, 1873-01-01

SNAJ SRSSS AZ Jill " NC pldGSu
individually on equal footing with the eu-
ropean laborer because he is not guided
by the same moral motives, and further,
that the estate laborers are, at all events,
content with a position which secures them
against distress, while it affords no pros
pect OF improving their own condition or
that OF their family. Hence, it is argued,
these relations should be left alone. The
Danish Government cannot admit this
principle. Even if the assertion were fully
supported by the generality of facts, that
Government could not forego it's endea-
yours OF e%ffecting improvement by e~xerting
influence and bestowing encouragement as
widely as possible. Least of all could
those exertlons cease, when the reorganisa-
ton OF Iabour in the Southern States of the
U. S. on the basis of fixed contracts, free
terms OF wages and extensive school educa-
ton for the children, has, in the last DAYS
proved TO what surprising extent it is pos
sibIe to join material prosperity with tine
moral progress of q negro population, even
where the aSpeCtS-owing to the sudden
transition from slavery to unrestrained free
dom and political observation-disclosures as
untavorab'e to the essay as they are propi-
tious in the West India Islands Hence.
the object in revising the Labor Rpgula-
tlOns is not only to render the conditions
for increased production more easy, but
also to stimulate the industry of the indivi-
dual labOrer, and thus to make him a better
man and q more valuable member of the
little community whose welfare essentially
depends on his work. And be it rernem-
bered that-if even 81 few only can, at the
outset, be thus influenced those few NAV
cause a number to rise in geometrical
progression, through their offspring.
From this point of view the revision of
the Labor Regulations becomes but a link
in q series of measures, whose elaboration
will rest on Government and the Colonial
Council. The significance | attach to this
view must have been noticed when I ad-
vanced that one of Governments most inn
p%ortant tasks was the reform of the coun-
try-SchooIS, which matter will, I trust,
soon be furthered. | have shown it, also
by causing the nomination Of a Commits
sion for the purpose of inquiring into the
physical circumstances Of the laboring
population. These relations, viz: the ma
teriaI condition Of the Iaborer and his fam
lily on the estates will, as BE-. y the subject
of certain enactmentS in the Labor Rrgula-
lions, fall under the direct consideration of
the Commission, and l have no doubt that
it will be able to give practical advice on
several points in the enactments alluded
to, especially with a view Of checking the
mortality amongst the young children in
cases where it is not exclusively caused by
the mothers neglect.
1t may, / think, be presumed that the
general and well-founded wish for an in
crease of immigration to St. Croix, will be-
come stronger yet when notifications of
the existing Regulations will permit free
agreement in STIMULATING a certain pay for
q certain task, for, to the dreaded rise of
wages, the larger amount of available la
Dor will prove to be the natural check.
It would therefore afford me great s~atisfac-
ton if the Commission would make this
question, SO closely connected with the
present case, an object of particular consi-
deration.
1t seems evident that the first condition
for successfully promoting immigration,
is the possession of sufficient funds to offer
the immigrant a fair premium. While the
task of engaging and forwarding the immi-
grants should be left 10 private enterprise,
it is clearly an object of public interest to
render the Individual undertaking as easv
as possible, and Government will therefore