, 1872-10-09

o1Au tO"d LI0 MOUut ECOuuUfV ana
the Colonies-to withhold the Royal
sanction of the Administrative Ordinance,
the Draft of which passed this Islands Co.
lonlal Council under circumstances that
could not fail to create q doubt in the
mind OF His Majesty's Colonial Minister as
to whether he could constitutionally sub
nit the ordinance as a result of the "fee
cote" and deliberate will of this communi-
ty through its representatives. At any
rate, we do most confidently hope that
His Excellency Governor Garde will see
and admit the necessity and Residences of
the plan which was all along understood
to have been that of the Home Govern
ment in regard to this point, namely, that
of our having one Chief Governor residing
in st. Thomas, and a Secretary or Admin
~istrator Of Government in st. Croix, on
his behalf, We trust that His Excellency
is aware how advantageous to- the dis
charge of administrative duties it will be
to have but one leading mind therein, and
not to be exposed to have his Well-consid-
cred and weIl-matured plans and ideas
thwarted or counteracted by a man at
the head of the local administration here,
having, perhaps, other views, which he
will endeavour, openly, or, still worse,
clandestinely, to carry through for his own
ACKNOWLEDGMENT, possibly; but to the pre-
JUDGE of the Governor himself. We are
confident that not single one of all the OBJ
j~ections raised from time to time against
such a measure carries with it that force
of conclusiveness which is requisite in
sound argument, and, we are fully %convin-
ced that His Excellency will not have rea-
son to regret having, at least, made a trial
OF that arrangement. 1t is far from our in
tentiOn to intrude our opinions, much less
our advice,-but for the sake of the com
monweal, in the interest of which His Ex-
cellency, and we ourselves, are engaged,
we beg to offer suggestions.-But that such
an organization presuppOses aud necessarily
implies the necessity of constant and GER
tain steam communication between the two
Islands, if not also Of Geographic commu-
nication,-is admitted on all sides.-There
are, however, those among us, and unfor-
~tunately some men of official standing,
who seem to be disinclined to favour steam
communication, whether from lack of
knowledge Of the advantages of it, or, from
the force of habit, fostered and strengthen
ed by the species of isolation in which we
have hitherto been condemned to live; but
it cannot be presuming or expecting too
much to suppose that Governor Garde has
more advanced ideas, and can appreciate
the absolute gain afforded by steam com
munication, and will know how to pro-
mote this most important object. 1t is
true that the sanguine expectations enter
tanned by some, as to the results to be OBJ
tanned by steam communication, may to a
certain extent be oVerrated; but, in our
mind, the bare achievement of one general
government by means of a Steamer plying
regularly between the Islands, would be
sufficient gain to warrant the trial. In
deed, we hold that our policy should tend
rather to extend steam communication fur
ther on, SO as to secure to ourselves a
share in the well-stocked and cheap mar
kets (not only merchandise but more. es-
pecially labour) Of other islands, such as
Barbados. If there were less isolation,
there would, perhaps, be less misunder-
standing.
Another object, on which His Excellen-
cy's attention will have to be bestowed,
is the reduction Of the public expenses
and taxation. This island does certainly,
under certain conditions, which are not
always present, possess a goodly portion