car said
he had two invincihle generals 10 defend
his empire. Gen January and Gen. Feb
ruary. Haiti has even better generals
In its service It's great allies are the
tropical sun. yellow fever. malaria and
ague. ANY nation that aspires to conquer
Hispanio'a must make up its mind 10
lose heavily I'm men and money. The
Haftfans often declare that when an IN
vadng force lands they will burn the
towns destroy the crops on the plains.
poison the streams and retire to the
mountains. They would keep their
word.
A HOPELESS TASK.
But the conquest Of HART and Santo |
Domingo would be mere child's play to
the task of ruling and civirizing them I
afterward. America has trouble enough |
already with the negroes wlthil the bor- !
ders OF the union Those IN Hisnanioia |
are OF an infinitely lower more degraded. |
more truculent type. The neasantry OF |
Haiti In particular are practically sunk !
70 the level OF 4 central African tribe. |
throughout tho country though most of |
them are nominaily Roman Catholics. |
they celebrate the horrid rites of the |
voodoo worship. not infrequently accom- |
,aniad-if scores Of reputable witnesses /
are 10 DO trusted-by the sacrifice of the |
"qoat without horrs" the human victim. |
Many weIl-authenticated cases OF canni-
haiIsrn have been placed upon record. and |