L'SS CUBA AND PORTO RICO 



country, although the latter probably are morally superior 

 to the former, for they have the virtues as well as the vices 

 of the wild races; although their intercourse with their 

 city compatriots has given them a sort of French varnish, 

 ye1 fchey are merely an African people transplanted from 

 the parent country. It may be said to their credit that 

 they have shown a wish to acquire little homes from their 

 savings, and that they give many signs of a desire to rise 

 above their racial debasement. 



After studying the Haitian people, their institutions, 

 and the criticisms of others upon them, it is our opinion 

 that they represent the most advanced negro government 

 in the world, and as crude as they appear to us, and as far 

 below the standards of the Caucasian race, they have in 

 the face of the bitterest oppression, both from without 

 and within, virtually lifted themselves by their boot-straps 

 out of the depths of African savagery into at least a crude 

 condition of culture, having the outward semblance of civ- 

 ilization. Whatever success they have attained has been 

 solely by their own unaided efforts. The Christian world, 

 which looked with horror on the institution of slavery and 

 cried loudly for its abolition, neglected this self-emanci- 

 pated people when they most needed its help and aid. 

 Although hardly three decades have passed since our 

 country was inflamed with sentiments demanding the abo- 

 lition of slavery, and eager to alleviate the condition of the 

 freedmen, we have extended no aid or sympathy to the 

 Haitians, who first lifted the banner of emancipation on 

 American soil. Missionaries from our country sail past 

 the island for more distant shores ; noble men and women 

 go to equatorial Africa to enlighten people far below the 

 Haitians in culture, and forces of intelligence which in 

 Haiti might overweigh the delicately balanced conditions 

 of barbarism and civilization in favor of the latter are 

 sent to distant China or India. 



Whatever may be said against the Haitians, it should be 

 remembered that these people nearly a century ago initi- 



