New-York tribune., 1908-04-06
ATTITUDES TOWARD HAYTI.

The news from Hayti day by day is in some
respects a sufficient commentary upon itself.
During the last week, for example, word came
from Portau Prince by way of Paris that aw
full massacTes OF both natives and foreigners
were imminent, and that in an effort to avert
them American warships were preparing TO
land troops. At the same time word came
from Washington that no orders had been
given 70 land troops, and a few hours later it
made known that an American gunboat
which had been IN Haytian waters had started
back for its former station at Guantanamo
The Paris report has thus been entirely dis
credited, but that circumstance will probably
not prevent the putting forth of similarly
groundless stories. Since the beginning of the
present troubles we have had frequent an
nouncements of summary shootings' at whole
SALE and have been gravely Informed that it
is the practice of the Haytian government TO
seize men suspected of treason and shoot them
without trial Yet the expectation of life
among Haytian conspirators and revolutionists
seems to mark them as what insurance men
call first class risks. The census roll Of the
island is not depleted We hear daily of the
living and moving of men who have long been
under suspicion, who have been repeatedly ar
rested. and whom the government could seize
at any time. If the government is so insa-
tiably bloodthirsty and destructive. 1t would
be interesting for some adventurous and in
trepid explorer to ascertain IN what vast and
capacious cemetery il buries its dead.
1t seems tudicious TO believe that a large
part of the so-caIled news which is put forth
concerning Haytian affairs, particularly that
which reaches US after couple Of transatlan-
tic voya ges, is what adopts describe as fub-
dub. 1t has It's origin partly in imagination,
partly IN panic and excitement and partly, we
fear. in interested malice No doubt there are
revolutonists in Hayti. some Of them really
seeking political changes, and others, probably
the majority. intent on nothing more than the
opportunity for looting which an insurrection
affords. Some of them are Haytian citizens,
while others are of alien nationality. The
former should, of course. be left for the Haytian
government TO deal with, outside Of any diplo-
matte or consular asylum. The latter are more
troublesome They appear 10 be Haytians,
they talk and act as Haytlans, and there Is no
intimatiOn and there are no means Of knowing
that they are not Haytians until the outraged
law reaches out to fasten its retributOry grip
upon them for their deviltry, when they run
to the nearest consulate or legation, crying
that all foreigners are il danger Of extermina-
ton and, of course protesting that they are
innocent foreigners who never had anything
TO do with the cause 10 which only q few
hours before they were pledging their lives,
the fortunes which they hoped TO loot and the
utmost exertions Of dishonor. A government
cannot summarily cast off its own citizens, and
so these pestilent troublers Of the world receive
asylum, are made the object Of diplomatic
solicitude, and eventually. perhaps, pose as much
wronged claimants" in whose behalf inter
national arbitration is invoked against the
government which they tried TO burke.
The whole problem is complex and embar-
RAISING, and cOcksure judgment upon every one
of its protean phases is not always JudiclOus.
But what seems 10 Us supremely desirable. for
the sake Of both comfy and equity, is that all
parties who are concerned in II and who ad
dress themselves 10 the task Of solving IL shall
do so in a spirit Of benevOlence and sympathy
toward the legitimate government Of the in
sular republic and not as allies or abettors Of
It's foes. The presumption should always be
that the government is in the right as between
itself and rebels. That seems TO be automatic.
OF course the government may not always he
in the right. II may sometimes be greatly in
the wrong. But on the face Of the case il is
always entitled 10 the benefit Of the doubt
and is 10 be assumed right until 1t is specifically
proved TO he wrong, and the burden Of proof
rests with the other side. That is the attitude
which our own government maintains, and that
is an attitude which would be becoming in all
benevolently disposed governments toward
land which has been AT least as much sinned
against as SHINING.