, 1873-03-19

nome, anu discussed IN Cne puDllC press,
not only from a political and social stand
point but also from a commercial and ag-
ricultural point of view, I believe it would
contribute greatly to improve the mutual
relations and encourage the inhabitants OF
those islands, by showing them that peo-
pie in the Mother-C Country still felt some
interest for these distant and, until late
years, lucrative Colonies.
Times have certainly changed considera-
bly,, but alas not for the better for the
islands. The Sugar crop has decreased in
St. Croix, st. Johns and st. Thomas.
Commerce has in later years suffered great
detriment, but nevertheless there yet re-
mains a high degree of vitality in the Co.
l%oninjes, along with an extraordinary de-
sire to have that vitality supported by re
forms in various directions.
st. Thomas to which [ chiefly alIude,
has in latter years been visited with so
many calamities and such ruin as will
scarcely find a parallel in other places of
the world and yet the island keeps itself
erect in spite Of all these great revolutions
in nature that have menaced it with des-
truction. st. Thomas has been, and will
continue to be, an important colony. 1t
is conceivable that its extensive trade and
large commercial transactions will decline
to a certain extent, but its geographical
position, as "The Key'' to the West Indies,
can never be changed and that it's neigh
bours entertain a vivid impression thereof,
was shown by the desire expressed by the
Americans in 1867 to obtain possession of
the island, which desire, l venture to say,
happily for the inhabitants, was not ac-
compliShed. We are perfectly satisfied
with our nationality and are by no means
DESTROYS Of changing it for a foreign one.
st. Thomas will doubtlessly continue to
be, if not the most important, still one OF
the most important ports in the West In
dies fox navigation, particularly for Steam
ers, of which, as far as | know, ships OF
twelve different lines monthly visit the
port, and there can be no doubt that this
traffic will increase in proportion as sails
are superseded by steam. In fine, who
knows what future is in store for st. Tho
mas if the project of cutting through the
isthmus of Panama is carried out, whereby
the Atlantic will be connected with the
great ocean beyond by as many hours as
now months of sailing but this is perhaps
taking too wide a range in tuturlty (; | will
therefore c%onfine myself to the situation
Of the present time, hoping that these lines
will call forth a discussion of the matter
from an ADLER pen.
The special attention of Government is
to be directed, first and foremost, to doing
all in it's power to promote in every shape
the commerce of st. Thomas, and not to
place any impeachment in the way Of any
lawful enterprise whatever, but to afford
its aid whenever practicable as also to
tighten the taxation whenever it becomes
onerous. The present Governor, whose
e" debut is very promising for the future.
appears to be a man who seriously intends
carrying out his resolution to reform and
ameliorate matters. Something has al
ready been done in that direction, but
there is a great deal more yet to be effect
ed. l will however, on account of the
small space the columns of a Paper can
accord to articles Of this kind, not proceed
to enter into details, but confne myself to
pointing out one or two most important
cases to which Government ought princi-
pally to direct its attention, whilst l eX-
press the hope that the fruits of its labour
in this direction may soon be apparent.
The first condition for the existence OF
st. Thomas is its commerce, its eXporta-
ton of imported Goods; not being self