The Washington times., 1922-05-14

erly sensitive with reference to
the dealings OF this government
with weaker peoples.
Tho white Mans burden" has
30 often been used as a pretext
for the exploitation Of other races
that when dominion is exercised
over palm or sugar we grow
suspicious that Il is actuated by
the old policy Of philanthropy
and five per cent" with a taper
ing Of philanthropy and a geo.
metrical increase Of the per cent
often up to 500.
PROPER sENsITIvENEss.
This sensitiveness and this sus-
picion are responsible for the recent
letter signed by sincere Americans
with reference to tho American pol
icy in Haiti; do not think anyone
can share the desire for American
Justice and friendship toward these
people more than the Americans
who. by official touch with the pso-
pie of those islands. appreciate the
delicacy and difficulty Of the situa-
ton.
The duty Of America 10 two.fold:
1. To help these people. 2. To
withdraw and let them control their
own government as soon as It can
be wise ~ done. and all plans should
be made looking to withdrawal. It
is a matter Of deep regret that con.
ditions in this neighbor island com.
PEELED American guardianship In
1914. -
This guardianship was not. as
many seem to believe. self-impossd
or undertaken in any other than
an altruistio spirit. coupled with
protection required in the emer.
gency of the world war. It was dur
ing the war that banditry in Haiti
eliminated in the destruction Of
every semblance Of decent govern
ment. II country wishes to gov
ern itself by it's bandits, what bust.
ness IL that of ours7 That ques-
ton demands an answer. II Is:
None at all in ordinary times, as
long as II does not involve others.
People have a right to a king IL
they wish one, or to elect a bandit
as president II that Is their prefer
ence. Unfortunately. though the
bulk Of the industrious citizens OF
Haiti did not wish q bandit as
ruler. they were poweriess to pre-
vent the government of their fruit
full country by decree Of bandits in
1sf4-16. It was not government by
tho people who were exploited. It
was government dictated by law
less grafters. imposing their will
upon their unprotected country
men.
NOT GOOD RISK.
Haiti obtained it's independence
in 1904. Since that time 1t has had
two Emperors. one King and twen-
ty-four Presidents. OF these five
have died from natural causes. four
were assassinated or killed in ac-
ton against revolutionists. ono
committed suicide, two resigned.
one served a full term alive. The
rest of them. nineteen in number,
left office under revolutionary aus
pices, generally fleeing the coun-
try. They were not good insur-
anoe risks.
SAD. SANGUINARY HISTORY.
Tho sanguinary ending Of rulers
and the deplorable condition of the
country reached n climax in the
years Immediately preceding the
world war. President LIE Conte and
about zoo Of his guards were as
sassinated by the criminal blowing
up Of the nations palace on the Sth
Of August. 1912. His successor
died tho following May s Of an H.
ness whose origin was not above
suspicion. The next President
went into exile after serving less
than two years. The next Presi-
dent held office eight months and
his successor two months. Then
came President Guillaum Sam. who
IL believed to have caused $50 pris-
onsrs to be massacred in prison,
and who was himself killed July
2S, 1915. in the French legation.
where he had sought asylum the
day before, after having been