74

448 LIFE AND TIMES OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS

while the offer of certain advantages had been made to our Government, the
Government at Washington had not at the time accepted them. The letter in
proof of the different view was, he said, only a copy of the original letter, and
the original letter was never accepted by the American Government.

"This position of Mr. Firmin's was resisted by Admiral Gherardi, who
contended with much force that, while there was no formal agreement con-
summated between the two Governments, Haïti was nevertheless bound,
since the assistance for which she asked had made Hyppolite President of
Haïti. Without intending to break the force of the Admiral's contention at this
point, I plainly saw the indefensible attitude in which he was placing the
Government of the United States in representing our Government as interfer-
ing by its navy with the affairs of a neighboring country, covertly assisting
in putting down one government and setting up another; and I therefore
adhered to the grounds upon which I based our demand for a coaling-station
at the Môle. I spoke in the interest and honor of the United States. It did not
strike me that what was claimed by Admiral Gherardi to haw been done–
though I did not say as much– is the work for which the United States is
armed, equipped, manned and supported by the American people. It was
alleged that, though our Government did not authorize Rear-Admiral
Gherardi to overthrow Légitime and to set up Hyppolite as President of
Haïti, it gave him the wink, and left him to assume the responsibility. I did
not accept this as a foundation upon which I could base my diplomacy. If this
was a blunder on my part, it was a blunder of which I am not ashamed, and
it was committed in the interest of my country.

"At the close of this conference we were asked by Mr. Firmin to put into
writing our request for the Mole, and the terms upon which we asked its
concession."

CHAPTER XIII.
CONTINUED NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE MÔLE ST. NICOLAS
Unfortunate delay– Renewed authority from the United States– Haïti's refusal– Reasons for the
refusal– The Clyde contract– A dishonest proposition– A strange demand– Haïti's mis-
take– Bad effect of the Clyde proposition– Final words.

"At a meeting subsequent to the one already described. application for a
United States naval station at the Môle St. Nicolas was made in due form to
Mr. Firmin, the Haïtien Minister of Foreign Affairs. At his request, as
already stated, this application was presented to him in writing. It was pre-