davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-14

woman and a young girl sleeping In the
next room, not voudoosts. peeped through
chinks In the partitioning and saw every
thing that went on. At the trial the
woman gave minute account OF how
the body was cooked and eaten. what
they couldn't eat at supper they warmed
up for breakfast and invited her and the
girl In. She accepted. but the young girl
refused Her acknowledgment Of the
fact that she ate the hands of the muir
dercd child resulted In her conviction
along with the rest OF the gang, In spite
Of the fact that 1t was her evidence
largely that convicted them.
Fourteen persons were arrested subse-
quently, but the evidence was only enough
10 indict eight. They were tried on Feb
ruary and .. four men and four woNen.
They were not untutored savages Of the
wilderness. Some were gardeners. others
washerwomcn, others house servants oil
white families. KIl were executed by
shooting on February 10. the authorities
selecting "A market day for the carrying
out OF the sentence. to gain as large an
audience as possible
The vOudoo priests gave ont that
though their snake deity would permit
the execution, he would do go simply To
prov that his votarles would be raised
from the dead. To prevent the bodies
being carried away during the night ma
tive sentrics were set over the graves. In
the morning three Of the graves were
empty, the bodies of two priests and a
priestess gone. The soldiers had either
run away or helped disinter them
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-14
BLOOD AND RUM.

\ year before this Don Mariana Al.
vareZ, Spanish Charge d'Affares AT
Hayti, himself found I'm street of Port
au-Prince itself the capital OF the coun-
try, the BODY Of an unknown youth with
weapon plunged into the heart and
attached to ii long, thin, hollow tub,
through which the murdered mans blood
had been sucked. 1T was early dawn
when he made the discovery. The don
averred that the voudooists mixed rum
with the human blood they drank.
Some years later the Archbishop of
Port-au-Prince gave at the dinner table
of his palace one evening an account of
what a French parish priest had recently
discovered. This man was In spiritual
charge of the District Of Arcahaye. He
threatened damnation and plenty OF il to
his Pensioners If they didn't take him
into the forest one dark night and show
him all there was to he seen. They were
very unwilling. averring that If they were
found they would all be murdered Still
he persisted. They BACKED his face and
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-14
THE PRIEST PROTESTS.

She made sign of assent. A child was
produced. its feet bound In an instant
a rope already passed through block
was frightened the chid's feet flew up
toward the roof and priest approached
IL with a knife. The child screamed. and
the scream unnerved the priest lie
rushed forward denouncing the negroes.
There was a big scene, amid which some
% his sponsors thoughttully put out the
lights and got him away-far away. tie
ran To a police picket and besought their
aid They refused point blank To mix
themselves up In the affair. Next morning
they went into the forest, and near the
temple they found the remains of the
boiled skull f'the child. The neighbor-
hood subsequently got too hot To hold the
priest. and he was transferred to a dis
tant parish.
OF all the forms Of superstitious prac-
tice grouped under the current term of
voudooism that of obi-ism-African witch
craft. pure and simple-looms most large.
IL Is characterized by four beiefs-that
certain human beings can propitlate or
influence the evil powers; that evil spirits
are associated with serpents and reptiles
that the shades of the dead return to
work their vengeance on the living. and
that charms for good or evil can cast
spells on the victim The chief official Of
the cult il the obi man, or witch doctor.
the voudoo doctor OF Louisiana and the
conJure man of elsewhere. His power lies
In the influence of his presence on simple
minded folk and the faith he creates In
the potency of his charms. lie is usually
a hideous old man, who sells charms and
herb remedies and gets enemies poisoned
for one.
a feature of voudooism is "A belief in
haunting. In Jamaica these ghosts are
called duppies, In Martinique Zombi, in
Antigua and the Barbados jumbics, and
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-14

