82

456 LIFE AND TIMES OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS

onerous one, and nothing that she had just paid him $5,000 in gold to get rid
of his importunities.

"Now, while I was in favor of Haïti's granting the subsidy asked for in
the name of Clyde & Co., and thought that it would be in many ways a good
thing for Haïti to have the proposed line of steamers for which a subsidy was
asked, I had, and I now have, nothing but disgust for the method by which
this scheme was pressed upon Haïti.

"I must say in conclusion that, while, as already intimated, it does not
appear certain that Haïti would have leased us the Môle on any conditions
whatever, it is certain that the application for it was ill timed in more respects
than one. It was especially unfortunate for us that the Clyde concession was
applied for in advance of our application for a lease of the Môle. Whatever
else may be said of the Haïtiens, this is true of them; they are quick to detect
a fault and to distinguish a trick from an honest proceeding. To them the
preference given to the interests of an individual firm over those of the
United States seemed to wear a sinister aspect. In the opinion of many intel-
ligent persons in Haïti, had a lease of the Môle been asked for in advance of
the concession to Mr. Clyde, the application for it might have been success-
ful. This, however, is not my opinion. I do not now think that any earthly
power outside of absolute force could have gotten for us a naval station at
the Môle St. Nicolas. Still, to all appearances, the conditions of success were
more favorable before than after the Clyde contract was urged upon Haïti.
Prior to this, the country, weary of war, was at peace. Ambitious leaders had
not begun openly to conspire. The government under Hyppolite was newly
organized. Confidence in its stability was unimpaired. It was, naturally
enough, reaching out its hand to us for friendly recognition. Our good offices
during the war were fresh in its memory. France, England and Germany,
were not ready to give it recognition. In fact, all the conditions conspired to
influence Haïti to listen to our request for a coaling station at the Môle St.
Nicolas. But instead of a proposition for a coaling station at the Môle St.
Nicolas, there was presented one for a subsidy to an individual steamship
company. All must see that the effect of this was calculated to weaken our
higher claim and to place us at a disadvantage before Haïti and before all the
world.

"And now, since the American people have been made thoroughly
acquainted with one view of this question, I know of no interest which will
suffer and no just obligation which will be impaired by the presentation of
such facts as I have here submitted to the public judgment. If, in this, my
course is thought to be unusual, it should be remembered that the course