Appendix E (1889-12-14)
Appendix E. LETTER FROM DOUGLASS TO JAMES G. BLAINE, 14
DECEMBER 1889, PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI
Douglass to James G. Blaine, 14 December 1889, U.S. Legation, Port-au-Prince,
Haiti, Dispatches to the State Department, RG 84, Records of Foreign Service
Posts, State Department, DNA.
No. 18 Diplomatic.
Legation of the United States,
Port au Prince, Haiti,
December 14, 1889.
Honorable James G. Blaine,
Secretary of State,
Washington, U.S.A.
Sir:
I have the honor to outline to you herein the manner in which I have fulfilled
the instruction of your No. 17 of the 27th ultimo, in reference to the delivery of the
President’s letter to His Excellency the President of Haiti in answer to the latter’s
letter announcing his election.
On the receipt of your said dispatch No. 17, I addressed a note (see Enclosure
No. 1) to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Firmin, sending to him the office
copy of the President’s letter, and praying the Minister to inform me of the time
when and the manner in which His Excellency President Hyppolite would be
pleased to receive the original.
In prompt response Mr. Firmin informed me that His Excellency would
accord to me an audience at the National Palace on Wednesday, the 11th instant, at
ten o’clock forenoon. Herewith I send a copy, (enclosure No. 2) of the Minister’s
note accompanied by a translation (enclosure No. 3).
On the following morning I handed to Mr. Firmin a copy of the brief address
(see enclosure No. 4) that I proposed offering on the occasion. Somewhat to my
agreeable surprise, His Excellency President Hyppolite showed me the unusual
courtesy of causing to be delivered to me at the Legation in advance of the
audience a copy of the remarks (see enclosure No. 5) that he intended to make in
response to mine. I send herewith a translation of them (see enclosure No. 6).
Just before the hour appointed for the audience President Hyppolite sent his
own carriage to convey me to the Palace. It came here a little too late—a moment
after I had left the Legation.
Arriving on the ample Palace grounds, I was, as I passed on, saluted by long
lines of soldiers drawn up to show honor to the representative of the United States.
Alighting before the broad entrance, I was met and welcomed by the Minister of
Foreign Affairs, and by him and other prominent personages I was conducted to
the large audience chamber, where President Hyppolite received me with pleasing
dignity and marked cordiality.
After reading my brief address and handing to him the President’s letter, His
Excellency read his own remarks. A few moment’s pleasant conversation followed,
and I then took leave of him. The Minister of Foreign Affairs accompanied
me to the entrance and placed at my disposition His Excellency’s carriage. Not
liking, under the circumstances of the moment, to decline the offered courtesy, I
entered the carriage and was driven back to the Legation.
I take the marked civility and deference shown to me on every occasion by the
President, the Government and the people of Haiti, as an evidence of their desire to
cultivate the best of relations with the United States.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
Frederick Douglass