Wyoming democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Wyoming Co., Pa.) 1867-1940, 1867-12-11
THE WEST INDIES.

The West India islands were settled and
colonized by European States simultaneous
ly with the settlement and colonization OF
the American Continent. Most Of the
colonies planted here became independc cnt
nations in the close of the last ana the be-
ginning of the present century. Our own
country embraces communities which at
one period were colonies of Great Britain,
France, Spain, Holland, Sweden and Rnssa
The people in the West Indies, with the
exception of those of the Island of nayt,
have neither attained nor aspired TO indie
pecdence, nor have they become prepared
for self-defence. Although possessing cou
siderable commercial value, they havo been
held by the several European States which
colonizcd or at some time conquered them
chiefly fol purposes OF military and naval
strategy, in carrying out European policy
and designs in regard to this continent. In
our revolutionary war, ports and harbors in
the West India Islands were used by our
enemy, to the great injury and embarass-
ment of the United States. We had the
same experience IN our second war with
Great Britain. The same European policy
for a long time excluded US even from trade
with the West Indies, while we were al
,,eace with all nations. In our recent civil
war the rebels, and their piralical and
blockade breaking allies, found facilities in
. the same ports for the work which they too
successfully accomplised, of iujuring and
devastating the commerce which We are
now engaged in rebuilding. We laborcd
especially under this disadvantage that
European steam vessels, employed by our
enemies, found friendly shelter, protection
and supplies in West Indian potts, while our
own naval operations were necessarily car
ried on from our own distant shores There
was then a universal feeling of the want Of
an advanced naval outpost, petwecn the
Atlantic coast aud Europe. The duty CT
obtaining such an outpost, peacefully and
lawfully, while neither doing nor mcnacing
injury to other States, earnestly engaged the
attention of the Executive Department
before the close of the war, and it has not
been lost sight of since that time. A no,
entirely dissimilar naval want revealed itsel
during the same period on the Pacific coast
The required footholJ there was fortunately
secured by our late treaty with the Emperor
Of Russia, and it now seems imperative tha,
the more obvious necessities of the Atlantic
coast should not be less carefully provided
for. A good and convenient port and har
Dor, capable of easy defence, will supply
that want. With possession of such a sta
tion by the United States, neither we mol
any other American nation need longer
appre bend injury or offence from any tran:
Atlantic enemy. agree with our early
statesmen that the West Indies naturally
gravitate to and may be expected ultimate J
10 be absorbed by the Continental States
including our own. Iagree with them
also, that it is wise to leave the question o.
such absorption to this process of natura
political gravitation. The islands of St
| Thomas and St. John, which constitute
part of the group called the Virgin Islands
seemed to offer US advantages Immediately
desirable, while their acquisition could bt
secured in harmony with the principles tc
which have alluded. A treaty has therefore
been concluded with the King of Denmark
for the cession of those Islands, and will b,
submitted to the Senate for consideration.
| THE PURCHASE OF ALASKA.
1t will hardly be necessary to call thu
attention of Congress to the subject o