HAYTI REVOLUTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 77, 20 March 1908, Page 2

HAYTI REVOLUTION.

BRITISH CRUISER CACHES INTENSE EXCITEMENT. THE POWERS TAKE A HAM). THREATEN TO DEPOSE THE PRESIDENT.

New York, March IS. When the British cruiser Indefatigable arrived at Port-au-Prince the firing of tha salute caused intense excitement. The natives feared a bombardment had begun, The incident saved Lieut. Carraque from execution. The New York Herald states that the refugees at Gonaives, including General Firmin, are on board the French cruiser Destrees. The Powers have threatened to depose President Alexis and create provisional government. They have expressed disapproval of further executions. Hayti was discovered by Columbus, and given by that great discoverer the romantic name of Hispaniola, and afterwards called San Domingo. It is second" largest island of the Antilles, lying between Cuba and Puerto Rico. It has an ateit of 28,000 square miles, and a population of about three millions. There are two large States on the island,»tii® largest being the republic of San Domingo and the other the republic of Hayti, which occupies the western portion of the island. The Haytian portion hus a population of 2% millions, and its capital city, Port au Prince, lias over 100,000 inhabitants. It was originally a French colony, but was declared independent in 1804. The. executive power of the republic is in the hands of the President, General Nord Alexis, who was. born in 1857, and became president in December, IUO2. The election of the president takes place every seven yea is by tlie Senate and Chamber of Representatives, and the office carries a Balary of £4BOO. The religion of Hayti is Roman Catholic, and elementary education is free. There is an army </f 18,016 men, nnd a navy of six small vessels. Agriculture is the main occupation of the country, but comparatively little is done to till the fertile soil. The principal product is coffee, and tlio bulk of the trade goes to Havre. Cocoa and cotton are also grown, cotton being an increasing quantity. Fully 90 per cent of* the population of Hayti are negroes, there being less than 109Q Europeans, and the rest are mulattoes.