, 1896-02-19

be furnished by the admirable harbour of ST..
Thomas. 1t is now reported that Denmark
would be willing again to part with the IS
lands. The editor Of one of the leading
Danish newspapers, who has lately been in
the United States, said in an interview that
Denmark would be glad to sell the islands,
which we're an expense TO her and had no
special value for her. He also said that while
Denmark would prefer to sell the islands to
the United States, If the United Sta IS did
not purchase, his country might be induced
to sell them TO Germany OF some other Euro
p can power
at seems to me that this is a serious matter
and one with which the United States orght
to doal At once. 1t is, in the first place, very
important that We should have in the West
Indies a good naval coaIing station. and his
has been recognized for many years by sue
CessivB Administrations.
but there is also involved the far more
important question Of our general policy.
The possessions Of a small European power
are a constant danger, because they may at
any moment be offered to some Of tile great
powers of Europe, and their transfer would
bring up very p~crllouS questions, which It
would be we'll to avoid. 1t isl II the interests
of the United States that there should b. no
opportunity offered for any of the great pow
els of Europe to secure additional territory IN
lhe Americas. We should, of course, resist
such transfers AS violations Of the Monroe
Doctrine. because they would disturb the oon-
dition of territorial ownership in the Ameri-
cas- existing ct the time when that doctrine
Was declared.
but it would be much safer and better to
avoid raising any such questions at all by
taking ourselves the possessions # q power
like Denmark by peacsable cessiou and al.
rangemsnt between the Danish Government
and our own. If such q treaty could be made,
il ought, if possible, to include all the Da-
nish possessions III the Americas, none Of
which are valuable to them, but which are
all important to us. These Danish posses
sioua consist of the three West India islands
Of st. John, St. ihum ~ and st. Crolx and
Greenland.
The three islands have an area of about
t42 square miles and a population Of about
5000. Three fourths OF the population are
negroes and the rem timing one-fourth are
Danish and English. Sugar is raised on the
islands, and there is a considerable trade with
them. Greenland has all area Of $4,000
square miles and a population Of oyer 10000
which is composed Of Danes and Esquimaux.
The reason, for acquiring the three West
Indian Islands apart from the question of
genartl policy, which ! have stated, is obvi-
oHs IN the fact that they furnish an admira-
bic naval station for IFS in the fact that they
furnish an admirable naval station for us III
the West Indies and have a small popula-
ton. In regard to Greenland it may be ask
what object there would be in our possess
ing that cold and barren region. The same
question was asked when Mr.. Seward made
the Sarchass Of Alaska, and that acquisition
was a good deal laughed at at the time. No
one now, I think, would qnestion the far
sighted wisdom of Mi. Stewards action. In
the first place, it saved a large portion of the
North American Continent from passing into
other hands than ,urs; and in the second
place, Alaska under American Owner ship has
become of great value and her prodno-
ton of gold in a single year more than
exceeds all that Mr.. Seward paid for it.
81 do not suppose it can be said certainly
whether there is mineral wealth in Green
land or not. although should suppose it was
quite possible" But in any event it is a
portion Of the American Continent in a
very important position geographically, and
it is much better III every way that it should
and in 10 danger Of passing into the hands Of
any one else. Both the islands and Green
land can easily be managed by making them
a Territorial government. There is no pos
sibility that either of them could become
C+otoe AMI uudar the TarritoriaI form IF