NEGRO REBUBLIC.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9140, 8 May 1908, Page 6

NEGRO REBUBLIC.

LAND OP MISERY. BLOODSHED, AND MORAL DECAY. Hayfci, a negro Republic, and an independent State, is, after Cuba, the largest of the "West Indian Islands. It is always in an almost chronic state of disturbance and insurrection, and the story of - the island is one full of tragic passions and romantic interest. The natives of the island having been exterminated by the Spaniards, the place became filled with negro slaves, who were introduced asgearly as 1505. French and other marauders took possession of the island, which was ceded to France in 1697. Under the French regime enormoas numbers of Africans were imported. Shortly before the close .of the eighteenth century a terrible struggle took place between the blacks and the:, whites, which led to the extermination of the once dominant Europeans. Since then the island has been under the control of the negroes. Santo Domingo is another negro Republic on the same island, and the Germans have long been ; getting a footing there as well as in Hayti. There has been a sharp contest between Germans and Americans for concessions and special privileges. Nord Alexis, the aged negro President, said to the Americans who wanted to secure exclusive privileges in Haitian ports: “We don’t mind giving you the concession, but wb are afraid this will mean giving you our island too.’’ Nofd“ is a dignified old African, and despite his age, something between eighty and one hundred, he is often too alert to be tricky blacks. At last the terms were agreed upon, and a Bill granting the ooncession'lwas drawn up, signed by Nord, and“sent to the Baytiau Congress for rati.ioation. Then came quite a Gilbertian scene. T h e lawmakers did [not approve of their Piesident's action, and did not want to pass the Bill, so having delayed it by tedious speeches as long as possible they resorted to the expedient of , going home. Nord, however, in the spirit of a dictator, sent his gunboat [after the truants, who were respectfully requested to return. As the invitation was borne by soldiers the legislators returned, and the concession was duly granted. The concessionaires appear to have been supported by the officials at The Americans are now maxing a railroad across the island. Official peculation, murder, and correction of every ki id underlie the forms and titles of civilised government in Hayti. The re’igion, nominally Christian, is largely Vaudonx', or serpent woiship, in which cannibalism is even now an important e’ement. Instead of progressing the neg-o Republicans have gone back to the lowest type of African b" barism. A ievolufc ; ou in F.fjti favouring General Firmin was or 1 y recently suppressed, No d lexis pa.cloning fv’l connected with it, some of whom had taken refuge at [the J 1 merican Consulate at Po cde ia Palx. O dfirs we’’e. however given for the expulsion of six Frenchmen, including the Acting Consul of Cap Hatyen, aa Eagl'shmaa named George Bennett, aad others. The backwa d state of the coun-t-.y may be imagined. The erJigbtenment o? a centory ago, such as the loiarious F each planters gave the island, has been blotted oat. Everywhere the traveller is now i.eminded of primev d «avagery. F ench epos aad f :ia s, mostly f 'om Brittany, ha»e schools in the vh'ages, but the masses a e in a state cf complete igoo ance, and there is a a utter Jack of public spirit. There no highways,'and the system of gore . ment altogether is a fa -, ce. Du«ing the celebration of the 100th aauive ca y of independence petitions seat to President Nord asking him to start a massacre of the whites as a fitting patriotic memento of the occasion.