H. P. Davis - Black Democracy - The Story of Haiti

THE STORY of HAITI

By H. P. DAVIS

CONTENTS

Discovery of HispaniolaSecond expedition of ColumbusExtermination of the aboriginesInauguration of the slave tradeProgress and decline of the Spanish colony.

The boucaniersOrigin of the French colonyRapid and prosperous developmentInception of the mulatto casteSocial and political conditions on the eve of the RevolutionPolitical conditions in France reflected in the colonyDeclaration of the Rights of ManWhites, mulattoes, and blacks.

Uprising of the BlacksFailure of the first French commissionThe second commissionEmancipation of the slavesDesperate condition of the colonyThe British expeditionToussaint lOuvertureThe third commissionStrife between blacks and mulattoesToussaint in supreme power.

Napoleon Bonaparte and ToussaintThe Leclerc expeditionToussaint defeatedRavages of yellow feverDeath of LeclereDefection of black and mulatto leadersThe surrender of Rochambeau and triumph of the blacks.

Proclamation of freedomProblems of reconstructionDeclaration of independenceDessalines governor-generalHe is crowned emperorDeath of Dessalines.

The black vs. the mulattoFirst constitution of the RepublicChristophe elected presidentHe declines to serveThe North and South dividedCivil WarChristophe creates his own State of Haiti in the NorthPtion elected president of the Republic of HaitiChristophe crowned king of the State of HaitiSeparation of the SouthWar between the two statesFrance attempts to regain her lost colonyDeath of PtionBoyer succeeds himRevolution against ChristopheHis tragic death.

The North and South united under BoyerThe Spanish port consolidated with the Republic of HaitiForeign relationsNegotiations with France for recognition of the RepublicBoyer forced to accept a most humiliating compactRevolt of the peopleDeath of BoyerFour presidents in four yearsSolouque elected presidentHe creates the second empireHis extraordinary reign of over eleven yearsFailure to reconquer Santo DomingoHe is deposedPresident Geffrard serves ably for nine yearsConcordat with Holy SeeAttempts at settlement in Haiti by American NegroesRevolt suppressedBritish gun-boat sunkCap Haitien fired on by BritishSalnave enters Cap HaitienGeffrard resignsSalnave as presidentHe is deposed and executedMiserable condition of the RepublicDomingues disgraceful administrationCanalRivalry between Liberal and National partiesCanal resigns and is succeeded by Salomon, who serves nine yearsResignsLgitime serves one year and six monthsHe resigns and is succeeded by Hippolyte, who serves creditably for nine yearsSimon Sam serves for six yearsResignsDeath of Admiral KillickNord Alexis electedHis courageous devotion to his officeThe consolidation scandalRevolution puts Simon in office.

Reorganization of the National BankCacos put Leconte in powerHaitis first civilian presidentApproaching bankruptcyFirst steps towards American interventionSalvaging $500,000Admiral Caperton personally conducts a revolutionAmerican commissioners fail to negotiate a treaty.

Situation on the night of July 26thMassacre in the national prisonMurder of President SamInception of the American occupationGerman aspirationsPreparing for the presidential electionSenator Dartiguenave elected.

Negotiations for the treatyThe custom houses seizedAmerican insistence on the treatyWinning over the Haitian legislatureThe treatyBreaking the insurrection in the NorthEmbarrassment of the Dartiguenave GovernmentThe treaty extended to 1936.

The treaty officialsThe gendarmerieFinance and customs controlPublic works and public healthHandicap of treaty officialsProtocol of 1919First dissolution of the Haitian legislatureStruggle over the new constitutionThe second dissolutionThe constitutional plebisciteProvisions of the constitutionShall the white man own Haitian land?

The corveHow the corve came to be abusedThe caco outbreakThe attack on Port-au-PrinceCharges against the marinesThe Naval Court of InquiryThe Senate inquiry.

The myth of representative governmentThe Council of State as a reasonable concessionFirst election by the Council of StatePresident Bornos defence of the status quoPresident Bornos re-electionThe thorny problem of the constitutional amendmentsThe freedom of the pressReorganization of the judiciary.

The handicap of divided authorityThe treaty officialsA civilian commissioner suggestedProcess of financial reorganizationPublic worksPublic healthThe gendarmerieDepartment of AgricultureService TechniqueCharacter and policy of the treaty officials.

Three possible policiesProblem of the liteThe peasant class Our duty to the Haitian people.

MAPS

Rpublique dHaiti

EXHIBITS

WHEN the average American hears of Haiti, if he does not confuse it with the island of Tahitithousands of miles away in the Pacifiche thinks of a small, unimportant West Indian country productive of revolutions, surcharged postage stamps, and newspaper discussions of the American intervention or perhaps of alleged atrocities by the United States Marines. Of the difficult and complicated problems involved in the task which the United States has assumed in Haiti, or of the steps so far taken towards its accomplishment, reports published in the United States have been so conflicting as to bewilder the average reader. Of the Haitians themselves, their background, or present condition, the American people generally have no conception.

Frederick Douglass, the great Negro orator, once said something to the effect that in measuring the progress of a race or people one must consider not only the heights to which the race has attained, but the depths from which it sprang. To reach any understanding of conditions in Haiti to-day, it is necessary to realize something of the fascinating and tragic history of the island now divided between the black republic and the mulatto (Dominican) republic.

No country in the world, civilized or uncivilized, has had within the same space of time a more dramatic or more distressing history.