New-York tribune., 1908-04-20
HAYTIANS In TERROR
UTSRULE IN REPUBLIC.
President Threatens Massacre
Pleas for Intervention.

r-or+-sl-P Prince Hayti. April 11.-More than
.hroe weeks have ella psod since the savage
s1ooting Of political prisoners. variously esti-
r.srei AT from twenty-seven to forty-eight. sent
,he varships OF four nations in haste to Port-au-
prince Their arrival put the seal of security
On the lives of property Of foreigners, and since
.7,ar at least outward peace has prevailed.
Willie there have been many arrests of natives
st,srected Of sympathy With the recent rebellion
ard many political prisoners continue TO be
brought ia from interior points. there have been
10 more public shootinEs Indeed. the govern
-,ert denies that any more executions ha
taken place. This, however. is doubted, since
t5ar many persons are known tn have been
dragged from their beds at night and all trace
,f rrcn1 has been lost
IN the executions of March II last President
Nord Alexis achieved the double purpose OF kill
iue IS many OF his foes as he could lay hands
cu and striking terror into the hearts Of those
who were beyond his reach. Since then his
name, and that Of his ferocous lieutenant. Gen.
ersl Jules Alexis Coicou. who personally di-
-efed the shooting Of the prisoners including
some OF his own blood relations are only men
toned in whispers All Hayti trembles before
them. and as long they are in power there is
scam proha biity of any speedy renewal Of in
surrection-
THREAT OF A GREAT MASSACRE
III patriots Nith Indifference but he has made
II. significant statement that if he is not per-
nitted 70 end his term of office unmolested he
VII. rather than submit to deposition. he re-
uemtsred by such a massacre as yti has not
ser since the days Of Dessalines, once known
a. Jean Jacques l. No one doubts his ability 10
carry out his threat. which is understood to be
intended - warning, not only to revolution
lists hut against any attempt at foreign inter
ference in ire affairs Of Hayti.
with order restored and their lives and prop
e-ty under the protection of ships Of war, the
foremost question in the minds OF foreign resi-
dents IS F.hether The time has not come for the
final solution of the Havtian question All
agree that Hayti during her 100 years of indie
p=r5enoe has not shown great apacity for self
government. and that the affairs Of the island
Rave now reached about the lowest ebb in its
history Americans who have lived here for
twenty and thirty years and have witnessed
dozens Of Instructions say that the one recently
crushed. and even now snouldering. was the
most disastrous possible. coming as it did when
Fa-r. already exhausted financially, was least
able N endure the waste Of civil war.
Never. they say. have matters been in such A
desperate condition Destitution prevails every
where ragged soldiers swarm the streets. beg
Eir= ptteously. and even officers bedizened in
dr-T gold and silver lace. beg. cap in hand, and
s-r urofuse jn thanks for a gift of cents.
Tho soldiers beg because their pay. when they
ce- ir. amounts 10 less than 80 cents a month.
general receives 2oo gourdes a month. equal
~ about 81. 50 that in order to live, he must
add 70 his income as best he may.
80 HOPE OF HONEST GOVERNMENT.
similarly all government officials who are
paid IN The dehased currency are expected %
rHimburse themselves in some manner. Only
IN
removal Il IS rumored now that another huge
issue of paper and nickel money is impending
which viii cut The present value Of the gourGe
rn half. making the nominal dollar worth about
. cents.
The Haytians OF the better class know all this
H-r under peril OF their lives cannot openly ex-
press their views A member Of one of the best
families in Haytt. holding a post Of the highest
taror. q man OF broad education. who has trav-
-lad widely and is Of unquestioned integrity,
Was recently asked whether he couhi name one
EaEran competent to give the republic a sta BILE
and honest government.
J know no such mar." ne replied. and then
a-lel- But what Is the use Of discussing that
Assuming that We had one man Of exalted
patriotism and Undoubted capacity. he could
never aspire 10 the Presidency. simply because
He could not offer To his followers the assurance
af public punder which here constitutes the
prime attraction Of public Office The affairs Of
me republic are absolutely desperate We are
like children unable to care for ourselves, and
olr only hope lies in the intervention Of some
strong power, which in spirit of humanity will
lay firm hand on and guide US along the
path Of safety until such time as we may by
force IF education develop capacity for direct
Ing Our own affairs"
The same views were expressed by Septimus
Marlus justice Of the Supreme Court who re-
Gently exchanged the protection of the French
lgaugn for exile in the Island Of ST Thomas