New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-04
THE BRITISH WEST INDIES.
HOW BARBADOS ENFORCED TIE DEMAND
FOR RECIPROCITY.

BRITISH AUTHORITY FALLEN INTO LOW ESTATE
THE WEST INDIA COMMITTEE AND ITS RE
LATION 10 COLONIAL GOVERNMENT.
FROM AsrAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THR TRIBUNE
Bridgctown, Barbados, British West Indies Dec "a.
Undoubtedly the able men representing these
islands in the reciprocity negotiations at Wash
ingtOn have been eloquent in their story of West
Indian poverty and distress. They have shown
that sugar is no longer a gold mine, and that the
value Of estates has been steadily declining for
twenty years. They have made much of the fact
that their duties are imposed for revenue purposes
only, and that discriminate is intended
against American trade. But | think the PEG
pie here are most a9reeably disappointed at tie
American Governments mildness. They did not
expect to get off easily. The arguments made
at Washington Were regarded. TO he sure. as eX.
ceedingy strong. They had been repeated so
often that everybody had got them we'll in mind,
and the real facts were not understood at all.
Nobody had troubled himself to analyze the tariffs
and TO figure out the fact that that sixty per cent
of their customs revenue were derived from thirty
per cent-that is the American part-of their i'm
port trade Everybody, however, was alive to the
fact that the United States were the islands best
customer | have already explained that in the
Crown colonies there is practically no public sen
timent. Whatever the Government says, goes. =
and the Government, until these Barbadians be
gan to show their teeth, was firmly set against
making any concessions to America. This is
proved in a hundred ways-frst by the attitude
Of the official classes in each and every one Of
these colonies, by Sir Henry Balse's pompous talk
last summer in London. by Lord Knutsford S
studied omission to acknowledge the receipt of
the Barbadian Legislatures address last April,
and BY the reports sent back TO the colonies by
friends and business correspondents in England.
As late as last August business firm here was in
formed by distinguished Englishman with whom
it in communication that Lord Salisbury did
not perceive the necessity of any special trade
arrangements between the colonies and the United
States and the opinion emphaticaly given
that none would be made.
In some of the colonies though, and in this
one most of all, public sentiment is strong The
Barbadians have history, and they are proud of
il. Their patriotism is intense-for Barbados.
In this respect they are like tie French of Mar
Unique. They love their little island. and are
keenly jealous of their Constitution. They
have peculiar form of sef-government. unlike
that of Canada and Australia, but substantial.
quickly responsive 10 their will, and sufficiently
buItressed against Downing Street influence to en-
able them TO speak their minds and do their
pleasure without fear Of Iovernors or Colonial
had trouble with England. Once they actually
shipped an obnoxious official home in dry
goods box with bill of lading addressed to the
British Government. Only few years ago they
returned their Governor, Sir John Pope Hennessy-
of recent Irish fa.ne-to Mr. Dlsraeli with their
respectful compliments and the information that
he was undertaking to overturn their CONSTITUTIONS
which, as free-born Britons, they could not see
their way to tolerate. These are incidents IN
their history that show the character of the
Barbadians. They are loyal TO the Queen. When
she has birthday marries of prince they
send her nice little address, and she sends back
her thanks. But they retain control Of their
own finances vote their supplies, fix the salaries
of their officials and hold their heads erect
They render unto Caesar those things that are
Caesars, but they warn him from time 10 Time
that he mustn't be greedy
The Barbadians watched Mr.. Blaines Cuban
negotiation with keen attention. When they saw
il about TO eliminate in treaty they prepared Tor
action The Governor here at that time was
Sir Walter Sendall, a man well thought OF. Ills
administration had been regardiul oil Broadiah
sentiment and useful in promoting the colony >
interest In his annual message to the Legs
lature Of 1891, LIE called attention to The Mchlh-
ley bill and its reciprocity offer. Ills ren&~s
were studiedly impartial, but none the lehs sl9hh
cant He pointed ont that In 1890 the Chlted
STATES had furnished a market 10 'l,o'o hoss
heads of Muscovade sugar from Barbados OF
81 DER cent of it's entire production he said that
recent departures in American law and American
departmental administration had placed that mar
ket in jeopardy that American cane production
WAS already Is per cent of the production achieved
before the war, and annually increasing thaO
Mr. Rusk whom he described as the " able ana
energetic Secretary of the new American bcpar|
ment of Agriculture, had been pressing 'he
subject Of sugar-bcet growing upon the farmers
and had succeeded, with tie powerful ana ol
bounty, in plishing enough 10 JUSTIFY 'aisc
claims Of it's possible success that In aadiuoh u
5oese disquietipg circumstances congress hau
l.telv nassed a most singular enactment the
reciprocity clause-which he proceeded I" de-
scribe adding that within his knowledge no sucI
power as it conferred upon President Harrison I'M"
ever before been entrusted 10 the head Oh
constitutional State"
Sir Walter reminded his Legislature oil the WISH
they had lately had the honor OF receiving ironi
Mr. Foster, the Canadian Minister OIL fIhanoc'
whose peripatetic adventures among the British
West Indies have heretofore been described III
The Tribune, and he SAID he had just received a
letter from Mr. Foster Offering to reduce LANA
dian duties on West Indian sugar and molssses IN
return for the reduction Of West Indian duties on
Canadian -four and Ash. Sir Walter did not sug-
pcst that Mr.. Foster out of his mind, but ne
mentioned that the British islands had produced In
1880 a total of 10000 tons OF sugar, and CANADA
had consumed in that year $4,000 tons lie said
it was a vast and progressive country but he
inquired what TO he done with the surplus
10000 tons of sugar when the Canadian market
had been fllly stocked. He concluded his
message by stating that lie had "ventured" 70
address Her Majeety's Government concerning he
licKinIey bill legislation, suggesting 10 Lord
Knutsford that copy of the Barbadian tarin be
sent 10 Mr. Blaine 10 elicit the information OF