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THE MAROON TIGER
governments had made collection by force. There were
rumors that Germany was negotiating another loan to
be secured by certain port rights and control of cus
toms. At the end of July, 160 political prisoners were
murdered by order of the President, who was conse
quently cut to pieces himself. On August 16th Admiral
Caperton was ordered by the U. S. Department to take
charge of the customs and to aid in restoring law and
order. This was done against the protests of the Hai
tian government. United States Marines have controlled
the situation to the present time. Martial law was
established on September 3, 1915, and gradually ex
tended to cover the whole country. A military cen
sorship was established. The military government con
tinued until May 3, 1916. The constitution which was
ratified that day provided for a financial protectorate
over Haiti by the United States. The telegraphs and
telephones are under the control of the U. S. In March.
1922, Prof. Carl Kelsey wrote:
“To summarize, there are in Haiti today represent
ing the United States the following:
1. The military force. 2. The officers of the Gen-
darmie. 3. The Receiver General and Assistants. 4.
The Financial Advisor. 5. Engineers and Medical men.
6. Diplomatic and Counselar officials.”
In March, 1924, a marine brigade of 38 officers and
1.334 men was concentrated at Port-au-Prince and Cape
Haitian.
There is no doubt that the presence of these Ameri
can representatives has helped greatly in maintaining
law and order. They have also made a very marked
contribution to sanitation and health. Moreover, they
have been a great commercial asset. Trade has increased
rapidly. On the other hand, there has been an immense
amount of protest against American intervention and
bitter criticism of the conduct and practices of Ameri
can representatives. In 1917 General Butler revived the
old law of 1865 providing for compulsory service on
local roads, known as the Caroll System. “Instead of
working near their homes, men were being taken, some
times driven, manacled under charge of Haitian gen
darmes, several days’ journey on foot from their homes.
. . . Some individuals worked two or three months in
stead of the two weeks theoretically required.” This sys
tem was discontinued on October I, 1919, although the
law has not been repealed.
There has been considerable criticism of the con
duct of the United States Marines. In January, 1920,
there was an attack on Port-au-Prince by insurrection
ists. They were repulsed with great loss of life. Briga
dier-General Barnett, who was in command of the Ma
rines in Haiti from 1914 to 1920, is authority for this
statement that a total of 2,250 Haitians were killed.
There have been, moreover, numerous cases of in
dividual misdemeanor and crime. In this connection,
Prof. Kelsey says that drunkenness was relatively com
mon. that sexual assaults were not unknown, that third
degree methods have been used, that there has been
some cases of deliberate striking or shooting natives.
“The present advisor (a representative of the U. S.),
has been absent from Haiti continuously for almost a
year, drawing his salary and per diem expenses of
fifteen dollars.'
An official of the department of state in a recent num
ber of the Atlantic Monthly while believing that the oc
cupation should be continued because of benefits con
ferred, nevertheless, says:
“The American occupation o f Haiti is one for which
there is no striek legal grounds
“In 1922 a report of a committee of the Foreign Policy
Association, signed by twenty-four prominent Ameri
can lawyers, denounced the following acts of the Ameri
can forces:
The seizure and withholding of our forces in 1915 of
Haiti national fund. . . . the imposition and enforcement
of martial law without a declaration of war. . . . the
methods employed by the United States, namely, the di
rect use of military, financial, and political pressure.”
A report of the popular government league,signed by
the United States Senator and several outstanding uni
versity professors, declared that a survey of the evidence
“ exhibits Haiti as a promised land of loot for those
who can smash down the protection given to these peo
ple by their ancient constitution and independence.”
Among many of the Haitian leaders, there is intense
bitterness against the United States for prolonging in
tervention. They are determined to regain their inde
pendence at an earlv date.
Poetry
**•**♦**••*•**♦**♦**♦**♦**♦**•*♦♦**♦*♦♦*♦♦**♦*•♦**< t
V
V
V
X
FLORESCENT SPRING
Come, smiling year, (lorescent spring,
Attune my being that I may sing
Of teeming Nature and God forever.
Their joy and beauty, ceasing never.
Florescing earth, to you I’m thrilling;
My eyes, my ears you are filling
With scenic grandeur and birds a-singing;
’Tis spring in the dells; I hear them ringing
With shouts of happy birds renewing
Melodious madrigals, gentle cooings
’Tis spring on limb and bough and everywhere;
Tis spring in my heart, O bouyant air!
Tis spring, my dear, and now lightlv turn
My young heart where love concerns,
Weaves his gentle charm, casts his honied spell.
Tis spring; the world is young, the birds tell.
—M. M.
ERE MORNING COMES
Through night, glum author of my woe,
I sail upon a lurid sea;
I know not whither I shall go,
Nor whither shall my triumph be.
No song or Paean strikes my ear,
Nor gleaming stars invite sweet sleep.
But close around me I can hear
Mad waves that o’er my vessel sweep.
„w..w.