Hayti. just fifty years ago. The data can
all be verified by reference C. the criminal
court records of that town.
A couple OF miles TO the west - Port-au-
Prince lies the village Of Bizoton. in which
there lived man named Kongo Pellay.
He was labOrer who wanted 10 imp owe
his condition without work. He got into
communication with his sister Jeanne.
who was a voudoo priestess, and IL was
settled between them that some sacrifice
should be offered to propitiate the serpent
After they had consulted with julien
Nicholas and Floreal Apollon two voudoo
papalois, n priests, they decided that a
female child should be sacrificed, and the
choice fell on Claircine, the little niece of
Konog and Jeanne. On December q ls63
Joanna invited her sister, rhe mother OF
Claircine. to accompany her to Port-au-
Prince and the child-a girl OF about
twelve years Of age-was left at home
with Kongo
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-14
FROM a PAINTING eS
E. AOPKlNSON SMITH

ton I could force through the appoint
ment in spite Of the opposition OF the Sen
ators. i'm all ordinary cases this was
impossible. on the other hand, the Sen
ator could OF course, do nothing for any
man unless | chose to nominate bin. In
consequence the Constitution itself forced
the President and the Senators from each
state to come to a working agreement on
the appointments in and from that state.
NV course was to insist on absolute fit
ness including honesty, as a prerequisite
To every appointment, and to remove only
for GOOD cause. and where there was such
cause to refuse even 10 discuss VITA the
senator in interest the unfit servants re-
tention. Subject to these considerations.
normally accepted each Senator's recon-
menGations for offices of a routine Kind.
such as most postotiices and the like. but
insisted on myself choosing the mem FOR
the more important positions. ! was VIII
ing 10 take any good man Toy postmaster
but IN the case Of a judge or distric' at
tOrney or canal commissioner on ambas-
sadcr. ! was likely to insist either on 81
given man or else on any man with 81
given qualification. II the Senator de-
ceived me I took care that he had no
opportunity 10 repeat the deception.
] can perhaps best Illustrate my theory
OF action by two specific examples. III
New York Governor Odcl and Senator
Piatt sometimes worked in agreement and
sometimes were a swords points. and
both wished TO be consulted. To a friend
" Congressman. who was also THEN
friend, | wrote as follows on July -
.eO3:
! Il want 10 work with Platt / want to
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-14
TESTS OF LEGALITY.

I'm a number Of instances the legality OF
executive acts of my administration was
brought before the courts. They were
uniformly sustained. For example. prior
IN 1907 statutes relating to the disposition
Of coal lands had been construed as
fixing the fat price Al $40 TO $50 an acre.
The result was that valuable coal lands
were sold for wholly inadequate prices
chiefly to big corporations. BY executive
order the coal lands were withdrawn ana
not opened for entry until proper classi-
fication was placed thereon by govern
ment agents. There was great clamor
that was usurpng legislative powell
hut the acts were not assailed IN court
until we brought suits to set aside entries
made by PERSONS and associations 70 o.
tain larger areas than the statutes
authorized This position was opposed on
the ground that the restrictions imposed
were illegal The Supreme Court sNs-
tanned the government I'm the same way
our attitude it, the waterpower quesuoa
was sustained. the Supreme Court mold
ing that the federal government had l'e
rights We claimed over streams that are
or may be declared navigable by Con-
gress Again. when Oklahoma became
state we were obliged to use the executive
mower to protect Indian rights and prop
ertv. for there had been an enormous
amount OF fraud i'm the obtaining ol lilu-
ian lands by white men. Here We were
denounced as usurping power over
state. as well as Isurpmg power that dId
Continued on hfth page.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-14
ELEGANT MURDERERS.

One can look with a certain amount IF
equanimity, perhaps. on the cannibai
practices Of an aboriginal tribe of saw
ages back of the beyond. but Hayti pre-
sents the spectacle OF negroes masquerad-
ing by day as most up-tO-date exhibits OF
elegance and stealing away at the dead Of
night 10 join horrible blood orgies in the
depths OF the forests.
Any Jamaican will tell YOU that were
il not for the firm grip that the British
cOnstabulary is keeping on the Jamaican
interior the situation would rapidly revert
to the horrors of Hayti. And for years
past modern Cuba has been menaced with
a situation that Is more than a disgra ce
to the age.
The trouble in Cuba. az elsewhere, has
been the impossiblity OF getting evidence
that would fasten the crime on the Of
fender The negroes will not breathe "A
word: those that don't actually partici-
pate i'm the orgies sympathze with those
that do.
NoudOoism has been prevalent OF late
In the district of MatanZas. So long as
the negroes murdered one another, how.
ever. the whites let well enough alone.
Then the negroes got an idea that the re-
finement of blood orgies would be to Stay
white children for the purpose. Some
months ago they kidnapped and murdered
little ive-year-old Spanish child. There
was a great cutlery that frightened them.
So when. three weeks ago, they wanted
10 repeat the hldeous outrage they com
missioned the voudooists of the district
of Pinar del Rio. a hundred miles west
Of Havana. to kidnap local white child,
fearing a massacre il a second disap-
pearance took place in their own neigh
borhood
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-14
SACRIFICE OF CLAIRCiNE.

