Independence: State or quality of being independent; freedom from dependence; exemption from reliance on, or control by, others—Webster.
With never a smile, Big Black President Louis Borno of Haiti last week handed correspondents a copy of a cablegram from Washington:
“I have pleasure in extending to your excellency and to the people of Haiti cordial greetings on this [the 126th] anniversary of the Independence of the Republic.
”Herbert Hoover
“President of the United States”
The Independence of Haiti is such that she relies upon U. S. Marines to keep order while her finances, public works, sanitary service, agricultural service and police are controlled by the U. S. High Commissioner, Brig.-General John Henry Russell, who has the rank of an ambassador—i. e. is the direct Representative of the President of the U. S.
Shortly before he received President Hoover’s cordial greeting apropos Haiti’s Independence, President Borno had amiably observed to U. S. correspondents:
“Senator Borah has charged on your Senate floor that conditions in Haiti are intolerable. I call upon Senator Borah to indicate what act of cruelty my government has performed to any citizen under the Constitution of Haiti.
“Many Americans consider it monstrous that there has been no Haitian Congress in years. Well, gentlemen, the truth is there never has been a free election of a Congress in Haiti. Past Congresses have been appointed by Presidents under military authority, and the so-called Democracy was a mere facade to hide military despotism.
“One must have been in Haiti before the Americans came in order to appreciate the miracles they have accomplished. Where once was waste and graft, there is now,” concluded the President, “an honest Government.”
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