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454 LIFE AND TIMES OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS

"The trouble between us came about in this way: Mr. Firmin, the Haïtien
Minister of Foreign Affairs, had objected to granting the Clyde concession
on the ground that, if it were granted and this heavy drain were made upon
the treasury of his country, Mr. Douglass stood ready to present and to press
upon Haïti the payment of the claims of many other American citizens, and
that this would greatly embarrass the newly-organized government of
President Hyppolite. In view of this objection, the zealous agent in question
came to me and proposed that I should go to Mr. Firmin, in my quality of
Minister-Resident and Consul-General of the United States, and assure him
that, if he would only grant the Clyde concession, I, on my part, would with-
hold and refrain from pressing the claims of other American citizens.

"The proposition shocked me. It sounded like the words of Satan on the
mountain, and I thought it time to call a halt. I was in favor of the Clyde
contract, but I could not see what I had said or done to make it possible for
any man to make to me a proposal so plainly dishonest and scandalous. I
refused to do any such thing. Here was my first offence, and it at once
stamped me as an unprofitable servant. It did not seem to occur to this agent
that he had made to me a shameful, dishonest, and shocking proposition.
Blinded by zeal or by an influence still more misleading, he seemed to see
in it only an innocent proposal. He thereafter looked upon me as an unwor-
thy ally, and duly reported me as such to his master and to other influential
persons. He could not understand my conduct as proceeding from other or
better motives than that of over-affection for the Haïtiens. In his eyes I was,
from that time, more a Haïtien than an American, and I soon saw myself so
characterized in American journals.

"The refusal to compromise and postpone the just claims of other
American citizens for that of his master's contract was not, however, my
only offence. On obtaining a leave of absence from my post, in July, 1890,
I, of course, as was my duty, called upon President Hyppolite before my
departure, for the purpose of paying to him my respects. This agent at once
sought me and desired me to make use of this visit of mere ceremony as an
occasion to press anew the Clyde contract upon the attention of the President.
This I could not properly do, especially as I had on previous occasions
repeatedly urged its consideration upon him. The President already knew
well enough my sense of the importance to Haïti of this measure, not only as
a means of enlarging her commerce and of promoting her civilization, but
also as a guarantee of the stability of her government. Nevertheless, my
refusal to urge in so unbecoming a manner a demand already repeatedly
urged upon the attention of the Haïtien Government was made use of by this