The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1911-04-26
ETERNAL REVOLUTIONS THERE
A Country Where No White
Person is Allowed to
Own Land.
PEERAGE HAS BEEN ABOLISHED

|
1t is probably the most turbulent
country in the world. Out of its
last 81 Presidents, 23 had either to
fee for their lives or were assassi-
mated or killed in battle.
1t used to be a French possession,
and a mangled French is still spo-
ken there; but for the last century
or so it has been an independent
black republic, The Haitians be-
lieve themselves to be the most CIV
ilized nation on earth, but it is a
comic opera kind of civilization. The
cities, for instance, are fitted up for
electric lights, but the electricity
does not work, and nobody tries to
make it. Haiti is so shiftless that 1t
has no foreign trade to speak of. so
there are very few whites on the
island. The few who do live there
keep very quiet, for Haiti despises
lectjpg- there. -..~...- --..-- .--.,---...
No white person is allowed to own
land. This law alone is sufficient to
prevent large white population col
lection there.
Haiti used to be known as the
land of the Dukes with the absurd
names. Some 60 years ago it start
ed a peerage, and every peer chose
the name whose sound struck his
fancy. One black nobleman was the
Duke of Marmalade, another the
Duke of Lemonade. There was also
Marquis of Ginger Pop.
But the peerage has been abol'
! ished. Nowadays Haiti is chiefly
known as the land of Generals. The
latest tatistics-which, Haiti fash
= ion, are 20 years old-show al
, army consisting of $500 privates
1000 regular officers and $500
q Generals. Those Generals who hav'
no horses, ride on mules, and the
: army is clad in the cast-off uniform
q OF half the regiments of Europe
Some Of the men parade withou
boots, some with cigarettes in thei
a mouths, some with long sticks o.
a sugar cane, some have rust,
r swords; the rest walking sticks.
There are many civilian General
[ as WELL Country Squires are usu
r ally Generals. AS every respecta
q BILE Haitian has a passion for frocl
coats and silk hats. perspiring Gen
8 erals are often to be seen workin
in the fields, frock-coated under
e burning tropical sun.
4 Haiti has a navy composed of 81
Il third-class cruisers, but even Hail
= does not take that navy yer
= seriously. When foreign vessel
Il put into Haitian ports they ar
II plagued by Haitian tars trying t
sell for a few pence, brasswork an
v engine room fittings.
It Haiti is steadily slipping bac
r. into barbarisms. Some years ag
t the municipality of Port de Pal
showed sufficient enterprise to col
struct waterworks. The town wa
we'll piped and hydrants were place
~ at short intervals all along tn
streets. Decorative fountains an
," drinking troughs were put at ever
IL corner. The natives were delightet
For week they gave themselves u
to fetes, balls and professions to ce
citrate the great event But at I'll
Il end of the week they went and tor
up the whole system. Now they Z
or horses to the hydrants and pic
lie their way in the main streets anon
s. fragments of pipes, and are happ
lie 1t would seem they haven't muc
Is use for fresh water.
ID There is a grim side to Haiti
~ relapse into savagery. Voodooisl
Dr. is getting a greater hold than eve
er it had. Voodooism is simply a s.
ut cred form of cannibalism, practice
st by high and low. At intervals the
ne frock-coated Generals retire to Il
of depths of the jungle and worsh
he the snake god, sacrificing and ga
IT, ing children in its honor. All r
in spectacle inhabitants of Haiti hot
Is. deny that this is so, but travele
have seen. At least two of Haiti
recent Presidents were known vo
doc worshipers,
RI Haiti is beautiful land. 1t h
IL a glorious climate. some of the Low
h Hest mountain and forest scenery
is the world and the most fertile
e. soils. The Haitian is lazy, goo
Is, humored child. But somehow the
M is an uncannv atmosphere about t
ay island. and most of the few travele
lwho have found their way have CO