The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-10-18

Considering the tempestuous career
which Hayti has had since the brave
Toussiant L'Ouverture helped lead his
countrymen in revolt against the
French, it is pity that more men
of his calibre haven't been able to
dominate that beautiful island of the
Caribbean. Since it threw off the
French yoke in 1904 it has had 20
presidents, and easily five times as
many near presidents, to say nothing
of scores and scores and hundreds
and hundreds of politicians who would
like to sit in the administration
building. Life is cheaper in Hayti
than in almost any other country in
the world. OF these 20 presidents,
Is have been deposed by violence
Hayti threw off the rule of France
in 1904. That was the time of Tous-
saint L'Ouverture, celebrated in poe
try and otherwise known as a great
Haytian general. But the greatest of
them all at that time-at all events
the most powerful of them all-was
Dessalines. The French removed
L'Ouverture to Partisan dungeon,
but Dessalines outwitted them. In the
hostilities that ended in the withdraw.
al of the French he won sufficient
glory and power to enable him to pro-
claim himself eternal emperor of his
people. His strength lasted hardly
long enough for him to get used to
the royal position. A party of his
numerous enemies caught him in am
bush one day and that was the end
of Dessalines. He became, however,
a great popular hero in the Haytian
legends. Even to-day his picture, next
to that of Gen. Simon, is the best
known in the island.
The method by which Dessalines
met his death established one of the
most enduring traditions in Hayti
Nord Alexis managed to make his
escape the other day, and being very
old-S0 or thereabouts-ma be lucky
enough to die a natural death. That
outcome, however, is more or less
problematical. AS for Gen. Simon, it
may be safely predicted that one of
his enemies will sooner or later con-
spire successfully to put an end to
him. In the history of home rule in
Hayti, few rulers have passed away
as most other people pass away.
Christophe, who succeeded Dessa-
lines, had such a hard time of it that
he lost all patience with the situation,
want mad anH LfIIad b;r,ecIf rrb,r
came Gen. Boyer, a dashing figure
in the history of Haytian revolutions.
On his assumption of the highest ex-
ecutive power on the island. he an
nounced that be was there for life.
The legislative branches agreed with
him. until Gen. Herard and his follow
ing became too conspicuous to ignore.
Whereupon Boyer was driven out of
the country-eXiled for life.
Gen. Herard had hardly time to
know what his epaulettes looked like
when Gen. Guerrier came into promi-
nence. Gen. Herard followed his pre-
decessor by the same route, as it were
that is, exile
Then followed period of additional
turmoil. Hayti was overrun with am
bilious generals who sought to tread
in Dessalines footsteps One, more
powerful than the others, a man
named Richie, had himself elected for
life. In 1S47 he was exiled. His sue
cessor, Gen. Soulouque, took unto him
self the title of emperor. In 1859 he,
too fed aboard ship and passed the
remainder of his life beyond the boun-
daries Of the island
Hayti then went back to the repub-
lican form of government Gen.
Geffrard made himself president for
life" as the proclamation read. In
1867 he disappeared into exile and
dictator by the name of Gen. Salnave
began to rule the island He proved
to be quite uncomfortable, and in 1869
was shot by order of court-martial.
Gen. Dominique succeeded him.
These were more than usually tenn
pestuous times in the black republic.
and Domingue's life was always in
jeojardy. In 1876 the place became SO
hot for him that, like Nord-Alexis, he
fed.
Gen. Boisrond-Canal, who passed
into the government palace shortly
after the exit of Dominique. encoun.
tered about as much open hostility az
any Haytian ruler of recent times
His successor. Gen, Solomon, came