17359: Benodin: THE POLISH CONTRIBUTION TO THE HAITIAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Robert Benodin <r.benodin@worldnet.att.net>

THE POLISH CONTRIBUTION TO THE HAITIAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE
By Dr. Zdzislaw P. Wesolowski
Florida Memorial College
Miami, Florida

Ladies and gentlemen. FROM THE PEOPLE OF POLAND TO THE PEOPLE OF HAITI, our
warmest regards and a reaffirmation of our Solidarity with you for another
two hundred years.   I am honored by your invitation to address you on this
auspicious occasion, the eve of the two hundred anniversary of the
Independence of Haiti.  The road to independence for Poland and Haiti was
not without horrible suffering and sacrifice.  Two hundred years ago the
world was dominated by empires and ruled by despotic leaders who not only
oppressed their own countryman, but also those of other nations.

The Polish people through the ages not only fought for their independent
from the Russian, Prussian, Germans and Austrians, but also for the freedom
of other countries like the United States and Haiti under the banner, FOR
YOUR FREEDOM AND OURS.

On May 3, 1791 the Poles established the first democratic constitution in
Europe, 2nd in the world to that of the United States. Fearing that the
Polish democratic disease would spread to their boarders and liberate their
serfs, the emperors of Russia, Prussian and Austria entered into an alliance
to destroy Poland. In 1792, only months after the Poles establish the first
democratic Republic, Russia attacked Poland later joined by Prussia and
Austria and partitioned the country in three parts. Poland did not exist as
a nation until 1918 except for a brief time during the Napoleonic era.

By 1796, Napoleon Bonaparte promised the Poles that he would re-establish
Poland as a nation if the Poles join his army. The Poles joined his ranks by
the millions and formed the Polish Legions serving under Napoleon’s command.
When he became victorious and an emperor, he forgot his promise to the
Polish people. Instead of restoring the Polish Republic to its full national
boarders, a token Grand Dutch of Warsaw was established, smaller then one
fifth of the country. The Poles became very disillusioned with Napoleon
because he did not honor his promise.  As long as he lasted, so did the
Dutch of Warsaw. By 1813 it was erased once again from the map of Europe
until 1918.

One of colonies of the The French Empire, Santo Domingo, now Haiti and the
Dominican Republic rebelled against its master. Napoleon sent 50,000 men to
quell the uprising. Among these soldiers were 5,000 Poles who served in the
Polish Legion attached to the French Army. The Poles had no idea where they
were being sent until they reached Port du Prince on September 2, 1802. They
first thought that they were being shipped to Louisiana.

In the ensuing months by late 1802, 4,000 Poles were dead mostly from
tropical diseases and military action. Seeing the suffering of the black
people and their desire for freedom and independence, which coincided with
their own, the Poles became convinced that they were participating in an
immoral cause.  By early 1803, the Poles began to disobey French orders and
joined the rebels. General Dessalines, was so impressed with the Poles that
he formed a Guard of Honor made up of all Poles on his staff.  By November
1803, the whole remaining Polish contingent decided that they could no
longer serve the French and during the Battle of Vertières, the Poles joined
General Dessalines.

After the revolution in 1805 when the constitution of Haiti was being
drafted, the topic came up about what to do about the Poles who remained.
General Dessalines said” THE POLES ARE TO BE ACCEPTED AS CHILDREN OF THE
ISLAND, NATURALIZE ALL WHO WISH TO REMAIN WITH US. It seems that the Poles
were the only Europeans that helped the Haitians during the revolution.
Dessalines understood their character and their predicament.

Being unable to return to Poland and dissatisfied with Napoleon, about 400
remaining legionnaires adopted Haitian citizenship.  They became mostly
farmers. Today 200 years later, the descendents of the Polish legionnaires
can be found in the following cities and villages;

Cazale
La Vallé de Jacmel
Fond des Blancs
Port Salut
St Jean du Sud
Les Cayes

So today, in Haiti, I have distant relatives, their skin may be a little
darker then mine, but in their vains flows Polish blood.

It saddens me to see that the Haitian people are still suffering after 200
years. Maybe their neighbors should join in an effort to help a nation of
people whose island does not have strategic materials or oil reserves to
sell on the world market, but a nation of people with a spirit for
enterprise and a desire to participate in the world community to raise the
standard of living and a better life for their children for generations to
come. Empires come and go, but the yearning for freedom never dies.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A speech presented on 18 November 2003 before the Haitian-American Center
for Economic and Public Affairs at Florida International University.

Dr. Wesolowski is Professor of Business and Transportation at Florida
Memorial College in Miami. He is a co-founder and Vice President of ABICC,
Association of Bi-National Chambers of Commerce and the Polish American
Chamber of Commerce of Florida. He is an amateur historian and an author of
two books on Polish military history as well as in his field of business and
economics. He is a retired US Air Force officer.