Immediately advantage was taken Of the
mothers absence and Clalrcine was taken
to the house OF Julien and thence To that
Of Floreal. There she was bound ana
taken out to a shed in the forest-the
voudoo temple. She was put under the
altar. In the evening the mother. return
ing home, asked for the child. kongO told
her the girl had strayed away. A pre-
tended search was made by those IN the
plot and another voudooist was consulted.
This man told the mother not To be un-
easy as the Maitre d. Eau, or Spirit Of
Water, had taken her daughter, but that
in a short time the child would he re-
stored 10 her. The woman went away
satisfied, and at the voudOOists sug-
gestion, burned candles before the altar
of the Virgin Mary Tor the prompt return
Of her offspring.
On the evening of December 81 large
party OF voudoo devotees gathered at the
house OF Jeanne TO await the arrival Of
the child, who had remained for four days
beneath the altar of the temple. When
the chief members of the plot came TO
the temple To bring her out she, guessing
the fate in store for her. gave two or
three piercing shrieks, which were soon
stlfed. Gagged and bound, she was car
ried TO Jeanne's house, where prepare
tions were made for the human sacrifice
She was thrown to the ground, her Aunt
Jeanne holding her by the waist, while
priest strangled her. Then Jeanne
handed him a large knife.
Bearing the flesh the party adjourned
to F'loreal's house. On their arrival
Jeanne rang little bell and IA procession
was formed and a chant sung.
Reused by the noise of the arrival a
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-14

I shall act as | did when / appointed
Holt When / can find a friend of Odell
like Coolev who is thoroughly III for the
position { desire 20 fiji II gives me the
greatest pleasure TO appoint him. Nheh
platt proposes TO me man like Hamil-
ton Fish IL is equally pleasure to APP
point him
This was written in connection WIFE
events winch led up to my refusing to
accept Senator Platts or Governor
Odeu'S suggestions as to federal Judge
ship and a federal district attorneyship.
and insisting on the appointment first OF
Judge Hough and later Of District Attor-
rev Sumson because in each case felt
that the work to be done was Of so high
an order hat ] could not take an ordi-
nary man.
The other case was that of Senator
Fulton. OF Oregon Through Francis
treney | was prosecuting men who were
impli,ated ia a vast network OF con-
spiracy against the law In connection
with tho theft OF public land in Oregon
I had been acting ON senator FUTON :
recommendations for Office, IN the usual
manner. Heney had been insisting tha1
Fulton was in league with the men We
were prosecuting. and that ne had recon-
mended unfit men. Fulton had been pro-
testing against my following Heney's ad-
vice. particularly as regards appointing
Judge Wulverton as United States Judge
Finally TIeney laid before me report
which convinced me OF the truth OF MS
statements ! then wrote To Fulton a.
follows. ON November 20, 1895: MY Dear
senator Fulton: I inclose you herewith
, 81, r.nnrt made TO me by MT.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-14
ROOSEVELT SAYS HE DID NOT JSURP BUT BROADENED POWER
His Dealings with Senators and Representa-
tives in the Matter Of Appointments
Two Schools Of Political Thought
and Comments on Views
and Actions Of His
Successor

