The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-07-29
Tho Assassination Of Houreaux.

The Washington, ID. o, Post says
The assassination of President lIeur.
eaux Of San Domingo, on Wednesday
last. closes An adventurous career He
had been reelected four times TO the
highest office. serving continuously
since 1881 TO put the case more &C
curately, he became the despot Of
San Domingo in 1882 and has held the
position by force ever since In accOr-
dance with the tendency which pre-
walls in the half.devcloped republics Of
the south, insurrectiOn has been an
incessant threat throughout his admin
istration. But, unlike his presidential
colleagues Of the Spanish American
republics, Heureaux has invariably con.
qucred his enemies Reyolts against
his rule have been suppressed so speed
ily that it has become al extremely
haZ udOus enterprise % attempt 10
overthrow him or b seek his life. He
has conquered oil his enemies through
sheer force, aided by craft which has
marked him AS an extraordinary man.
lie did not hesitate 10 employ assassi-
nation when all opponent became too
bold or TOO powerful On ono occasion
when Castillo, minister Of war.
showed signs Of organizing a rebellion,
Heureaux sent word 10 Jose Estay gov
ernOr II the province In which the
minister was operating commanding
him to kill Castillo. E-tay halted at
this order, but his son shot al the min.
lister and missed him, though killing
Casulljs son. Heureaux later con-
triyed TO persuade the minister to re-
turn t. the capital with Estay as pris-
oner charged with having sought TO
murder Castillo This ruse succeeded.
The minister was forthwith executed
for treason and the governor was quiet
liz disposed If as warning 10 oil other
governors 10 obey the presidential COM
mands more implicitly and success
fully. Heureaux was earnest in his
hope that San Domingo might fOusish
through the aid Of foreign capital, and
he constructed railroads and telegraph
lines 10 develop the resOurse Of tie
country. But the atmosphere of insur-
rection and the fear Of maladministra-
tion kept investors away, and the re-
pablo has remainded in Obscruity save
the recurrence Of such tragedies as that
now reported The assassination Of the
p .esident will be followed by upheay.
ais as long-suppressed aspirants for
power step toward
CAREER OF THE DEAD PRESIDENT.
Hcureaux has been called the Ma
poleon Of the south He was born al
Puerto Plata. town on the north
coast Of Santo Domingo, IN 1916 He
became "A private soldier in 1862. vol
untecring in the native service in the
uprising against the Splniards. When
the Spaniards left the island Heureaux
had risen TO tho rank Of colonel. He
was a leader in tho various attempts
10 drive from power Bonayentura Baez,
who. in 1861, usurped absolute power
in the island Blez was successful, and
Heureaux went into exile In 1869 he
again led the revolt against Baez
The first operation of Heureaux was
for dash and bravery most exceptional.
Baezs troops, regulars, l,S0O strong,
were enclmped about eighteen miles
from the border line Colonel Heu-
reaux had only seventy men. volun-
teers After five hours desperate fight
ing. the enemy having been surprised,
Baez's troops fled. Twenty-eight men
were killed and eighty wounded. On
Heureaux's side eleven men were kill
ed.
In 1874 the government of Baez
ceased and General Gonzales came in
to power Two years later found Heu-
reaux again at the head Of revolt and
this time he triumped, and as a result,
Ulysses Espaillart was made president,
presenting the party Of General Heu-
reaux aud Luperon.
In July, 1880, Fernando A. Merino
was elected president, and in 1882 Gen.
Heureaux was selected to succeed him,
and remained in power TO the time of
his assassination.
President Heureaux was always de-
termined to have the affairs of the is
land conducted on the basis of order
and justice. Heureaux, during his
eventful career, received nine serious
wounds and carried two bullets in his
body.
The Secretary of State forwarded
the following cable message from the
President:
Lake Ohamplain.
via Washington, D. O., July n, 1899.
His Excellency, Wencesao Figuereo,
President of the Dominican Repub-
lie, Santo Domingo;
I'm the name of the American PEG.
pie and my own offer to your excel
lency and the Domipican nation most
sincere condolences by reason of the
death of President Heureaux
James Jtffries, champion pugilist,