Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-05-21
coadilIon Of tho West Indles

The attention Of readers is invited to the in
eres,ing account Of the Island Of Santa Cruz,
given by Mrs. GAGS, Of st. Louis, nov sojourn'
inc in the West Indies She is an intelligent
observing, practical woman, and the favorable
notice she presents of the workings Of emonc-
nation in Santa Cruz is the result Of personal
examination.
The improved condition Of the British West
Indies, where slavery was abolished a quarter
of a century ago at the cost Of a hundred mill
ions ofdolars, is a good test Of the emancipa-
ton policy. Statistics of the trade and pro-
ductious ofthe islands before and since slavery
was abolished, speak conclusively on the sub
ject.
We learn from an elaborate article IN the
Edinburgh Review on the subject, that the
amonnt of sugar exported to Great Britain from
her West India colonies, in 1882 and 1888, was
94s 1886 1926 lbs These two years we're the last
two of slavery The quantity exported iu 1856
and 1857 was 97s, ,5O6 35s lbs, showing a diff
ference Of 26 GIL ,O20 lbs in favor of free labor
in the exports 10 Great Britain alone. But 10
'32 and 80, The English West India planters
had a monopoly Of the English market by the
custom duties which then prevailed, and Of
course sent. all their sugar there. The adop-
ton cf free trade, in AZ, brought Cuba and Bra
zil into competition with the colonies. One Of
the consequences of this measure was the es-
Enlistment Of direct trade between the latter
aud other countries especially Australia and
United States Could the extent of all the ex-
portalions from the British West Indies be as
eertained, the balance in favor of free labor
would be considerably increased.
This one fact of the grea or amount Of sugar
produced by free labor, relutes all the dismal
tales OF the retrogression ofthe West Indies
which the slavery extensions ell.
It's shown too, that the British West India
Islands are rapidly advancing not alone in
wealth but in population and civilization. The
negro laborers are becoming freeholders, and in
some cases the proprietors of large plantations
Their dwellings are much improved, and educa
ton is also advancing among them. England
is beginning to regard the islands as among the
most proftabls parts of her empire,
The ST. Louis Democrat draws an argument
from these facts to show that the negro race il
destined to possess the tropical regions of thi
continent, and says it would be well il the trutl
were recognized in our national policy Afte
showing the necessity of gradual deportation tt
regions beyond our border to prevent th'
Southern States from becoming Africanized
the Democrat remarks;
Nor should the montiOns of the times be los
on the Tree negroes of the United States. Th
events OF the day woOing them to their ma
tive tropics. The contumeles and social out
lawry which they labor under here shoul,
goad them on to the same goal. They would adj
to their welfare as a class, and give mankint
higher opinion of their race, by accomplish
ing a great emigration movement. Enalan
has seventeen islands ready to receive then
The Republic of Hayti is Oplning its bosom
them in a most fraternal spirit, and we perceiv
by the New Orleans papers that some are saga
cious enough to respond to the proifered en-
brace. The true path Of the Goth led not MOI
directly TO the South than does the true path {
the negro.