Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-05-25
Revolutions In Two Republics
on Island of Haiti Rage Forever.
Rulers Followed Each other Like Birds
Of Passage. Flight, Assassination
and Forcibie Removal from
office Prevailing.

Haiti. Double trouble exists there at
the present time. In the black repub-
lie on the western end OF the island
tho president, supported by American
forces under Rear Admiral Caperton. is
at loggerheads with his parliament.
while in the eastern republic OF Santo
Domingo President Jminez, impeached
by his chamber of deputies, has re-
signed rather than brook armed inter-
vention on the part Of the United States.
THE National Geographic society.
from its headquarters in Washington.
lutionridden, Siamese twins of the
ia mily Of nations
Less than two months after Column
bus first sighted land in the western
hemisphere he had got foot on the
northwest extremity of the island which
he named Espagnal U,ittle SPAIN. sub
sequently latinized into Iispaniola and
now known as Haiti. Four years
later Santo Domingo. on the southeast
ern coast Of this the second largest
island Of the Antilles. was founded the
first European settlement in the new
world
For two hundred years Haiti then
called Santo Domingo. remained a Span
ish colony. but by tho treaty Of Ryswick
0690 IL came under the dominion Of
Louis XIV. Of France. through a pc
culiar combination Of circumeta noes,
constituting one Of the most picturesque
pages of adventure in the history of the
Western world Tortuga. lying off the
northwestern coast Of Santo Domingo.
had been seized and held rs the treas
ure island of group of adventurous
English and French scamen. led by bold
and ruthless commanders. These priva-
wagirg n bitter warfare against Spanish
commerce. their animosity being actual
ed by SPANS reprcssive trade regula-
tons. Santo Domingo had suffered
greatly as a result Of these restrictions,
but one Of the islands few remaining
profitable industries was the butcher
ing of wild cattle, the meat being sold
to smugglers. The natives prepared
this meat in huts which they called bou-
cans and the English and French sea-
men, learning the trick of curing the
meat, became butchers and buccaneers
supplying passing vessels with preserv-
ed beef and afterward robo,ng these
same ships
When the peace of Ryswick was con-
Guided so many Frenchmen had settled
on the west end OF Santo Domingo that
this portion Of the island was coded to
France hundred years later Spain
parted with the eastern end also. but
before the whole island came under her
jurisdictions France had begun TO have
her troubles with the slaves whose i'm
portation from Africa had begun under
the Spanish regime as early as 1872
While the Europeans were divided
among themselves over the problem of
the French revolution the negroes rose
against their oppressers and under the
leadership OF LOuverture. one OF the
most remarkable men ever produced by
the black race. attained their freedom.
Toussaint the grandson Of an African
chief, was n military genius who made
the grave mistake Of styling himself
the Black Napoleon. His resentment
being aroused against this sef-pro-
claimed understudy. Frances Man of
Destiny sent his brother-in-law, Leclerc.
to Haiti TO subjugate the rebels Through
treachery. Toussaint was captured and
sent to France whore he died in 1903
'Dessalines. Toussaint's follower, de-
clared Haiti independent and assumed
the title Of emperor in 1904 After his
assassination two years later by two OF
his officers. Christophe and Potion, the
northern section of the island came un-
der the sway of the former a negro.
while Potion established a mulatto re-
public to the south. Jean Pierre Boyer
mulatto Of exceptional ability, sue
ceeded these two and gained complete
control of the whole island. ruling with
firmness for nearly quarter Of CEN
fury. the French having recognized the
independence Of Haiti in 1926.
I'm 1874 the eastern o-thirds Of the
island set up the Independent republic
OF santo Domingo, with the city OF tho
same name as it's capital On several
occasions the latter country has made
overtures to the United States propos-
ing annexation and at one time negotia-
tons had progressed as far as the ratih-
cation Of treaty by the Dominican peo-
pie. but. as in the case of the proposed
purchase of the Danish West Indies two
years previously, the United States Sen
ate. by tie vote, rejected the pro-
posal.
ror Ills last tHree-quarterS or CEN
fury rulers IN both Haiti and Santo
Domingo have followed each other like
birds Of passage. flight, assassination
and forcible removal from office being
the rule rather than the exception.
THE republic of Haiti. which reflects
its French character In the Language
OF its people and in the custom of send
Ing the children of its wealthy class
TO Paris to be educated, occupies n terri
tory somewhat larger than the com.
bined area OF Massachusetts and Rhode
Island. The capital. Port Prince. IL
city OF about 5000 Jeremie one of
the smaller cities, is noted as the birth
place Of the elder Dumas
'Santo Domingo, where Spanish is the
prevailing language. has an area twice
as great ms Haiti. being about the size OF
Vermont and New Hampshire combined,
but with only one-third the population
OF the smaller republic.
While no accurate census Of the two
republics has ever been taken, tho es-
timated population is 2.7OO, 900 which Is
10000 more than the number Of Indians
supposed to have been living on the is-
land at the time of it's discovery by
Columbus.
The Caribs called this island Haiti.
meaning high land. and It we'll deserves
the name. for It is exceedingly noun
famous"
PENSIONS WILL COST u. 3. sd.OOO.O0O
LESS THIS YEAR.
papaiOpa will cost ha Apartca, MAJ