The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-08-17

ieve in finishing it.
From the Arctic Sea to Mica.
ragua, they have been trouble.
shooters for Uncle Sam in some
of his most awkward moments.
and they have never failed, so
far as this writer knows, to do
a swell job. I don't mean the
rough Stuff-the pursuit and
humiliation of dacoitS, or the
putting down of unpleasant lit
tie civil wars.
I am thinking more Of the
splendid work they have done
in hours of agony, when nature
has vented her spite on poor
little helpless man. I am think
ing of their noble, self-sacrific-
ing heroic work in flood and IA
famine, in earthquake and fire.
TRANSFORMED LAND
These thoughts spring to
mind with the recollection that
it was just a year ago in this
month that the U. S. Marines
departed from Haiti after rul-
ing the country for 10 years.
They went to land which was
impoverished, torn by feuds
and banditry. politically cor
rupt and apparently in a hope
less financial condition. They
left a Haiti financially restored,
freed of murderous bandits and
miraculously transformed from
the land it used to be. They
did it. 1t was their work.
The farmers depend almost
entirely upon what the country
produces and need little cash
money throughout the year
just enough for calico, ribbons
and a few fripperies and luxu-
ries. All the rest the land pro-
duces and is obtainable by the
ancient system of barter.
Out of the administration of
the Marines new enterprises
were introduced in this country
of tragic history. Large-Scale
undertakings such as sisal grow.
ing and banana growing are un-
der way.
Oddly enough, the August day
upon which the Marines left
Haiti to itself was the anniver-
sary of the passing Of that
amazing figure, King Henri
ChriStophe, more than a century
ago.
It was with this arresting fig
ure that the history of Haiti
actually began. Before him it
had been a French possession.
The French had settled there in
considerable numbers. They Gre
ated great sugar plantations,
with slave labor, of course. This
was in the day of the Emperor
Napoleon.
Some of the great planters,
who spent the greater part Of
the year in Paris, leaving their
plantations to the management
of hard driving overSeerrs, brought
about the conditions of cruelty
and tyranny which resulted in
a bloody rebellion in 1912, the
year which was the turning
point of Napoleon's fortune.
All over the land the Haiti re-
bellion blazed forth. Slaves
seized what weapons they could
find, stormed the plantations
and mastered the planters and
their families, all except a few
who were warned in time by
faithful retainers and who man
aged to escape to the sea. out
of this welter Of rebellion and
bloodshed arose the figure of
Henri Christophe.
He was the best man the re-
bellion produced, and he proved
it by naming himself as king
and establishing a monarchy.
He built the palace Of San
Souci; he organized a govern
ment, divided the land, created
an army and performed with
rather more initiative, energy
and ability than you would have
discovered in most founders Of
royal houses.
HENRI CHRISTOPHE
Seized with a passion to build
greatly, he spent years in con-
structing the tremendous Cita-
del. It took him IA years to
build this amazing structure OF
stone, whose walls are many
feet thick, covering acres Of
ground-for those times, an alb
solutely impregnable strong
hold.
So reigned Henri Christophe
in the years Of his power and
glory. But, like the Emperor
Jones, a delusion of grandeur
was his undoing. His callous
disregard for human life, the
burden of taxation he laid upon
his people, his autocratic ways,
aroused, finally, such implacable
resentment as caused the people
to rise against him.
In Ills besieged palace, he
looked out upon the seething
mob, knew that the end had
come. He bathed, dressed with
the utmost care, said farewell
to his wife and children, put a
pistol 70 his temple and shot