1915, August 6–8: (She Can Never Survive Without Me: Bobo’s Dilapidated Carriage, the Search for a Candidate, and the Legation Showdown): Despite his words, …

1915, August 6–8: (She Can Never Survive Without Me: Bobo’s Dilapidated Carriage, the Search for a Candidate, and the Legation Showdown): Despite his words, when Bobo got ashore he behaved very like a candidate — a crowd had been organized, there were speeches, and then a progress through the city as Bobo in a dilapidated carriage flung handfuls of coins to scrambling urchins. Meanwhile, the Americans had been shopping for a candidate more to their liking. Men of standing — Légitime, Solon Ménos, J.-N. Léger — all approached by various emissaries, were not eager. Léger spoke for all: he was for Haiti, not the United States, and proposed to keep himself in a position where he would be able to defend Haiti’s interests. Philippe Sudre Dartiguenave, distinguished mulâtre lawyer of Anse-à-Veau and president of the Senate, was however not so reticent — as early as August 5 Caperton reported that from many sources he heard Dartiguenave was a man of personal honor and patriotism, had never been connected with any revolution, was of good ability and anxious for Haiti’s regeneration, realized Haiti must agree to any terms laid down by the U.S., and professed to believe any terms demanded would be for Haiti’s benefit. To settle the matter, on August 8 at the American legation came the doctor, the senator, each with a Haitian second, and Beach. Addressing Dartiguenave, Beach bluntly asked whether there were other Haitians as well qualified as he to be president — there are many better qualified, replied the senator, this honor is not of my seeking but I will not avoid it. To the same question, Bobo shot back that no, he alone had sufficient honor and patriotism and intelligence, and he alone of all Haitians enjoyed the love and confidence of his people — there was no other. Would Bobo support Dartiguenave? Jamais! the doctor burst out — if he was not elected it would be because the presidency had been stolen from him, and if he was cheated of his rights he would leave the country and abandon Haiti to her fate, for she could never survive without him. There is a Creole proverb that goes: twòp lespri, sòt pa lwen — the line between great intelligence and madness is a thin one.