New-York tribune., 1908-05-25
IN DEFENCE OF HAITI.
General Frederque Crticises article
Recently Reproduced Here.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
| Sir: few days ago OF the New York papers
! reproduced from THE London Globe fancifu
article in which inexactitudes and wilful calumnes
are piled upon Hayti. The writer. 1t can be seen
at first glance. is a fervent reader of Sir Spencer
ST Johns. the most famous detractor of Hayti- He
did even take care conceal the source of his
inspiration, and the way he speaks of the Island
gives the impression that he has visited it,
but only repeats fairy tales written unknown
the sole purposes of attracting the reader.
without instructing him by telling the truth
AS the American public, knowing not the condi-
tions in the BLACK Republic liable to be
misIed by such publications, beg to correct, for
their own benefit. the misrepresentation Of the
| article above mentioned
The assertion that "the ambition of the Haytian
does go beyond obtaining sufficient food and
rum is ridiculous In its malisnity that I will
lose IN contradicting 1t. Even to those
acquainted with Hayti facts prove the contrary.
The large number OF Haytans travelling I'm Europe
every year. the numerous young men and women
who go to Paris each year and take their degrees
in the best colleges there the comfortable and lux
urious homes OF the Haytans the expensive re-
quirements of their social entertainments the
of their ambition and of their efforts. Even
the peasant owns his comfortable home and culti-
Yates his land
the Incidence Of the Haytian. I salts
fled to quote Mr.. Delmas an American citizen who
Is building railway in the country and who
worthy Of credence than the anonymous
writer OF The Globe: Much has been written
from time to time about the Haytian as a worker;
but the reports Of all engineers show that he is
both able and willing conform himself to the
conditions and to meet the demands made upon
him.
Captain Young. who made detailed investigation
OF insular conditions In consideration of the
nearness OF the United States and the push and
energy Of the American people. there will be
difficulty in fostering to pecuniary advantage the
class Of the interior. which is the backbone of
the republic. and. because OF its honesty. courtesy.
industry and thrift Is capable OF almost nCacula-
bic development
The estimating of the population of Port-au-
Prince at 1000 or 5000 when il is over 100000 is
another instance of the inaccuracies published. l
fail to see where the writer received the in
formation that there taxes other than the
customs duties. Besides these, In Hayti. there
many other sources of revenue. notably the income
tax. the stamps. the fines OF the the pass
ports the mutation Of real estate. the revenue of
the public domain. of the dock and foundry. the
daty every recorded act. the trade license. the
locative tax, etc.
II the writer had said that there had been in
cendiary fires during revolutions. would not chal-
enge his statement but when he asserts that these
fires occurred in time OF calm, for the purpose OF
pillage, l must give his statement the most
phatic denial, because such has occurred.
The commercial integrity OF the Haytians Is pro-
After the events of 1883 Haytian merchants. whose
stores had been burned down during the revoIu-
ton. refusing a concordat the basis OF 80 per
cent allowed them by their creditors. sold their
properties and worked for years order to pay
every cent goods from which they received no
who trusted them should not share the risk. which
they took on their sole account Because of the
integrity of the Haytian merchant. in the
worst financial conditions, his credit strong on
fho Euro and Amer Stata-
ment be easily verified by any of the numerous
firms of New York which trade with Hayti.
AS to the politeness and hospitality of the Hay
tians. / quote from the writings of a English
gentleman. A. S. Hais. who has been in the coun-
try After having cruised in various ports OF
the Republic and spent several months in the in
terror of the island, he wrote 4 follows:
Society in Hayti stands very high. The people
Of the better class highly cultured and well
their manners extremely good. Most
of them educated in Paris. There more
law abiding, civil. peaceful and we'll behaved peo
Pile to be found anywhere than the common people
of Hayti. One travel alone at any hour of the
night day, in any part of the lowland or noun
famous districts. with money values in his pos
session, without fear of molestaton and they will
give up gladly all they have to accommodate
strangers. They exceedingly hosptable- have
read Spencer st. Johns book 'Hayti, or the Black
Republic and 1t indeed surprising to me TO
ind things In Hayti so very different to what he
his: A person having been entertained by another
in his parlor in the best of style. going away
writes description his hosts ash pit and back
yard. 1 do hesitate to that the books writ
ten about Hayti show up the very worst side, and
that even Is, in exaggerated 1t is like
writing up the slums and calling II represen-
tation London. The Claring and preposterous ac
counts of belief and practices in witchcraft and
obeah by the Haytians have been very much ex-
aggerated by writer's
1t Is true that there has been friction between
blacks and mulattoes; but 1t Is Inaccurate to say
that the color line is the ruling principle of Haytian
politics That assertion. all the Others is de-
by actual facts The present President of the
biterest opponent Is the leader the Progressive
'arty, Antenor Firmn, a full black, too. What
divides them is question of principle not of color
)ne Is old general, ruling by military despotism
md dragging his country to run the other one |
$ an enlightened patriot. with a platform advo- |
ating the respect of the law and the uplifting of
lis people and of his One is an Ignorant |
lictator: the other one is liberal progressist
AS to the mulattoes being more enlightened than |
he blacks. that is error Among our promi- |
tent men the more competent Mr.. Firmin and !
Louis Joseph Janvier. two blacks. and among the |
Younger generations the average OF educated blacks
S larger than the mulattoes and their standard |
higher
The main piece OF that sensational article treats ,
II voodooisra. The writer deals with its subject |
With such accuracy and precision to give the \
impression that he belongs 10 the sect and Is ac-