, 1867-09-24
gtrisaiaa5trd, 81, Srnix,
TUESDAY, GATH SEPTEMBER 1867.

of 21St instant, the following article, we
will offer a few remarks.
"Articles publishedin The London pa
pers, inform us, that the question, hither-
to doubtful, of a transfer of the Danish
West India Islands, to the United States
of America, has at last called forth the
attention of the Copenhagen press, and
the most important and lengthy article
that has appeared upon it, is contained in
the Fedrelandet; at first we had intended
to furnish our readers with o translation
of the article, but after careful enquiry,
we find that the number of that paper
containing the article did not reach us by
the last mail, The short extract We give,
from the London press, will show how
ever, that the Fedreldndet (Which in in
~fiuence and circulation, takes about equal
rank in Denmark, with the Times in Great
BFitian) is favourable to the transfer, and
shews that in a political sense there are
no obstacles 10 contend with, since neither
England nor France need be consulted
upon the matter. At this .iuncture of the
question, it is but right that the Islands
themselves should be heard in the matter,
and it is therefore for this reason that we
throw open the question, in the hope of
finding it discussed in its various phases.
For Denmark herself, it may be said,
that it needs no far-sighted vision, to see,
that it would be a measure of sound po-
licy if she was consenting to the transfer,
as the Islands have long since ceased to
be regarded as sources of benefit, and if
we except ourselves, there is no Island in
the group, hat enriches the metropolitan
Exchequer, whilst it is even silently said,
that our contribution is absorbed else
where, and does not go beyond tropics.
IF so, then the only remaining advantage,
is reduced to the filing up of the offices
by applicants for places in the West
Indies, and if the time should come when
St. Thomas would need to withhold her con-
tribution, it is then evident that the ISL
lands would be an expensive and respon-
sible adjunct TO the kingdom. On the
,other hand, from what now appears OIL
the surface, it would seem that the ISL
ands have ~ %pecuniary value, and if Den
mark was profiting by the experience of
Lombardy, which at one time would
have added five hundred millions Of francs
10 the Austrian Treasury, she will not
postpone the question until the Islands
CUitlV ~ d uO dluO at ollie DuL tIIO
gravity of the question rests with our
selves, and every dweller in these Islands,
whose %well-being naturally becomes at
stake, will ask in what way will the
change effect US? And it is -on this point
that men of sound views should lift up
the pen and endeavour to throw light
upon the affair. We are not of those
who are ~sanguine that the change would
be beneficial to st. Thomas. or that we
think it would be otherwise, we simply
mean that we do not pretend to have
foresight enough, to see the result of the
change. One thing is nevertheless GER
tain, that if a change is indispensable,
Denmark in justice to st. Thomas, could
never allow the Islands 10 pass out of
her hands, without the ~clearest treaty sti-
.pnlation that the commercial laws as now
existing here couId. not be interfered with
and that we should under all circum-