The New York herald., 1878-11-28
Causes Which Led to the
Recent Outbreak.
evils OF THE EXISTING LABOR SYSTEM.
Thirty Years Of Freedom Little
Better than Slavery.
WHAT HAS FOLLOWED EMANCIPATION.
Business Interests Of the Isl
and Paralyzed.
ADDITIONAL TROUBLE FEARED.
ADDITIONAL TROUBLE FEARED.

ST. THOMAS, Nov 81, 1878.
The beautiful island Of st. Croix. SO recently
rendered desolate by the torch Of the incendiary
black laborers, is quiet on the surface. but the
causes which led to the trouble have not been re-
moved. and there is plenty of evidence that very
bad feeling still exists, which. if not allayed. may
lead repetition of the horrors already experienced
Since its occurrence there have been many specula
tions to the Of the outbreak, and any num-
theories have been advanced by those who have
taken only the most superficial view of it, These
theories have been but little better than ridiculous.
md show how wilfully blind
TO the wrongs of any system by which they prosper
The outbreak in fact nothing more than servile
instruction by men who have been practically
slaves under the so-cacd provisional labor law
which has been in existence for thirty years, and
from which all the disadvantages of slavery have
accrued to the laborer and of the advantages.
While it has been and is still admitted that labor
laws vagabond acts of stringent character have
been found necessary in all those islands where
slavery formerly existed yet experience has clearly
shown that good results have followed them only
rs kind treatment aud fair remuneration have been
accorded the laborer
DIFFERENT LABOR SYSTEMS
In Jamaica the sentimentalsm which had its origin
Ut the time Of Wherefore, prevented the enactment
OF any laws for the regulation Of the manumitted
blacks. and they left to their own inclina-
tions which to bask in the and eat the
spontaneous products of nature and the result
that beautiful and thrifty island became little
better than . desert In Martinique the vagabond
Law enacted by the French following emancipation
in ls4s kept the negro at work. while
having respect to his freedom and the pleas
Of his semi-barbarous nature. and giving fair
peuuneration The rasult as ia known has heen ono
Of entire satisfaction to the employer and the en-
ployed and Martinique is of the most prosperous
islands under the I refer to these they
constitute the two extremes in the treatment of the
labor question following the abolition Of slavery.
LABOR IN cgoIx.
The Labor act Of st. Croix-bad enough in itself
and naturally made by the greed Of the planter
and the natural sympathy Of the magistrate for those
of his race. the men with whom they terms of
social intercourse and oftentimes Of intimate friend
ship-was enacted a provisional measure more
than thirty years ago. The subject of its repeal
has repeatedly broached by the Danish govern
ment, but strong has been the opposition
nothing has DONE The planter thrived under it
Apd was enabled to meet the demands upon him made
by the government while the only persons who suf
tered were the toiling blacks. for whom one par
tcularfy cared. and so the law remained the
statute book. Some years since commission
appointed TO revise the act, and after lengthy
investigation il was concluded 70 forbid the issuing
sf rum a ration 10 the negroes. have copied the
sct from the statute book. and present it below
the cause of the recent outbreak. Some little in
justice fanced real may have precipitated it, but
the recent work of destruction in St. Crox but
result Of long years Of extortion and suffering
endured by the blacks at the hands of their white en-
ployers. That their revenge terrible. that in
Few short hours they destroyed far than the
rumuations from their lsbors during the thirty years
pf the system Of which they complain, may be seen
from the accompanying map, which will show the
extent and details OF the destruction at glance
LABOR ACT.
The following is the text Of the Labor act
Pnov1SoxAL ACT TO regulate the relations between
the proprietors Of landed estates and rural popu-
iation OF free laborcrs.
GoyYRSnEsT House.. 81. cEoIx. Jan. 49, 1s49.
Fyyst-An engagements of laborerr. domicilcd
on landed and receiving wages in money in
kind for cuvating and working such estates. ~
be continued directed by the ordinance Of July
1s4s until the lst day Of October of the present
year and all similar engagements shall in future be
msdc. or shall be considered az having been made.
for . term Of twelve nonths-viz, from the lst
October tho fst October year after year Engage
mens made by heads OF families to include their
children between five and fifteen years of age and
other relatives depending on them and staying with
them.
eeond-No lsborer shall be discharged or dsn issed
from shall be permitted 10 dissolve his her
engagement before the expiration Of tho the
lst OF October OF the present or OK any following
year. except in the instances hereafter enumcrate:
A. BY mutual agreement OF master and laborer be-
b. Dy order Of a magistrate ON inst and equitable
cause being shown by thaparties interested.
Legal marriage and the natural tie between mothers
and their children shall be deemed by tho magistrate
Just and legal Of removal from estate to
another. The husband shall have right 70 b.
moved 10 his wife, the wife 10 her husband and chill
dren under fifteen years Of age TO their mother, pro
vidiDg no objection to employing such individuals
shall be made y the OF the estate TO which the
removal is ~ take place.
Third-No engagement of laborer In future shall
be- lawful unless made IN the presence Of witnesses
and entered III the day book Of the estate.
OUT.
Io.ro--Noticc to quit service shall be given 10 the
employer we'll to the l4bcrtr at other period
but once year. in the month OF August not before
the first, not after the last day Of said month. An
entry thereof, shall he made in the day book and
On ackuox c,c,rcnt IN writing shall bc Given TO tho
laLorcr. The laborer shall nave given or received
legal notice Of removal from the estate where he
serves before any one can engage his services other
the contract DC void and the party cngag-
ing IN tampcring with laborcr employed by others
will be dealt with according to law. In caso any
owner or manager Of an estate should dismiss la
burcr during the year without sufficient cause, ~
should refuse to receive him az the time stipulated,
refuse to grant him passport when due notice of
removal has been given, the owner or mansger s 10
pay full damage to the lsoorer and to be sentenced TO
fnc not exceeding S2f.
FiffA--LabDrcrH employed or rated a. FIRST, second
third class laborcrs aal perform all work III
the field or abon; the works or otherwise concerning
the estate which u hitherto has been customary Tor
such Iaborers to perform. No aborcr shsl! presume
to dictate what work he - she shall do.
or refuse the work he Ia ordered 70 perform unless
expressly engaged for some particular work only
II lalorer thinks himself aggreyed lie shall not
therefore leave tie work lui in due tfnr aiply 10
the OF the 81 tate To the magistrate. IL ia
the duty OF the abOrer all occaelons and at all
times 20 protect the property of his employer t. pre-
vent mischief t. the estate - apprehcnd evil ducrs
aud not ~ give counenancc r. or conceal unlawful
practices.
HOURS WORKING.
Stxut-The working days 10 b. as usual only hye
dsys In tho week, and the same days a. hitherto.
The ordinary work of estates is 70 begin at sunrise
aud 10 be finished az sunset every day, leaving an
hour for breakfast aud two hours at noon, IRON
twelve to two O'Clock. Planters who prefer ~ begin
work at o'clock in the morning, making no
sepHrata breakfast time ~ liberty t. adopt this
plan. Tic .a1or,fa shall he present IN due tiDe u
the plse wicr thf Al, ID work. tho iiss a. b. called
and gnaw.rd regularly. Whoever dots not answer
the list when ale Is i0u late
Serenft-No throwing " i,rass wood shall bc ex.
acted during extra hours, all former agreements 70