Page:Haiti- Her History and Her Detractors.djvu/212

 CHAPTER XIII

The departure of Boyer had the effect of throwing the country into a state of political convulsions all the more acute, as the various elements which had contributed to the success of the revolution of 1843 were far from having the same tendencies or the same object. Those who had taken up arms with the impetuosity of youth in the name of liberty, craved for the termination of the military regime and for the establishment of a civil form of government. The man whom circumstances had placed in the foremost rank was unfortunately devoid of the qualities which go to the making up of a capable leader of a great liberal movement. Charles Hérard ainé, surnamed Rivière, was but a soldier, and as such was not a sincere partisan of the civil régime. On the other hand, great hopes were being entertained by the peasants, who had been promised a decided betterment of their condition. The new and conflicting ideas which were agitating each class of people could not fail to cause friction.

In the mean time, a provisional government had been organized at Port-au-Prince (April 4, 1843). Popular elections were ordered, and the meeting of the 192