The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-09-24
SANT0=DOMINGO AND HAYTL.
Social and Political Aspect the Two Negro Republics Of tho
Lesser Antilles.
By N. E. CHARTER.

to fight a band Of Satyrs. These dances
conducted By the high priestess form the
main part of the ceremonial. Tho initda-
tons of new members are simply horrid:
the high priestess carrying inside OF her
sleeve bladder filed with the blood Of q
kid makes the candidate to Voodooism BE-
lieve that she bleeds herself and makes
him drink this blood which flows through
an aperture in the bladder. During the
ceremony the high priestess wears the
snake around her neck and naked body,
while all present are frantically dancing.
shouting and falling into commissions Ike
those possessed of the devil, a kind OF
weird music is produced by barbarian In
struments used in the jungles of Africa.
AS Il society the Voudoux had a great
influence in slavery times; this influence
has somewhat abated, but is yet to be felt
in Haiti and Santo- Domingo. 1t was not
an uncommon thing i'll these countries, a.
well as in Louisiana, where Noodooism
was introduced, to witness the suddsa
maddening of all the slaves of a planta.
ton. These slaves We're undoubtedly mad,
and, which is worse, many of them met
death while under the influence Of de
| VoUdoux spell. The planters were at Q
loss to understand the cause of these phs-
! Iomena until scientific investigation dis
closed the fact that the high priests Of the
Noudoux surreptitiously used vegetable
poisons administered by their affiliated
members. For instance, they resorted to
Datura Stramonium-the common Jimson
weed-which produces temporary insan-
ity and death. The negro slaves them
selves were deadly afraid of the power Of
the Foudoux, which they could not q.
plain. Yet, on several occasions. the YOU
doux used their power to prevent evil; they
claim that they have many times averted
the uprising zen masse" of the negro
slaves against their masters. Those who
have investigated the matter say that the
claim is well founded but they asserted
! that white men initiated into .Woodoo-
ism" were responsible for the occurrences.
This fact was at best demonstrated in
1868 in New Orleans, La, through Q
memorable trial, in which the ''Woodoos"
were acquitted on the charge of conspiracy
against the whites.
In SantO-DOmingo and Haiti the YOU
dou enjoys yet great power upon the
masses. To the mind of the ignorant negro.
the NoudOu. although not quite orthodox,
Is necessary adjunct of Christianity. In
this respect the same consideration OBJ
tains in Mexico and New Mexico with the
Pueblo Indians, who worship the sun, Al
though claiming to profess Christianity.
As has been already stated, the negrs
is extraordinarily fond of military uni
forms; hence the numerous military or
CARNATIONS of SantO- Domingo and Haiti.
In the United States the negro militia
supports this assertion. There is notable
, difference, however. While the Haitians
and the Dominicans have not the least
comprehension of the use of firearms, and
try to drill according TO the principles Of
tactics(D of the Great Napoleon, the
United States negroes have gained from
their American fellow-citizen of the white
race a knowledge of modern drilling and
the manipulation of firearms.
The mulattoes of Haiti and Santo-
Domingo form the leading or aristo-
cratic class of the two Republics.
The word aristOcratic is not used here
without good cause. The aristocracy re-.
ferred to is really land aristocracy, the
legislators of the Negro Republic having
enacted laws which limit the poor blacl
trash to % acres of land. This prohib.
tive measure practically prevents thu
poor class from gaining a living independ
emily OF the more fortunate mulatto who
has replaced the rich planter of slavery
times.
This brief sketch of Santo- Domingo and
, Hayti would be incomplete, if it. was no,
! added that public education is sadly ne
/, elected in the Island. As a rule ths ma
! jority of educated Haitians and Domin
, leans have acquired their education In Eu
rope. This is an expensive process, out 81
reach of the poor class.