Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-20
SANTO DOM|N co
Gen. Vasquez Probably Will
Be Elected President.
MANY PRESIDEN rs
SINCE THE DECLARATION OF
INDEPENDENCE IN 1914.
Brief Sketch Of Heureaux, Who Held
Office for the Longest Period and
Was Finally Assassinated.
MANY PRESIDENT rs

The State Department has notified Min
lister Powell to recognize the provisional
government Of Santo Domingo If, in his
Judgment, it Is in control and capable OF
maintaining order and protecting life and
property. Advices state that an election
has been ordered under the constitution,
and that General Horatto Vasquez Y III be
chosen regularly without opposition. Cen
eraI Vasquez was the head Of the provf-
sional government which seated Jimenez In
1899. Heureaux had been assaesinated.
Vasquez was the commanding general OF
the army and Immediately took charge of
the government, maintaining order until
Jimenez was formally elected. He was
made vice president and recently organized
a revolution on his own account Since the
declaration Of Independence in 1874 Santo
Domingo has had many presidents. only
one of whom finished one term. and he was
assassinated while president later. One
president lasted only three weeks. The
most remarkable character the country pro-
duced was Ulysses Heureaux, who was
president from 1882 to 1899. In early youth
he was a cattle driver, and If reports are
true 1t was not always his own cattle that
he drove. He was brave and fearless al
ways, and was known far and wide for his
reckless daring. His mother came from
one Of the English possessions. his father
was French Haitian and he was born IN
Spanish Santo Domingo, so that he picked
up a tolerable knowledge of three Ian
guages in his infancy.
How Heureaux Became President.
There was always war Of some kind in
the little republic, and naturally he became
a soldier at an early age. His bravery
soon brought him to the head Of the army
in the field, and his only superior was Gen
eral Luperon, commander-in-chief OF all
fhA mi NJ
they were generally successful. caused q
vacancy in the presidential chair and Luz
peron was a candidate. Heureaux went to
him and said: You want to be president
and so do I. We can't both be. am the
real head OF the army: the soldiers have
fought side by side with me and will stand
by me. am very sorry to part with you,
but under the circumstances can give you
only twenty-four hours in which to get out
Of the country" Luperon saw the force of
his remarks and left and later when he
reaux brought his remains home at public
expense and buried them with much pomp
and ceremony.
Heureaux maintained his supremacy for
seventeen years, during which he sup
pressed nineteen revolutions. He was shot
at three times by assassins and was wound
ed In the hand and in the leg. The last at
ing his heart. The prosperity Of his early
reign did not continue, and the revolution
which ended his life was direct result of
MS Da0 nnancler1nS.
How He Ruled the People.
Heureaux was a coal black negro, over
six feet tall and OF slender build He was
utterly fearless and his recklessness in
spired awe. His people thought him in
vulnerable and feared him. and he did all he
could to keep them Of that opinion You
cannot rule these people except through
their fear" he SAID one day to an American.
And at another time he said, "A little blood
is good thing show the people a little
blood every day and you will have no trou-
BILE ruling them" His comment on the
Philippine situation was, s.The United
States does not know how to handle those
people. Let the little fellows alone, they
don't amount to anything. Go after the
big fellows and kill them on" One day he
said, What is 1t you call 1t in English,
reincarnation? I believe, In that have
the soul Of Napoleon and Caesar Like
Caesar came and saw and conquered"
As q matter Of fact he more nearly resen,-
bled Nero than any Of the rulers who have
helped make history.
It 10 striking picture that Ia presented,
one republic being born amid fetes and
tags and loud applause and two in the