, 1876-10-18

bursements which the State had hitherto
betrayed Tor this community for State pur.
poses, and which it still continues to defrav
Tor similar communities in Denmark, where.
IKE here, In times past, when our finances
were united, the revenues accrutng to the
STATE Chest did not reach the sum exnen.
led. They contend that, at all events,
the Legislature of the Mothercounfrv,
when e%tt9cting the change, and after
wares when it was clearly seen that
we could not get along, could
and should have carried out such
changes and such measures as would
nave tended to reduce the standing eX-
penses, and thus make our financial ey-
lstence more easy and practicable. But
Without entering here upon the various
questions and considerations PRESENTING
themselves in connection with those views,
1t is sufficient to call to mjod that the posi-.
tloG4n which we are now, n regard to fnan.
cIal affairs, Is one Of our own making.
aud established by Law. after nreyions
representation and an agreement BET vecn
the Colony and the Motherconntrv
hence whatever might have been said or
could be advanced against the distinction
Of this community from the rest Of thu
Sta t., and the entire transfer ia it of all
expenses for communal and State purposes,
must stand back now in the face of the
agreement established in good faith.
There is no legal obligation, and the
moral side of the question is not of
sufficient weight to be urged in the
face of existing circumstances. At
all events, good will has been
sufficiently manifested by the Mother
country and its Legislature. It must then,
also, not be lost sight of that what
ever may have been the obli-
cations Of the State towards the
community in reference to the dis
Oursement or apportioning Of public ex-
penditure, or whatever may be the obiec-
lions to be raised against the system fol-
lowed, when making up our Joint estate
before separation, there is certainly no
obligation or shadow of necessity, beyond
good will, for a parent state to expend its
funds in aid Of a private industrial opera
ton as ours there is no compuIsiye rea.
son why the State Of Denmark should
apply its taxpayers money towards assist
ing a sinking business, such as experience
has shown ct late years we have here in
our sugar growing and manufacturing
work. But the good will, stirred and ava
kened by the Governors able exposi-
ton Of his plans for the future develop
ment Of our resources, has been amply
manifested to US by the Home Govern
ment, the Imperial Diet and the Danish
People. For this we owe the Governor
a great debt of gratitude. That this is
so is profoundly felt by the people, high
and low, and we merely fulfil a pleasant
duty in giving expression TO it,
But our indebtedness to them is not
limited to this. We are all familiar, and
have been at times painfully familiar, with
the vacillation and waywardness, to say the
least Of it, that has been exhibited by many
parties with regard to the plan which has
now been considered and ventilated for
years, ever since the arrival of His Excel
lency to these islands we all know that
Notwithstanding the establishment Of at
least one Factory,-in order to increase and
improve the production and manufacture
of the only " life-providing" resource Of the
island, sugar, has been admitted on all
hands lat least 9 out of 10Y to be a
matter of dire necessity and of the last
importance,-the realization Of that plan
has met with obstacles, which at
times threatened to overthrow the