History of Hayti. 
2 3 
Soulouque was elected by tbe Senate in bis stead. He suc¬ 
ceeded to power with the reputation of being a virtuous man, 
straightforward and well-disposed; but all parties soon dis¬ 
covered how greatly they had been deceived in him. Egotism 
and superstition were the springs of his actions, and the pro¬ 
longation of his power tended to a complete disorganization of 
all administrative and social order. The revenue was publicly 
and unblushingly plundered, and the country was considered 
by the whole world as fast receding toward barbarism. Under 
the name of Eaustin I., he caused himself to be crowned Em¬ 
peror of Hayti; he had a court, a nobility, and all the ridiculous 
pageantry of the old monarchies. His cruelty rendered him 
odious, and his disrespect of individual rights made him utterly 
regardless of the feelings of persons of every class. The con¬ 
suls of foreign Powers took toward his government a contemptu¬ 
ous attitude, which aided greatly in bringing it into disrepute. 
This despotic power, which seemed so solid, fell at length, 
without resistance, by the breath of a man of courage,—the Pres¬ 
ident of to-day. Accumulated hatred and ardent revenge 
clamored for the death of the Emperor, but the G-overnment 
had the merit of protecting his embarkation. He withdrew to 
Jamaica, to fall again into the obscurity from which, for the 
happiness of mankind, he should never have issued. 
The present Government, which has held for nearly two 
years the reins of administration, has above all applied itself 
to the healing of the wounds inflicted on the country by ten 
years of a fatal reign. It has touched on all questions of 
general interest, has succeeded in solving some, and is engaged 
in studying others. It understands that industry and agricul¬ 
ture are the first wa^ts of a people settled on one of the 
richest soils in the world, and it goes forward with moderation, 
but with firmness, in the road of continuous improvement. 
It has granted to the inhabitants of the Eastern Part a truce 
of five years, resolved to avoid a war which it is not for its in- 
