New-York tribune., 1891-12-25
it's neighbofs better service than 70 See 'na'
ID Is killed incontinenuy.
IYEST INDIAN DEFENCES.

The brilliant letter from our staff correspond
ont in the Windward Islands published III pnis
issue contains lucid exposition OF one OF tho
anomalies of Englands relations with her colonies
and the United States. 1t describes the new
Notifications at Castries Bay in the island OF
Ct Lucia This was the harbOr from which
Rodney set sail with his feet after Yorktown 70
DESTROY the French Navy off Dominica and 10
recover at one stroke the English empire in the
West Indies. 1t has recently been converteo
into the most formidable military and naval sta-
ton in that quarter 1t forms one OF the cha'h
of fortresses stretching from Halifax to Bermuda
Kingston and the Windward Islands, upon which
many millions have been expended during the
last twelve years. The question which our
couespondent discusses with remarkable lucidity
relates TO the object of these vast expenditures
and formidable preparations for war.
THAT neither Canada nor the British West
Indies require this chain of fortresses, drydocks
and naval stations for their own protection may
be conceded without argument Since the close
of the Napoleonic wars the English possessions
in the New World have been outside the range
of European rivalries. The great battle for
maritime asoendancy was fought in West Indian
ywate1s during the seventeenth and eighteenth
centuries, and since the acquisition OF Trinidad
and Guiana European war has involved no
menace to the security of Canada, Jamaica
and the Lesser Antilles. The British possessions
on this continent do not need these costly NIL
itary works in order to be protected against
European aggression; nor does the commerciai
importance of the Lesser Antilles justify 50 for
midable a girdle of defence. The only reason
able explanation of the expenditure of vast sums
upon this line of unnecessary defences is jealous
guardianship of the United States and OF the
proposed interoceanc waterways. Against the
most pacific Nation on the face Of the earth, with
a seaboard wholly unprotected, England is pre-
pared not only to launch feet OF iron-clads
and cruisers from four impregnabe stongholds,
but also to carry ON from convenient bases OF
operations systematic and destructive military
and naval campaign.
These considerations would be calculated to
alarm Americans If there were not overwhelming
evidence to convince them that England, IN
menacing the United States in this Characteristic
way, was struggling hOpelessly against nature
and economic law. While she has been building
these fortNsses and drydocis, mounting the
heaviest guns in her neglected and despBed
islands and connecting by electric cables her line
of Gibratars in the New World, a greater force
than military science has been operating to draw
her possessions into relations OF commercial de-
pendence upon the United States. Jamaica,
Guiana and the Lesser Antilles are to-day fed
from the United States, and the bulk OF their
produce can be sold only in the American mar
ket. newfoundland and Canada, while forced
by the Imperial connection to languish in state
of suspended industrial development, are steadily
drawn by economic gravitation toward tho
American market The same England, which
menaces the United States with preparations for
war while protesting friendship and goodwill,
has been compelled this very month to acknowl-
edge In the West Indian treaties the depend
ence OF her colonies upon the American market.
Newfoundland has only been prevented by an
Imperial fiat from entering into Reciprocity re-
lations with the United States; and from one
end of Canada to the other there Is discomfort
with the economic conditions imposed by the
British connection.
What England is making in this line of un-
necessary delences is laborouS and desperate
struggle against nature The mighty force OF
gravitation toward the market OF a Nation OF
Ga, 900, 900 designed by nature to dominate tho
commercial interests and industrial development
of the northern half of the New World cannot
be cOnteracted by artificial barriers OF military
defence confronting the seabOard.