The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-08-25
Life in Haiti Is Just One
 Revolution After Another


 Haitians will celebrate today the Hath anniversary of the first of the dozens Of revolutions which have kept that island country in an almost con- tfeuous uproar ever since the negroes frevolted against France on August 23, 1791. At that period the population was overwh elming1y black, and was controlled by handful of French soldiers and officials. In the first revolution the slaves massacred nearly all the whites: When the English in- vaded the island in 1793 the French offered freedom to all the slaves w1a o woud fight the invaders and soon af- terward a general decree abo1ishfne slavery was issued Under the leader ship of the inm ortaI Toussaint iOverture, a former runaway slave, the negroes made a successful resist ance to the British. Toussaint was at first honored by the French but when he promulgated a constitution in 1901 the gallant black man was sent to France. and thrown into prison, where he died.
 The Haitians continued their strug- gle for freedom under Dessalines and ChristophO, and in 1904 the former proclaimed the independence of the country and urged the massacre of .ali the whites. Dessa1fnes ruled as En1- peror Jacques I. The .sblack Elm porer's was assassinated in 1906. Since then history has been repeating itself in Haiti All the rulers, Whether ca1l- ing themselves emperor, king or presi- dent have been military dictators, and, as they ruled by the sword, most have died by the sword. Last month Pres GuiIlaune was slain by an in furfated mob, after he had ordered the executi on of 160 political prison CTS, among them ex-President Zamor- This was nothing novel;, from the Haitian view point, as Gai11aume and Z<aY fIIf Gf7 fa If f1f their predecessors.
 The infamous Dessa1ines was suc.' ceeded by Henri Christopho, who reigned as King Henri l., although. a republic had been declared in the southern part of the island, with AL exandres Petion as president. King Henri committed suicide in 1920, and President Boyer, who had succeeded Petion. became regent for life: King Henri had conferred numerous titles Of nobility upon his favorites, and in the baclkwoods of Haiti there may still be found many half-na.ked, iIIiterate negroes who boast of being princes, dukes, lords and barons- Boyer ruled for 2S years, when he was deposed. President Solouque soon assumed the title of emperor. as Fadstin T., b ut fin 1859 he was forced4 to abdicate. Tn 1888 3SaInaye proclaimed another ern- pire. but was soon ,deposed and shot Since then most of the rulers have been contented with the title of pres ident, and Haiti has posed as a re- public, but it has Lever seen other than a military despotfsrn
 The civil power in Haiti is merely ornamental. and the army really rules All of the various divisions, com munes, and departments are govern ed by military officers, and the people are constantly under martial law. To travel from one town to another a permit must be secured from the n1ili- tary commander. The elections. when held at all, are mere farcess The president who happens to be in power appoints the legislature, and the lat ter returns the compliment by elect ing" the president The great masses of the people take4n no interest in poll tics and they are a happy, care-free people, kindly but grossly supersti- tious. who look upon the frequent revolutions amusing shows staged for their benefit