Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-09-04
MAY TAKE OVER RAYI|
lnterminable Strife on the Is.
land May Result in Its An.
nexation.
Probable That United States
Will Intervene to Stop the
Civil War.
Inhabitants Seem to Be Retro.
grading in the Scale Of
Civilization.

Washington. Sept. 4.-The anneXa-
/, ton of the island of Hayti, in the West
! Indies. by the government of the United
States in the near future is by no
means improbable. The necessity for
taking action in the matter has been
discussed by President Roosevelt with
some of his advisers. For some time
past the conditions in Hayti have been
such as seriously to disturb the island.
Revolutions. which have always been
frequent ever sihce the colored native
population endeavored to govern the
island, have of late grown more fire.
quent, and the presence of American
men-of-war has been required not only
to protect American interests, but also
TO see that other foreigners in the
island We're not personally ill-treated
or robbed of their property.
Reports from the island make it plain
that the people have no government in
the ordinary sense of the word, and
that neither life nor property are safe.
In fact, the conditions have grown so
serious that unless there is interference
by stronger power the island will be-
come a plague spot in the Caribbean
sea.
1t is we'll understood, of course, that
no other nation than the United States
could undertake the work of restoring
reace and order in the island. The
seizure of Hayu by a European power
would be instantly regarded in Wash
irgton as a breach of the Monroe doc
trine and would be resented When in
reference becomes necessary 1t will be
the United States that will lay its
strong hand upon the island, and that
such interference is only a matter of a
short time is admitted by those with
whom the president has discussed the
matter.
The island of Hayti is really occupied
by two republics. Santo Domingo and
Hayti. 1t lies directly between Cuba
sud Porto Rico and is the largest island
in the West Indies except Cuba. There
is little civilization upon the island, the
negroes having relapsed into an almost
harbarous state with voodoo worship.
and 1t is said by some travellers event
the eating Of human flesh. It's people
are IN constant warfare, one president
succeeding another as soon as the new
aspirant can secure the necessary fol-
lowing and ammunition to make his po-
sition certain.
Many years ago there was large ex-
port trade from the island, but this has I
dwindled down to almost nothing. while |
the purchases are confined to a small I
of linen and cotton goods. If it |
should become necessary to seize Hayti /
in order to put an end to the anarchy I
which is now said to exist in the repub-
lie and thus insure peace and quiet in
the West Indies, it is believed that ia
vorable terms can be made with the
republic of Santo Domingo, which |
shares the occupation of the island, so
that the entire country can pass into
American possession. The whole sub
|ect has been but tentatively discussed.
and nothing is likely to be done If the
Haytians themselves restore peace and
order. If they do no American inter-
vention will occur.