, 1870-12-27
. g, o y s.

WU6Q Ul6y were III SuCu communication Win
each other that the one could quickly come to
the assistance of the other. But when they
place themselves in such an isolated situation,
as in reality is the case in st. Croix, then each
of the Islands must in itself have all the protec-
ton which it requires against the danger it fears,
and thereby impose upon itself the necessity of
maintaining a far larger military force than
w0uld be requisite, # there was a free and easy
communication with the surrounding world.
The time is so far advanced, and there has al
ready been said so much to-day, which |, &C.
corling to what | have remarked, can agree to,
that | shall not any further pursue this subject.
| will the rcfOre cOnclud. with expressing The
conviction, that We are morally obliged to assist
the islands. 1t was under our auspices that the
sIaYetrade was carried ON it was for our sake,
for the sake Of our profits, that we encouraged
the slaye-trade and slavery in the Islands, and
it Was not for the islands own sake, that We
purchased tor added them to us, but it was for
the sake Of the mother country. We have con-
S%eQucntly the full moral responsibility for the
condition which, by degrees, has developed it.
self out there. We have with other countries
shared in the mistake, which consisted in be-
litVing that colonies founded on slavery, were a
lasting gain, and the results Of this error we
must accept, and cannot refuse the consequent
WllACH OllON nun IT, ONC II tllClGIOlC
to the islands to assist them, where they cannot
help themselves, and it is Of no use, that we
now all at once endeayour to throw the burden
over on them by saying: Now govern your
selves! We have not placed the Islands in pO-
8ition, that they could govern themselves for
when Honorable gentlemen will imagine an is
land like BOrnhOlm, which was divided between
q hundred or a hundred and fifty lot owners,
and where Immediately before there had been
slavery how could the government be left to
the hundred or a hundred and fifty lot-owners ?
There the Stipulations for selfgovernment do
not exist there cannot be found that balance
between the different influences, which must be
present, that selEgoyernment can really be
prosperous. 1t is therefore my opinion that
as S6lf-govGrnment in the island Of st. CroiX in
the course of 20 years has led to the result, that
from an exceedingly 10urishing Island it has
become an Island, which must seek help from
the mother-cOuntry, it is our duty to take under
close consideration what ought to be done for
those Islands, whether we cannot assist them,
not only by contribution, but also with such ad-
vice and such guidance, which we from a higher
standpoint can give them, and which they pro-
badly cannot give themselves. 1t is limited at
in the motives that Government contemplates
several administrative measures. l believe,
that these reforms have been urgent for a very
long time, that it has been acknowledged long
ago, how very urgent they were. NotwithStand-
ing they have not been put into execution, and
| can explain to myself thereby, that Govern
ment, ON one side or other, has met up with an
opposition which it was not able to conquer.
[ believe, therefore, that the correct manner of
procedure, on our side, would be to join condi-
tons to the grants we. give, and that we call
upon Government to exhibit to us the reforms,
which it will carry through, and that we make