Honey have seen the originals OF tn,
letters from you and Senator Mitchell
quoted therein. ] do not at this time de
sire to discuss the report itself, which
Of course | must submit to the Attorney
General But have been obliged to reach
the painful conclusion that your own let
ters as therein quoted tend to show that
YOU recommended for the position Of Dis
trict Attorney b. when you had good
reason to believe that he had himself been
guilty OF fraudulent conduct that you
recommended e for the same position sim
ply because it was for BIS interest that
he should be so recommended, and, as
there IL reason 70 believe, because he had
agreed 20 divide the fees with b II he were
appointed. and that you finally recon-
mended the reappointment Of II, with the
knowledge that il II were appointed h.
would abstain from prosecuting for
criminal misconduct this being why
advocated HIS claims for reappointmcnt
II you care to make any statement in tn
matter. | shat. cf course, be glad to hea'
it, As the District Judge Of Oregon /
shall appoint Judge Wolyorton.' In the
letter |. of course, gave in full the names
indicated above by initials Senator Full
ton gave no explanation. J. therefore.
ceased to consult with him about appoint
ments under the Department OF Justice
and the Interior. the two departments in
which the crookedness had occurred
there was no question of crookedness IN
the other offices in the state, and they
could be handled in the ordinary manner.
Legal proceedings were undertaken
against his colleague in the Senate and
one Of his colleagues in the lower house
and the former was convicted and SEN
fenced 10 the penitentary.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-14
Cannm FouoS Form Has Firm Grip Supeous Negroes jamaica
H4ayt Domingo and Even Cuba, Where Its ENrpaton Is
Problem Upon Which the Authorities Are Working

hands and. Disgusting him as a native
laboror. took him along. He mingled with
gang OF voudooists on their way to the
secret meeting place. After the pre-
liminary ceremonies the time came for
the pfestess To take her stand on the
box In which the great green snake was
confined. When tn. faithful had APP
preached and made their requests Of the
god her time came To perform as oracle.
Working herself up into "A fury she be-
gan \ white cock and white goat
were killed and all present marked with
their blood. Then a young negro came
and knelt before the prIestess and said:
20 maman, I have favor to ask"
What is it. my SOM she said Give us
to complete the sacrifice the Goat With
out Horns"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-14
BY Theodore Roosevelt.

~HE most important factor in get
ting the right spirit i'm my ad-
u ministration, next TO the insistence
upon courage, honesty and a genuine de-
mocracy of desire TO serve the PLAIN
people. was my insistence upon the theory
that the executive power was limited only
by specific restrictions and prohioluons
appearing in the Constitution or imposed
bv the Congress under its constitutional
powers. My view was that every eXecu-
tive officer. and above all every executive
officer in high position, was steward OF
the people, bound actively and aftirma-
lively to do all he could for the people
and not TO content himself with the mega
tive merit of keeping his talents undam-
aged in a napkin l declined to adopt the
view that what was imperative!y neces-
sary for the nation could not be done by
the President unless he could find some
specific authorization 10 do it. My belief
was that il was not only his right out
his duty to do anything that the needs
Of the nation demanded, unless such &C
ton was forbidden by the Constitution or
by the laws. Under this Interpretation of
executive power ! did and caused to be
done many things not previously done by
the President and the heads of the de-
partments. l did not usurp power but
did greatly broaden the use of executive
power In other words, | acted for the
public welfare-I acted for the common
wellbeing of all our peOple-whenever and
i'm whatever manner was necessary I'M
less prevented by direct constitutional or
legislative prohibition.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-14
NOT FORM, BUT SUBSTANCE.

| did not care rap for the mere form
and show of power: | cared immensely
for the use that could be made of the
substance. The Senate at one time Oh
iected to my communicating with them
in printing, preferring the expensive
foolish and laborious practice Of writing
out the messages by hand. 1t was not
uossible 10 return TO the outWorh
archaism of handwriting; but we en-
deavored to have the printing made as
pretty as possible. Whether / communl-
Gated with the Congress in writing or by
word of mouth and whether the writing
was by a machine or pen, were equally
and absolutely unimportant matters. Ihe
importance lay in what | said ana IN the
heed paid TO what / said. So as TO my
meeting and consulting Senators, Con-
gressmen, politicians, financiers and iapor
n en-. consulted all who wished to see
me. and if / wished to see any one / sent
for him: and where the consultation TOOK
Mace was a matter of supreme unlm-
nortance. l consulted every man with the
sincere hope that ] could profit by ana
follow his advice: consulted every mem
Der of Congress VINO Wlsheu W "V NO'
suited. hoping TO be able to come 10 an
agreement Of action with him; and al
WAYS finally acted as my conscience ana
common sense bade me act.
About appointments was obliged Dy
the Constitution TO consult the Senate
and the long established custom OF the
senate meant that in practice this con
,.o.io. moe with individual Senators
and even with big politicians VINO STOOD
behind the Senators. 1 was only one-haIi
the appointing power. ] nominated. but
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-14

