A NEGRO REPUBLIC.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9085, 9 May 1908, Page 3

A NEGRO REPUBLIC.

A LAND OF MISERY.

Hayti, 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 tho Spaniards, the place became filled with negro slaves, who were introduced as early as 1505. French and other marauders took possession of the island, which was ceded to France in 1697. Under the French regime enormous 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 extsrrnination of the once dominant Europeans. Since then the island has been under tho control of the negroes. i. Santo Domingo is another r.egro Republic on the same island, and the Germans have 'long been getting a footing there as well as in Hayti. There hah 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 Haytian ports: "We don't mind giving you the concession, but we are afraid this will mean giving you our island too." Nord is a dignified old African, and despite his age, something between eighty and one hundred, he is often too alert to be hoodwinked by the tricky blacks. At last terms were agreed upon, and a Bill granting the concession was drawn up, signed by Nord, and sent to the Haytian Congress for ratification. Then came quite a Gilbertian scene. Tha lawmakers did not approve of their President's action, and did not want to pas? the Bill, so having delayed it by tedious speeches as long a3 possible they Resorted to the expedient of going home. Nnrd, how- : ever, in the spirit of a dictator, sent hia gunboat after the trd'ants, who were respectfully requested to return. As the invitation was borne by soldiers the legislators returned, aid the concession was duly granted. The concessionaires appear to have been supported by the officials at Washington. The Americans are now making a railroad across the island. Official speculation, judicial murder, and corruption of jvery kind underlie the form* and titles of civil-

iarj government in Hayti. The religion, nominally Christian, is 1 largely VauJoux, or serpent worship, in which cannibalism is even now an important element. Instead of progressing the negro Republicans have gone back to the, lowest type of African barbarism. A revolution in Hayti favouring General Fi?min was only recently suppressed, Nonl Alexis pardoning all connected with it, some of whom had taken refuge at the American Consulate at Port de la Paix. Orders were, however, given for th* expulsion of six Frenchmen, including the , Acting Consul of Cap HaytieiV an Englishman named George Bennett, " and others. The backward state of the country I may be easily imagined. The enlightenment of a century ago, such as the ( la curious Franeh planters gave the island, has been\b!otted out. Every- ; where the traveller is now reminded

of primeval savagery. French nuns and friars, nwaily from Brittany, t have schools in the villages, but the maases are in a state pf complete ignorance, and there is an utter lack of public spirit. ' There are no high-, ways, and the system of government i altogether is a farce. During the' celebration of the 100 th anniversary of independence petitions were sent to President Nord asking him to start a massacre of the whites as a fitting patriotic memento of the occasion.