, 1870-12-27

slaves ahy were owned by O. few merchants
and tradesmen who lived in a state Of depen-
dence on this planter oIigarchy. Now it lies
in the nature Of the case, that when from child
hood if one has been educated with slaves, and
has made himself familiar with the idea that he
is u SIayeOWuer, then his comprehension Of mat
tiers in general is widely different from that
which deycI0pes itself in a free community. In
1913 we all at once abolished slavery it was
done by a decree Of the representative Of the
Government out there. From that moment il
must have been evident, that the entire COM
munity must have been regulated anew and on
an entirely new basis. The Community in
question had rested upon the basis Of slavery,
but from the moment That slavery was abolish
ed, the community would have to rest on the
basis Of liberty. This was q far moro thorough
going revolution in a community, than anything
which we call Revolution here in Europe, be
cause our revolutions in Europe are only wont
to move ON the surface, and consist Of officials
being deprsed and replaced by others but out
there the entire basis Of the social organization
was completely altered. This was such a cri-
sis in the lie of the islands, that there probably
was cause for the Mother Country to step in,
and give q very serious interest and attention to
the future development Of the islands. 1t
would not have been too much if the King had
then appointed a Minister for the Colonies not
because Of the greatness Of the matter, but be
cause the question is entirely isolated because
the condition and development Of the Colonies
have no connection whatsoever with the rela-
tions in the Mother Country. If, namely, that
attention were to be given to the matter, which
il deserves, it could in reality only be done by
appointing a Minister who would also have the
responsibility for the misfortune is that the
one who is Minister for the Colonies, has not
the acquaintance with the subject, and the one
who has the power and the acquaintance, has
not the responsibility. If, however, the ques-
ton be not taken thus in hand and given an in
dependent development, then the same could be
done which other countries have done il could
be said very well, you have liberty it is the
foundation Of the community, and now the com
munity must devise the means Of operating
with the new principles 50 as to re0r9anize it.
self on the new basis. This they have had the
courage to do in the English West India Is
lands there they have in reality given liberty
in its entirety to the former slaves. This natu-
rally must have caused a great crisis this cri-
sis has destroyed some Of the English posses
sions but the greater number Of them have
gone forth from it with renewed strength, and
are now hourishing. BY following this example
we would, if might say it, have been able to
cover our responsibility for when in such cases
the example is set by the one which is Il great
power, which has the same relations in a much
greater degree, it will cover the moral respon,
sibility in a not inconsiderable point; but that
we did not do, we decreed a rule of transition,
whereby the Iaborers, if 1 can be permitted to
make that comparison, we're only oneSkprth
free, and three-fourths slaves. There sAanasNd