LOST of us like to believe that III
MI these enlightened days cahhlo"'-
lf is,n IS confined 10 few obscure
do Of naked savages in Melanesla anu
49, Africa. II is rot generally rear
ized that the practice OF drinhihs nu ma"
blood and feeding upon human heSh - ~
Ia found much nearer home-'''i
tho islands Of the West lndles' as i'"''e
Of fact The Indictment or ten hesio
TIa,ora a few days ago for kidnapplhe'
',,,,rdering and drawing the ploou Vi
,,.,io white girl in connection win Nouuoo
,acrifcial ritual was case IN point
,-o,dooism seems to be rooted hrihIy III
tho euperstitious mental equipment VI '"t
central American negro, and' lhue'u' -
,,o southern American negro IL y 90"
"a Medley of snake worship lreh%leo
'.~,,.,,aI dancing and blood sacriflce III l's
extreme forms, as iouhu "ii'O ,'5o,or-
i.1ands of the Caribbean, and II desehei
.tes IN mere selling Of herbal fefheuie0
and notions, charms and incahtatlo"9 -
rho negro colonies Of Philadelphia, Boston
nd New York. The negro has not Deeh
long with US The religious veneer ne mas
,.,st assip,ilated covers unplumbed depths
Of subconscious recollection OF the ways
and works Of the tribal medicine man.
md he readily reverts 10 type, WHICH en-
,iairs the existence of obi-ism, conJure
vaudouxism. hoodoo, voudooism and what
,te coIored folk of Louisiana term
,"hants." A good many learned men nave
tried to sort out this tangle OF savage su-
perstitions and have managed to group
certain sets Of practices under various
titles. some of which We will consider, but
=, practice there are no hard and fast dis
tinctiOnS
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-14
Continued on fifth page.

fastness at the dead OF night They
gather at a temple shed, the walls OF
which may be blank or may be plsstered
(as at least one is plastereO with en-
cravings torn out OF THE illustrated
London News" and pictures OF VarlcuS
kinds.
Every devotee on arrival puts on pair
of sandals and fastens around his or ner
body a number OF red handkerchieis or
handkerchiefs with a good deal of red In
the pattern. The papaloi, or priest, OF
the cult wears finer handkerchief ana
in greater number; around his forehead
he binds one that is entirely red. A
eirdle. usually blue, gives the finishing
touch TO the tokens of his dignity. IN
mamaloi. or priestess. wears red SASH
The priest and priestess place them
selves at one end of the room near
crude altar, on which is box In which
the serpent representing the Evil one IS
kept: every devOtee can see IL through
the bars.
When the party has made sure that no
eavesdropping stranger IS present they
begin the evening with alteration OF the
serpent, by protestations of being falth-
full to its worship and entirely submissive
TO its commands Holding the hands OF
the priest and priestess, the band rehe"s
It's oath of secrecy. Then the priest e>-
horts ii to consult the voudoo. Men ana
women come forward with requests. MOST
of them ask for power to make their mas
ters do as they wish. one wants money
another to get back a lover, cure TOT
disease. a long life, etc.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-14
IN HAYTl.

Human sacrifice i'm connection with
youdoo rites is said to have gained u
great impetus at the time of the Haytlan
lnsurrection of 1871. when the blacks rose
and massacred the French. Again an
impetus was given In 1919, when the
negroes massacred large NUMBER Oh
mulattoes During the incumbency ol
Sououaue, black President of Hayu' at
the time of the latter slaughter, a voudoo
priestess was arrested for having per-
formed a sacrifice too openly AS she
was being taken through the streets 10
prison a foreign bystander remarked IN
her hearing that she would probably be
shot She laughed. and said; IF were To
beat the sacred drum and march through
the city, every one. from the Presideh'
down, would follow me humbly! IL IN
interesting to note that. though taken TO
prison. she was shortly afterward set al
liberty President Salnave, ruling Hayu
a few years after the great Port-au-
Prince trial, that resulted In the execu-
ton of the eight priests and priestesses'
regularly consulted voudoo man near
Marquissant He is positively known to
have bathed I'm the blood OF goats. and is
believed to have Joined I'm the ritual
connected with the goat without horns
human life
This Is what happens at normal
youdoo session, according To as high an
authority as Sir Spenser Buckingham st.
John. *. G. NJ. c., British Consul Gen
etal at Hayt for many years:
The devotees steal away into forest