The attempt to create feelings of anger in the United States against Haiti, because it considered it appropriate to deny us the St. Nicholas Mole, is neither reasonable nor honorable. There was no insult or bad faith in this case.
Haiti has the same right to refuse as we have to ask for and there was no insult either in the application or in the refusal. [Applause.]
Neither the commercial importance of Haiti nor its geographical or numerical importance should be underestimated. [Applause.] If she desires a lot of the world, the world desires a lot of what it possesses. [Applause.]
It produces coffee, cotton, wood Campeche, Ebony and Guaiac. The income the government realizes
Of these products is between nine and ten million dollars. With such an income, if Haiti could be delivered from the revolutions, it could easily become, in proportion to its territory and its population, the country most
Rich in the world. [Applause.]
And yet it is comparatively poor, because it is revolutionary.
The population of Haiti is estimated to be nearly one million. I think the current number exceeds that estimate. In the cities and towns of the country, people are largely mixed blood and their color goes from black to
White. But the inhabitants of the interior are pure black blood.
The dominant color among them is dark brown with a hint of chocolate.
In many respects they are quite beautiful. There is a kind of majesty in them.
They stand proudly as if they were aware of their freedom and independence. [Applause.]
I found women far superior to men. They are elastic, vigorous and beautiful. They move with the cadence of a race horse. The country’s production, wealth and prosperity depend heavily on them.
[Applause.]
They provide supplies to cities and towns, transporting them over distances of fifteen to twenty 1002 and often they carry a baby as an additional charge. Oddly enough, this baby is attached to the mother’s side. They seem to make no case of their burden, the length of the trip or that extra weight.