The New Orleans crescent., 1868-01-11
How the 81. Thomas Purehass IL Regarded
In England.
From the London Star, Dec. I7th.I

LFrom the London Star, Dec. I7thl
The acquisition by the United States OF the
West India islands of St. Thomas and 81. John, Is
an event of sufficient gravity to warrant an exam
nation into the motives oi tne naton mai0n y, 1hs
probable future results on the scattered commu-
mites Of those belonging TO different European
powers We believe when the late disturbances
occurred in Jamaica, and the press OF this country
WAS filled with violent denunciations OF the ne
proes President johnson took advantage OF the
circumstances 10 sound the late Sir +. Bruce as to
the probability of our cedng to the United states
that magnificent, but up that time, ill-governed
island. The exceeding cold reception with
which his overtures were met induced the
president or rather Mr.. Seward for that astute
old man is at the bottom of the business, to apply
10 Denmark where he has been more successful.
President johnson is doubtless right in
assuming that, had the United States possessed
st. Thomas during the late war. there would have
been no blockade running. The place was the
very nest and center Of the illegal trafiic which
buoyed up for time the spirit OF the southern
Shareholders. The president must not be sur
prised, however. IL we look upon 1t In another
point of view. In the event OF great revulsion
in our own country, occssoned by the persistent
Vaccinations of the American Fenians, st. Taomas
and st. John may become convenient shelters
from which to annoy the commerce of England.
Certainly, in awar with the United states, should
that calamity ever occur, the possession OF these
two islands would entirely alter the balance of
power which has hitherto subsisted between this
country and America.
We do not point out these results in any spirit
of hostility TO the United States, but rather to
show the blindness and stupidity Of the traditional
policy Of the foreign Office. We are in the act OF
spending millions under some delusion that In do.
ing so we are keeping up our prestige in the East
Indies, while, without q protest, without a m1r-
muir, without exchange Of notes, so far as we
are at present informed. our greatest naval rival
acquires two islands In the West Indies, avowedy
as war ports against possible Transatlantic ene-
mics. The presence of the Americans in those
latitudes will be disturbing cause to the Euro
pean powers In peace as well as In war. spain,
especially, may proceed at once to set her house
in order. Porto Rico, where slavery still reigns
with all its hateful features, is the near neighbor
of st. Johns. Imagine the state Of mind of the
Spanish planters. with community OF negroes in
the pos Sc ession Of manhood suffrage in the next
island Nor can we escape the difficulties which the
advent of this new neighbor will certainly cause
have begun to dominate the minds Of the
negroes. They have not been inattentive
observers of what has been passing in the great
country which so lately was the chief stay OF
slavery. They will not watch with less Jealousy
the possession of the franchise by their lately
emancipated brethren when the American flag
floats over two Of the islands in their midst. In
addition to what may be called the passive propa-
gandism Of American views, an active and most
powerful influence will be exerted by the superior
commercial activity of the Americans. Although
the obtaining Of war ports has been the leading
idea of the late acquisition, the intense business
activity of the Americans will doubtless soon con-
vert the new colony into a commercial center,
where they will amass all the rich produce of the
neighbOriDg islands before launching it upon the
markets of the world.