The Washington herald., 1908-01-05
Haiti.


From every standpoint-social. political.
and historlcal-this work on the republic
of Haiti, written by the distinguished
publicist and author, NJ. Leger. is val
liable and oppOrtune OF wide import and
justification. To students of international
affairs and political history It will be of
great and vital INTEREST," TO the reader of
sociological literature. one interested in
the evolution Of primary forms Of ciyili-
Zation. it will have a peculiar signi1-
canee; TO all readers it viii prove de-
lightful and profitable piece of historical
writing. In behalf OF a brave people
which has come through brave difficult
ties. upheld its ideals through every mis-
chance. a people little understood and
greatly misjudged, NJ. Leger has done
a lasting service. Toussaint L'Ouyerture.
DeDssalines. and Petion built republic,
II. Leger reveals that republic to the
world.
NJ. Leger is a man of letters, the.author
of several well-known works-"Haiti ct
INSTRUCTION Publque." Haiti ct la Re-
vision La PolitiQue Exterieure
dHaiti," "Reeueil des Traites ct Con-
ventions d'Haiti" and Code de Pro-
cedure Clvfle d'Haiti annote." lie is a
man Of public affairs, a statesman; he
has been secretary Of the legation and
charge d'affaires in Paris; assistant sec
Tetary Of state, a member of the Haitian
House Of Representatives, and president
OF the committee on foreign affairs; he
was delegate from Haiti TO the Postal
Congress Of Washington, and to the Pan
American Congress in Mexico. Since
1886 he has served as envoy extraordi-
nary and minister plenipotentiary from
Haiti to the United States
In his history NJ Leger makes no
claims; he rarely INDUCES in exclama-
ton, in eulogy, or in retrospect, and he
never sinks to h. perbole Being thor
Oughly acquainted with the facts and very
much In earnest he writes straight on,
q logical, even, unimpassioned narrative
The pathos and tragedy-and these strong
pages are replete with both-lie I'm the
story he has TO tell; there is no striving
for dramatic or scenic effect In Part
he tells the story of how the black men
Of the island of Saint-DOmingue were
enslaved in turn by the Spaniards and
the French; how the slaves rose again
and again and again; bruised, cheated
massacred, how they never gave Up the
idea Of freedom, never fell back, never
despaiTed: how Toussaint LOuverture
died In chains, and how from the blood
soaked ground new heroes sprang-
Dessalines. slave. soldier, general. say
Tor, dictator. emperor, lawgiver; PetiOn
founder OF the republic, and Boyer, first
president OF the united republic; how the
new state. harassed by France. pain
fully worked out her own national glory.
and secured the recognition Of her indie
pendence by d treaty signed on the an
niversary of our own Lincoln's birth
day, February y, lS3S-it is a magniii-
cent evolution
In Part II, "Calumnies and Their Ref
utation, VI. Leger discusses the natural
history of Haiti, her system of edu
tiOn, form OF government. the manners
and customs of the people, and the mar
riage and divorce laws. He then takes
up some calumnies current about her
people and civilization. For instance.
that the people are reverting 10 barbar-
ism; that they practice cannibalism,
witcLcraft. voOdoism. Carefully and in
telligently the writer disprOves these
charges and proves them TO be unfounded
and 10 be, moreover, designing and ma
ncious. the gossip of cowardly, ignorant.
and often incompetent enemies.
My only aim" says the author of this
remarkable work, "in putting this book
into English is 10 give the Americans the
means Of forming for themselves an i'm
partial opinion Of Haiti" It Is an ade-
quate and noble aim. an honor to the
patriOt-author, and TO the Americans
whom he would have know his country,
her ideals and aspirations, Washington:
The Neala p1fb Co