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Black Republic of Letters

Frédéric Doret

Frédéric Doret (1886-1935) was a Haitian engineer from Miragoâne in southern Haiti. He went on to serve as Haiti's first representative to the League of Nations. He was also a proponent of early education in Haiti, and published works on the topic as well as learning materials.

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"Lettre d'Haïti (De notre correspondant particulier)" / "Letter from Haiti (from our special correspondent)" Translate:Port-au-Prince, 11 August 1890

Dear Director,

If I can rely on your predictions, this letter will arrive around the time the La Fraternité appears. I would like to offer my most ardent wishes for the first Haitian newspaper in Paris; I applaud your honourable attempt, and I hope that, with God's help, we can make it work out. Whatever happens, the new generation will have thus proved that it not only has the idea of progress, but also the firm intention of achieving it.

The promotion of our friend Bowler continues to yield good results. The subscription lists are filling up with much gusto. I am thrilled by the success of your joint project. I'm convinced, indeed, that when the moment comes to let him into the secret, Bowler will be glad to unite his efforts to yours for the foundation of this paper that is lacking in Paris.

Still, I believe that our friend has made an unwise promise, if it is true that he has been hired, as Mr. Magny claimed in a letter to the director of the Liberté, "to send two young Haitians every two years to collaborate with him." Mr. Adhémar Auguste is right to have some reservations about this—even though, for that matter, we don't share his way of seeing the practical current utility of a Haitian newspaper in Paris.

The upkeep of Bowler's two young collaborators in Paris would cost money, a lot of money, especially if they take advantage of their time in the "City of Lights" to complete their studies in arts and sciences. Because I doubt they would go on this trip simply to collaborate on a newspaper. There is no shortage, in Paris, of compatriots who could provide Bowler with intelligent and serious information from Paris. In the absence of those who are returning home this year, do you not still have Jules Auguste, Leconte (who are already in the course of a career), Audain, Doret, Amédée Brun, and many others who would want nothing more than to appear in this sort of periodical jousting?

In short, I ardently hope that you combine your work with Bowler; but I encourage you both to found your work on a modest base; you will thus have a greater chance that it will last.

Now, a word on the situation in Haiti.

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Frédéric Doret