Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-12-12

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 We're 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 character which
would excite the ridicule of an Ameri-
can, but which nevertheless was taken
very seriously in Haiti. The presi-
1 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
dEessed alike.
There is no reason to believe that
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 thesrest
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.
Here Is an instance of a craftiness
combined with real feeling toward
progress. 4 mining expert in PhiIa-
deiphia, 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 Il fine ore
Il 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 with
the rail end. They began toawork on
/ the president
4 Alexis took his particular view of
! the case. Il don't mind giving you 4
: concession" he said, ''but don't want
: to run the chance of giving you the
: whole island" He had evidently heard
| tbipp Of np1acSin,,c
: The Germans spent good deal OF
: money in Haiti over this matter, it is
: reported, but finally Nord Alexis, after
an interview in which he showed a
keen business sense, though asking
nothing for himself, granted the con.
5 cession. He signed the papers and sent
! them to congress. The gentlemen in
the legislature, however, had been
'seen," and, though they did not care
t TO involve themselves with the presi
:, dent, they delayed and delayed until
, they found way out. Enough j
them to break the quorum left the cap
q ital and went down the coast. Nort
a Alexis merely sent his gunboat after
;. them, with courteous request t.
o come back. They came back They
knew Nord Alexis. -
In appearance General Nord Alexis
. Is at least very striking. Forty years
= rgo he must have been might,
warrior, over six feet in height ant
powerful in build His features ar,
= those of a central African, his colo
coal black.
Nord Alexis has been frequently de
scribed as believer in voodooism
= His wife died a few weeks ago.