Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1899-08-03
TIL A DESPOT
OF San Domingo. His Assas-
sination May Cause
War Yet.

o0tSAeSSA Jou AAN 1911 RA00AeS
of the Republic Of Santo Do
mingo, was a sort of Napoleon in
this negro republic of the w est In
dies, but a Napoleon who, after
years of autocratic power, had as
sumed the manners of an Oriental
despot. It was a queer sight for
visitors to This bankrupt little re-
public on tue eastern end of the
island of Hayti to see a ruler with
the airs of a car, the p%oliteness
Of a Parisian-at times-the morr
ais of a sultan and a defiant brav-
ado that made him a Dictator. And
all this under the thin guise of a.
republican form of government.
Heureaux was ffty~three years
old. He was born in Puerto Plato,
the nearest city to the little town
of Mace, where he was assassinated
Wednesday. His parents were
poor. He became a common
soldier and by bravery, brains and
dash soon won high command, All
the West Indies at one time CT
another have fought Spain. Santo
Domingo did, and Heureaux be-
cane a general in that war. He
was a fghter-a fearless, reckless
one, whom bullets could not stop.
He received several of them In his
body, but did not mind them.
Finally, when warfare palled, he
became a politician, and his sue
cess in that exciting game was SO
great that his military record was
overshadowed.
In 1882 Heureaux was elected
president of the republic, and with
four reflections continued 10
power to the day Of his death. He
had no peaceful, easy time, His
years in Office were filled with con-
spiracies, political intrigues and
open instructions that put his
keenest abilities TO the test.
This autocratic president de-
lighted to prowl about his capital
in disguise. He had a double
reason-one gallantry: the other
political. He was fond of ro-
mantle adventures, and set Paris
ian pace in his little tropical city.
The newspapers never dared print
the stories that were gossiped
about him.
But it was in the role of a spy
that this daring president was
greatest. Innumerable stories are
told of his thwarting conspirators
by his own efforts, Once at a
palace reception, when he bad
reason to suspect his enemies of
secret designs, he disguised him.
self as a. drunken laborer, and
stumbling upon a group of suso
| poets. learned their whole plans.
The next day he sent for the men,
and there was a seance of terror
in the palace.
Another time Heureaux went
aloneeto a place where he knew
couspirators were meeting.
Bursting into the room he con-
fronted them. Slowly he looked
around the group and then
dramatically poiuted his finger al
each, exclaimipg, You here?'
He was one man in the power of
fifty. They were plotting his
death, and had him now in their
hands, but not one dared to move
against him. The next day the
conspirators were summoned to
the palace aud lined up before
the president. No ancient despot
ever gloated more over victims
than Heureaux did over these
couspirators. whom be had defed
with his bravado. Before sun
down they were shot.
Enemies accused President
Heureaux OF the crimes of orient
al monarchs. He rid himself of
troublesome opponents, they de-
clared, by poison. Secret assas-
Isination was another of his
favorite methods of heading eff
plots, and Instructions were
nipped in the bud by almost in
discriminate executions. Men
were sent on journeys Of state
and never reached their destinas
tions. Oilers were arrested and
nothing more heard of their fate,
That was the way Heureaux
maintained his power, said the
Liberals Of Santo D1ningo.
Three years ago, General Cas-
tille, minister of war, thought
the opportunity favorable for
starting a rRvalnAi0n FIR his Own