, 1884-05-24

things and to the necessity OF remedial
measures is plain from the efforts which
have been put forth; but so far the evil
seems to battle all attempts to reduce it.
The Government, for example, issues a
circular pointing out to mothers Of child
rem that they have a claim on the fathers,
which can be enforced by law but the
mothers, lest they should lose altogether
what little irregular help they may get, are
afraid to make use of their right, and only
a short time back we heard on good authO-
rity that wen those who complained, often
begged for leniency towards the culprlt, for
fear he should ego away altogether" AS
to the results OF nurseries on estates we
cannot speak. One or two benevolent
gentlemen have followed the good example
set on the State TreaSury's properties, but
we do not know how far the plan has
anywhere succeeded. On this point valu-
able information might be gained If care
full notes were taken oft means employed
and of the births and deaths on such estates.
The result ought to appear in improved
figures for those properties, and it it did we
should have a demonstration that one
means at least had been discovered towards
the attainment Of the end desired. The
Children's Hospital in Christiansted has
lately been launched as a life boat on this
devouring sea; and is doing a good work
to the honour of its supporters and the
benefit of the colony but it is a large and
crowded ship that is stranded, and while
half q dozen are brought safe to shore,
scores upon scores are being pitileSsly
swept away into the dark waters. That
this is so even up to the present inc may
be too plainly seen from the figures for the
last quarter furnished us for publication
this morning. Have we not here a just
ground for despair? Certainly the facts
are deplorable, but SO far from making us
despair they should arouse i'll us a determi-
nation to mecl the difficulty like the biting
north wind they should brace Ms up to
new efforts. Once succeed, and we have
not only achieved a great triumph in the
cause of humanity, but, as w know
from the example of Barbadoes, we have
solved the labour question at the same time.
In the mean time SO far as the Iabour
difficulty is concerned we see some hope
arising ont of that very system of "squat-
ting" of which most planters are 50 afraid;
for we are inclined to think that the mere
fact of the la6Ourcr here having a chance
TO improve his condition Will be an induce
me}lt to others to come to the island, with
the intention of serving as labOUrerS at
first in the hope of gaining independence
later. 1t is the natural result that where
You made a position attractive it will be
sought after, and it would be surprising il
it should not prove so in this ease also.
Thus, then, whctheri in regard to the humane
OF economical aspect Of the question, we
think that, although the condition of our
IabOrring population is certainly the dark
est cloud III our Santa Cruz sky, there are
CLEANS OF light breaking through the dark
ness and we may hope that these will
multiply and enlarge till the whole is dis
persed that the public and private efforts,
now commenced, will be sustained and
increased till the really worthy and noble
end contemplated is finally achieved.
From what has been said our readers
will see that, although not blind to existing
difficulties, we are by no means inclined to
despair of our prospects; whether we are
right or not must be left to the proof Of
time.
Some may have expected from us a
number of promises as to improvements in
our paper; but promises are so easy to
make, often so hard to keep, that we have
resolved not to make a single one. At
the same time we shall be happy to receive
suggestions, and any help which the leisure
OF our friends may allow them to give us;
while we would ask from all our readers
that consideration and fOrbearance of which
III the conduct of this paper we shall
doubtless often stand in need.