The Washington times., 1922-05-14
wv HAT is a Caco7
" The correct answer to
w that question is necessary


for an American to understand
what happened in Haiti since July,
1915.
All Americans were interested
and many disturbed by the recent
statement. signed by prominent
and patriotic Americans condemn
ing American landing and the
American policy in Haiti and de-
manding immediate withdrawal.
read the document carefully.
In II I find mention Of many things
which. II true, call for condemna-
ton. But I fail to find that the
committee Of citizens had ever
heard Of Cacos.
The story of Haiti. particularly
for the period between 1912 and
1920, that purports to tell the do
ings at Haiti without reference to
the activities Of the Cacos Is like
giving a play Of Hamlet" WIN
Hamlet left out; OF a modern per-
formance where "the villain still
pursues her" without any villain
In the play.
DALGHETTY IN POLITICS.
The Cacos are tribe of Haitiaps
who have been the dominating
force in the frequent overturning
Of Haitian governments. They
were purchased" said an authority,
''by first one candidate and then
another. Finishing a contract
with one candidate, having put
him in power. the Cacos would
then sell their services to the next
aspirant to unseat the first"
II there had been no Cacos in
Haiti the continuous murder Of
Haitian rulers would not have
cursed the island. government
would not have degenerated into a
tragedy, and the imperative duty
Of undertaking the preservation Of
order and the protection Of Ameri-
cans, foreigners and unoffending
Haitians would not have fallen
upon the United States in 1914.
It was q duty this Government
regretted to undertake. and. IN
spite Of the disorders Of that coun-
try, do not believe the United
States would have felt impelled to
take the course It did II tho world
had not have been at war and II
Il had not been confronted with
two alternatives: One, for US to
restore order in an island very
near our shores; or. second. per-
NIT this service to have been rem
dered by a European country
which was ready to land men from
its ships II this country had not
assumed the duty. And then. after
reluctantly landing troops and
seeking to aid the many peaceful
Haitians to control their govern
ment wisely, the United States
would have succeeded and been
able to withdraw its marines within
q few weeks except for one thing
The Cacos.
BY POLITICAL ASSASSINATION
These bandits from the noun
tains, living by political assassi-
nation, saw that they would loee
their occupation II the United
States should be able to help hon
est Haitians establish . govern
ment without graft Tho anarch-
istio conditions prevailing in Haiti
convinced the State Department
At Washington that American
forces should be landed on July
n. 1918. There was no resistance.
II was accepted that this country
had no selfish purpose.
Then enter the Cacoa They
sniped marines. They burned the
fields Of industrious Haitians.
They created terror. When ma
rines were ON guard to preserve
srdsr the Cacos shot them In
the bach. Thsy wased guerrilla
warfare They acted as bandita
Ths story OF the courage and for.
boaranos under great provocation
Of most marines 10 one that adds
hlster to the corps. Tho splendid
service Of most Of them II not
dimmed By the wrongs wrought
BIZ . nsw, VINO. tnflriated BY ths
Killings Of their fellows, wsre
Ruilty OF conduct unbccoming
Americans In assessing the part
Of the marines in Haiti. let the
twenty.four lawyers do honor TO
the ninety and nine who bore
themselves worthily while con.
demnins the handful who brought
disgrace to tho uniform.
DOES NOT EXCUSE CRUELTY.
1t 10 all very wen, in tho steenth
story Of q building in New York
TO give a credulous and sympa-
thetic ear to the stories Of wrongs
by q handful Of marines while
forgetting the organized and cruel