The Portland daily press., 1865-11-29
Jamaica 1nsurreoaon-rhe other Side.

The Providence Journal in remarking upon
the instruction in Jamaica, says: it is sur
prising to see how quick the Democratic pa
pers have been to find in the Jamaica rebellion
an "awlul warning" to all men who believe
that the negro has at least a part of soul,
and is entitled to certain rights in considera-
ton of that rather interesting fact With an
impressivey solemn air they point us to the
murder ola dozen English officials, and tell us
in lugubrious tone that such is the result of
permitting negroes to take part in the gov
eminent. The blacks, they say, have without
cause or provocation inaugurated rebellion
and murdered their kind friends, the English.
The moral they draw is, of course, that such a
race is unfit to be trusted with political priyi-
leges. "a -.....f.g.s ~ ~. 49,
But the facts respecting the condition of
the negroes in Jamaica begin to transpire, and
it appears that they have been most unjustly
treated, and that the real wonder is, not that
they have now revolted, but that they have
not before been turbulent and disorderly.-
The planters have tried repeatedly to- reduce
them to virtual slavery, and to obtain their la
Dor without giving them compensation. Two
writers who are perfectly familiar with Jamai-
ca affairs, and one of whom has held Office
twelve years in Jamaica, communicate, the
one to the London Meas, and the other to
the London Star, valuable information on the
subject One says that according to the es-
tablished law Of the island, every freeholder
was entitled to vote, but the legislature for
babe any one to vote unless he paid ten shil-
lings, and chat condition shut out most of the
freeholders, many of whom, regarding the re-
quirement as unjust, refused tot pay The ne
gro has been taxed to bring in immigrants for
the benefit of the planter and to his own det-
riment. Only three thousand pounds sterling
are expended on education, while ninety thou
sand pounds are devoted to the support of
white officials. Punishable offenses have been
multiplied and penalties have been increased
IN severity. The writer, who has held Office
In Jamaica, says that il is not true that the
negroes refuse to work for fair wages, but that
on the contrary they are the only people who
will work there. He says also: =, I'm. =,
"Further, they do work on the smear and
other estates for most inadequate WAGES Az
ter the abolition of slavery the planters of ia
maica endeavored to force the negroes to Wi
for Is. per day, wages to be paid month"; I
have often known the wages to remain unpaid
for several months, and sometimes these were
not paid at all. The highest wages have
known paid in Jamaica for a days ordinary
held labor is Is. Cd. The legislature of Jamai-
ca scouts the idea of free trade in food. a..
Inc necessaries Of life for the laboring class
such as food and clothing, are taxed to pre-
posterous amount, and such articles cost
price mostly 80 per cent. and sometimes 100
per cent. more than the same cost in this
country. What are we to think of Is. per day
aS laporers wages in country where such
a state Of things prevails? Jamaica is roto.
rTioosiy the worst governed dependency of
IN. ea az Drltaln, and nothing but the law-abid-
To s fb aoe,lty of the negro and his warm LOYALTY
opnres nsi',sn crown has preserved severely
durance." "'o VI Pe@ceapIe en-