Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-20

throes of revolution on an island only sew
enty miles away. And in these republics
In a hundred years no monuments attest
the stability of the government and the
popularity Of it's presidents. Heureaux de-
signed monument to himself. but 1t would
not be standing now IL 1t had been erected.
He was fond of display. and his name was
inscribed on public buildings and parks and
streets were named after him. In the revo-
luton which overthrow him every tablet
bearing his name was defaced. His own
monument he ordered and paid for himself.
at government expense. 1t was an eques-
trian statue costing $4,000 in Italy. When
questioned about 1t he said, IF I don't
erect a monument myself never will have
one; these people will rejoice when I am
dead and 1 will soon be forgotten" 1t was
shipped to Santo Domingo on the French
steamer. On the way a storm was en-
countered and the vessel was in danger.
The freight shifted threatening heavy list
to part or starboard, and the massive pc
destal moved about dangerously. 1t was
finally hoisted overheard. The statue itself
arrived the day he was assasSina1ed, and II
was stored In the custom house and never
unpacked.
His Assassination.
OF his assassination hundred stories are
told, and it requires a careful investigation
to get the truth. Most Of the stories told
are wide Of the mark and are more or less
colored to suit the interests of the MARIA
tor. The uncertainty caused by the discrep-
ancies and the fear Of him was SO great
that the people thought It one of his
schemes to get them to express their opin-
ions OF him and for three weeks refused to
believe that he was dead. Their fear of
him was well founded, for over 400 execu-
lions without trial occurred under his rule
and the exiles were too numerous to get a
record Of. AS an Illustration of his cum
ming scheming he one day announced that
he would not be a candidate for election
again and invited any one who desired to be
president to announce his candidacy The
governor of the province of Aqua took him
at his word and announced his candidacy
He was assassinated that same night
Heureaux remarked that he did not want
any one around who wanted to be president
while he was alive
When he was first elected the term OF
office was four years. He changed 1t to
seven and held on for seventeen. The pros
perity which came with his despotic power
was short-lived. Temptations beset him and
the demands on him for money increased
He maintained his power partly by the
liberal use Of money and his amours cost
him a fortune annually. A public debt of
$50. 900 600 accumulated and the currency
deprecated to five cents on the dollar al
though he had a number Of his citizens
shot for refusing 1t at par. He even went
SO far as to have law enacted making IL a
capital offense to refuse it at par He lev
led tribute on all who seemed to be pros
porous and they knew better than to refuse
him. One or two refusals were followed
by mysterious and destructive fires on the
premises Of those having the courage to re-
fuse, and that was a sufficient hint to the
people generally. His shrewdness Is illus
trated by a method he pursued to get money
from man he suspected Of concealing his
wealth. The currency was a drug at five
cents on the dollar. while gold was in great
demand. He sent q trusted friend to the
mtser with $1,000 gold and a request to ex-
change currency for it. The unsuspecting
possessor OF hidden wealth jumped at the
gold and quickly made the exchange A
few moments later Heureaux sauntered into
his place of business and asked for a loan
OF 1900. The man denied having it. az
know better than that" said the president,
Il just met friend down the street who
said he gave you 81. 900 gold for some paper
money: Il let my brother have that" said
the unhappy victim. Go bring his brother
mere. said Heureaux to one Of his guards,
VIII borrow the money Of him" The
miser saw he was cornered and said his
brother had gone to the country. but that
he had 1000 on hand belonging to a friend
ne could let him have. Heureaux got the
gold. which. it is needless to say, he never
repaid The miser died six months later. It
Is said. of a broken heart