The sun., 1895-04-20
ouBxy INDEPENDENCE


sueeested By Beninr,in rrsnkiiu In 17ea.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sr: The ref
| erence in recent editorial article OF THE Sun
| to the position taken by Thomas Jefferson and
| John Quincy Adams in regard to Cuba calls to
| mind letter written by BENJAMIN Franklin.
| more than q century ago, while engaged rs a
| Commissioner to conclude the treaty OF peace
with Great Britain. Under date Of Jan. Ii, that
year, he submitted to Richard Oswald, then In
Paris as the representative Of the British Gov
ernment in the negotiations, paper on The
Naturalization Of the Sugar Islands," contain
ing very Ingenious argument in behalf of the
establishment OF the independence and neu-
tralty Of the sugar islands Of the West Indies,
under the protection of all the powers of Europe
At that timo France, Holland, and Spain, as
well as this country, were Mt war with England.
and they had agreed among themselves that the
treaties with her. though separate in form.
should bo simultaneous Ono of the most i'm
portant itoms OF these treaties to the European
powers was the disposition of the sugar islands,
many Of which had changed hands by capture
during the war. and the settlement OF this ones
tion was delaying the execution of the treaties.
greatly simplify matters TO declare them all in
dependent and neutral. and put them under the
protection of the powers of Europe.
The sage old man probably foresaw that such
own country, whose proximity to the islands
would give IL, In case OF such naturalization.
was not his cue to mention this consideration,
and the paper is silent as to 1t. His argument is
powers. in blood and treasure. OF maintaining
these possessions. On this subject he says:
celebrated philosophical writer remarks that
when he considered the made in Africa for pris
oners to raise sugar In America the number slain In
those wars, the numbers that being crowded in ships
perish In the transportation. and the numbers that die
under the severies OF slavery he could scarce look
on morsel of sugar without conceiving IL spotted
with human blood. II he had considered also the
blood OF one another, which the white nations shed
in fighting for those Islands, he would have imagined
his sugar not as spotted only but thoroughly dyed
red. On these accounts am persuaded that the sub
ccts Of the Emperor Of Germany and the Empress OF
Russia, who have no sugar islands, consume sugar
cheaper at Vienna and Moscow with all the charge of
transporting II after its arrival In Europe than the
citizens Of London or Paris And I sincerely believe
that II France and England TO decide. by throw
Ing dice. which should have the whole Of the sugar
Islands, the loser In the throw would be the gamer
The future expense OF defending them would be
saved; the sugar would bc bought cheaper by
all Europe II the inhabitants might make II
without Interruption; and whoever imported the
sugar. the same might be raised by
duties at the Custom House OF the nation that
consumed it. And, on the whole. conceive It
would be better for the nations possessing sugar
colonies to give up their claim to them, let them
govern themselves and put them under the protection
OF all the powers OF Europe neutral countries open
to the commerce OF all, the profits OF the present
monopolies being by no means equivalent to the
pense OF aintainlng them.
At that time the United States were struggling
for their own existence and could not undertake
the protection of any other country. Franklin
therefore suggested a European protectorate.
be found among the supporters OF an indepen-
sstss Indeed he did not s. and
WASHINGTON. April 18.