New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1908-12-30
ALEXIS NO GRAF TER.
Even the Haitian Ex-President's
Foes Admit He Is Honest.

Even the Haitian Ex-PreSident'S
Foes Admit He Is Honest.
RULED WITH AN IRON ROD.
Represents In Himself Chief Racial
Traits Of Haitians-An instance Of
His Craftiness Combined With
Real Feeling Toward Progress-Be-
lever In voodooism.
General Nord Alexis the deposed
president Of Haiti, being a product Of
a turbulent country with frequent rev
olutions, steady stream of political
assassinatfons and a perfect sea of
corruption and intrigue, represented
in himself the principal characteristics
Of the Haitian people. He climbed to
the presidency by force. He is half
savage, but even his enemies admit
that he is patriotic and honest, excep-
tionally SO, according to Haitian stand
ards, says the New York Herald He
always posed as the opponent of graft,
and by this he is distinguished from
most Of the Haitian leaders who as
sailed him all the time he was in
power.
There has been much speculation
about the age Of Alexis. It has been
placed between eighty-fye and 100
According to biography published in
Haiti, he was born in 1920 His ia
ther was a so called prince of Cape
Haitien, the northernmost part of the
country. The parent held a high posi-
ton in the household Of Emperor Hen
ry Christophe, a barbarian, who left
behind him when he committed sui
eide in 1920 a long trail Of political
crimes
General Alexis in 1896 rebelled against
Hippolyte, who previously had over
thrown President Legitime Hippolyte
died in a fit of rage the same year
while preparing to march against the
rebels, and he was succeeded by Gen
eral Sam in March, 1896. When that
leader fed from the country after the
people had risen against him in 1902
General Alexis, who had been the most
formidable spirit in the revolution, as
sumed the presidency. He plunged at
once into reorganization Of the de-
partments of the government. His pol
Icy was to remove as far as possible
French and German influence from the
affairs of state in their bearing upon
the finances and development of the
country.
Alexis pursued his enemies without
mercy, and finally last March twenty.
seven alleged conspirators against his
government were slaughtered, and in
ternational attention was directed to
Haiti by political refugees seeking asy-
lum in the French and other legations.
1t is said to have been Alexis ambi.
ton to proclaim himself emperor Of
Haiti Whether this be true or not, he
surrounded himself with considerable
military panoply Of a character which
would excite the ridicule of an Ameri-
can, but which nevertheless was taken
very seriously in Haiti. The presi-
dents mansion was strongly guarded.
Soldiers were stationed inside and out
side the compound around the man
sion. Within the building there was
usually a picturesque display Of Off
GERS, most Of whom were uniformed
brilliantly, but in various styles and
colors. No two officers appeared to be
dressed alike.
| hnlinun
General Alexis has done anything in
six years of rule with an idea less com
mendable than the improvement Of his
country and it's standing with the rest
of the world. He was firm in the per-
suasion that the proximity of white
people was, on the whole, dangerous
to the independence of the country
and, although he did nothing on the Of
fensive, he was ever careful of grant
ing trade concessions.
i Here is an instance of a craftiness
combined with real feeling toward
progress. A mining expert in Phila
delphfa, who had assayed a lot of cop
per bearing rock said to have come
from Haiti, went down there to look
over the ground. He found a fine ore
mountain, but it was far in the interi
or and quite inaccessible for business
purposes unless railroad could be
built. The Germans had a railroad
/ from Port au Prince to the salt lakes
and naturally wanted no competition
and German steamship line saw pos
sible rival steamships connecting will
the rail end. They began to work OF
: the president
Alexis took his particular view O
the case. II don't mind giving you
concession he said, ''but don't wan
to run the chance Of giving you th
whole island" He had evidently hear,
something of concessions.