1816 (The Symbolic Performance of Independence in the South): The royalist papers expressed a “great curiosity” regarding how Pétion observed the anniversary…

1816 (The Symbolic Performance of Independence in the South): The royalist papers expressed a “great curiosity” regarding how Pétion observed the anniversary of independence at Port-au-Prince. They argued that Pétion held a deep “repugnance” for the very word “independence” and typically avoided it in his official writings. The text suggests that any celebrations held in the South were a hypocritical “recantation” intended to dispel the public’s recollection of his intrigues with the French. This critique was meant to show that while the North celebrated independence with genuine “veneration and fidelity,” the South’s observances were hollow theatrical performances. By claiming a monopoly on the true spirit of 1804, King Henry Christophe’s administration sought to position the monarchy as the sole legitimate guardian of the revolution.