, 1891-12-19

Tile suitiinaGe ownership OF the IStan0y ana
brodght hopes to the hearts of the people
here that St. Thomas will soon belong to
the United States. For two years past the
United States has been trying to get hold of
Mole, ST. Nicolas, in Haiti, for n c0alihg sta
ton : but the treatment of it's re freSpnta-
tlves by the Haitian Government last May
would seem to have put an end to all hopes
OF getting peaceable possession there. Since
1867 the people OfSt. Thomas have waited.
ready and willing to join us. When the
treaty for the purchase of the island was
prepared at that time, the King of Denmark
put it to vote to see if the people desired
the change. Out of ,122 properly qualified
voters there were only % against the pro-
position.
The people are to-day even more anxious
to belong to the United States, thantheX
were then. Whether the rejection of the
treaty by the Senate in 1867 was due 10 the
antagoniSm to President Johnson. or dine TO
the ft ar OF the insecurity of Government pro-:
perty on account of the earthquake at that
time Will never be known, nor can it be said
how the Danish Government would receive q
proposition for the purchase Ofthe island at
this lime, but it is believed to be favourable
to such a course. ST. Thomas is at present
suffering from a great depression IN trade;
due principally 10 the fact thar England
dlscTlminates against the island in favor of
her own possessions. The British Govern
ment will rot grant subsidies to steamship
line that does not make its headquarters for
coal supplies at some English port. Another
thing is that the slightest excuse is enough
to quarantine all their ports against ST,
Thomas, which is really one Of the healthiest
ports in the West Indies. The result is
that the Danish Government has had to
make good a deficit of $57, 900 the past year,
with the prospect of affairs growing worse
gather than better. Denmark has no use'
for colonies that are an expense TO the home
Government.
1t is true that very few of the West India
Islands are ~selfsSnpporting. But with the
possessions of the other Governments the
case is very different. England, Germany,
France, and Spain must have nnVal cOaling
stations for their fleets, just as the United
States must have in the near future, # our
new navy is to be of any use to US.
Germany to-day would give the price a
hundred times over we are asked for ST.
Thomas. And just this is the one g. eat rea.
son why the people here are so anxious that
the United States Shonld CESI the island.
They fear Germany, and they know she is or
has been treating for possession Denmark
has always governed them mildly and we'll,
but they know they have not the advantages
that would accrue 10 them were The island u
part Of the United States. They want AMeri-
can capital here to develop their deserted
plantations, they want free intercourse Wit!
the United States ioI their products.'
On the other hand, they offer to us q,
beautiful island about thirteen miles long
ly three miles wide, inclosirg probably the
finest harbour in the West Indies with wa.
ter deep enough for the largest ships. The
land running from the waters edge up TO an
altitude Of 500 feet at the highest point Of
fers opportunities for defense that would
render the island impregnable. 1t has not
inaptly been called the "Gibraltar of the
West Indies.
Nor is it a barren spot they offer us. The
town, numbering perhaps $4,000 inhabitants
is built upon the spurs of three hills sur
rounding the harbour. There is only level
ground enough fo1one or two streets paraTleIto
the water front, the rest running perpendicu-
larly over little better than steps in some
cases; in others they curveabout to make tile
ascent less abrupt Substantial houses these
are, too, many of them. Asmallpark nearthe
landing place and the fort Is beautifully
kept. Another park near the Governors
residence is for his private use, and then,
back of the hospital, there is alevel tractor
perhaps ten acres, which is theidrill ground
for the troops. The streets are beautifully
kept and the cutters lalI eiornied OF stone.
NJk nr.rT 49, 49, III