The state herald., 1912-08-09

Haiti Is that 1t has managed to
escape American attention all
this time. Everybody knows
Cuba, or knows all about Cuba.
iext door on the west. and Porto
Rico, across the Mona passage east
ward. But II you happen to mention
he fact that you have been spending
he winter in Haiti. most people will
'emain little vague in heir minds,
writes George Marvin. in Harpers
Weekly.
Quite naturally. in inverse ratio to
he lack OF knowledge about Haiti, pre-
walls the misinformation about the
Slack republic. II one were to believe
1aif the stories heard In West-Indian
ports or on the steamers that ply be-
tween them. one could only approach
The Haitian coast with the mingled
emotions of missionary and sui
eide.
But geographically Haiti is not re-
mote place. The steamers stop there
regularly-German, French. English,
American and the puffy little Spanish
boats from Cuba. A French cable, very
useful In the Spanish.American war,
connects New York with the cape But
British capital, which has developed
jamaica, Cuba, Trinidad. Barbados and
other Caribbean lands less fertile. has
never sought investment in Haiti. The
United Fruit company. whose fleets
from Costa Rlca and jamaica steam 0y
through the Windward passage, never
calls at the ports OF the island which
Is said to be the most fertile OF the
Greater Antilles. Tho Canadian banks
which have within the past decade
spread throughout the West Indies.
gradually overcoming Spanlsh.Amori.
can opposition by their more liberal
terms and sounder finance, have passed
over Haiti. Yet this is an insular gov
ernment which. whatever its other
shortcomings. has never defsulted in
Its direct obligations and has. more
over. recently undertaken n railroad
enterprise, the completion OF which
contemplates the expenditure OF ten
millions OF borrowed dollars
New Policy Adoped.
This reluctance. hitherto, OF ex.
plultiye capital cannot be altogether
attributable 10 unstable government,
for right next door San Domingo has
INDUCED herself In 60 general reyolu-
lions. while temperate Haiti has con.
fined herself TO ten. Venezuela, Co
Iombia and tho lsthmlan lack-of.goy.
ernments have been more constitution.
ally dissipatod than the Black repub-
lie. And yet every one OF these Span.
ish'American territories has been ex.
plotted by foreign capital, Race preju.
dice Is the other obvious answer. a
race prejudice operative in two ways;
In the probable antagonism of the m.
tive blacks TO white intrusion. and In
tho unwlllingness OF white colonlsts to
place themselves on an equality with
tho black owners OF the soil or sub.
Iect themselves TO negro authority.
Now the particularly interesting thing
about Haiti at the present moment is
that these two deterrents nro being re.
duced 10 n minimum. G.. new gov.
ernment. almost universally admitted
TO be the most enlightened and com.
pctont IN Haitian history. has adopted
and put into motion n progressive pol.
icy In the working out OF which the
matter OF race prejudice is already be.
ing thoroughly tested.
The new government OF Cincinnhtoa
Lcconte. which superseded that OF An.
toine Simon by the revolution OF June,
1911. has adopted an ambitious pro.
gram and started It's regime on a high
plane.
by far the most important measure
20 which tho government Ia commit.
ted II the American railroad now IN
course OF construction. This II one of
tho most important projects ever un.
derinken In tho West Indies and ranks
with Sir William Van Horne's railway
IN Cuba. when completed the line will
ba $50 miles In length, Joining all the
more important cities OF tho country
aud bringing tho most fertile asricui
turnl districts OF tho interior into di.
rect connection with tho chief sen.
ports,
In addition TO this comprehensive
railway development project. the now
government has either Inherited from
the Simon regime. or undertaken on
it's own account. an irrigation scheme
10 reclaim the rich plain OF tho cul de
FAC around portnu.Prlnc- and the dry
lands near Aux cayep. and has 10,
municipal contract for the paving OF
streets In tho capital. Both OF these
concessions are held by Americans
and both arc now operative. To carry
out these and other improvements,
suoh ~ electric Hight and power plants
and a reorganization Of the currency.