The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-09
Shall We Buy st. Thomas?

The Senate has again, by Mr.. LoDoE's
resolution OF inquiry. brought up for con-
alteration the proposed purchase OF the
Danish West Indies, basing this action on
tho reported desire of Germany to acquire
them for the same purposes as ours, namely.
use as . naval and coaling station.
Strictly speaking. the only one Of the
three islands we should need would be st.
Thomas, as this contains tho harbor of
Charlotte Amalie, one Of the best In the
Lesser Antilles. But the reason which
influences Denmark in desiring to dispose
OF her Caribbean possessions, namely. tho
cost of keeping them up, would lead her,
doubtless, to desire to get rid Of all together.
She would not like to maintain the expense
OF n colonial administration for q still
smaller community.
Indeed, when we once made a treaty with
Denmark on the subject, which the Senate
finally did not ratify, 1t was made to include
both st. Thomas and St. John; and the
reason given for emitting the remaining
island, Santa Cruz, from the negotiations,
was that the consent of France, under GER
tain treaty stipulations, was required for
their transfer, and It was deemed inadvis-
able to import this element into the then
pending negotiations. However. the ques-
ton OF the extent Of the acquisition would
come up as a detail, after reaching n do
cision as to making any acquisition at all.
Should we conclude to annex the Danish
Islands 1t might be from a combination Of
motives, as in the case OF our annexation OF
Alaska aud our contemplated annexation Of
| Hawaii, both OF them situated at a long dis
tance from our main domains. But the
ruling consideration would presumably be
that Of the naval and coaling station.
We nave long sought such a station in the
waters to the south OF us. At different
times we have tried to acquire Mole st.
Nicolas, on the Windward Passage, at the
western end Of Hayti; SANTANA Bay, near the
Mona Passage; Chiriqui Lagoon and Golfo
| Dolce, on opposite sides OF the Isthmus.
All Of these projects failed for various rea-
sons. and Hayti and San Domingo are
probably still as unwilling even to lease us
the harbors we sought as they have ever
been. The persistency Of these efforts shows
how strongly the Importance Of a station in
these waters appeals to us; and II the Mica
ragua Canal should be completed IL would
enhance that Importance.
III tHc t"So VI Sts hoiih We navy -
assurance that Denmark wants to sell 1t
and that the people want to join us. Thus
all uncertainty On points that might be
In question under other schemes Is re-
moved. Twenty years age, when Den
mark agreed to sell st. Thomas and st.
John, provided the inhabitants should con-
sent to the transfer, 1874 out OF 1896
votes, among those entitled to suffrage,
favored annexation. So overwhelming n
majority makes it practically certain that
the Islanders will be ready to come to us now.
Indeed, they know that Denmark is anxious
to part with them. and that they will be
better off under our rule.
Charlotte Amalie, the town OF st. Thomas,
has good anchorage, and would be all that
we should require as a naval station in that
part of the West Indies. The island Is
very small, and outside of the port would
present nothing OF value to acquire.
The town has paved and clean streets,
gas, railways, and telegraphic communica-
ton with the continent. 1t has its banks and
business houses, with the usual appoint
ments Of lonQ-settled towns, and Is familiar
to our navy as a coaling port and station.
As has often been noted, most Of our naval
VESSELS lrequentlnR tnosc WatcTb commence
cruising to windward.
No doubt there are disadvantages in st.
Thomas, among them being its liability to
hurricanes, while 1t has also been visited by
earthquakes. The droughts are frequent,
from the lack OF any running stream on the
island, and there is only one small spring.
It's food supplies have mostly to be imported,
and commercially st. Thomas is less i'm
portant than before the station for the
British transatlantic steamers was removed
to Jamaica.
For our purposes, however, the excellent
roadstead, the supply Of wharves, the ease
with which a dry dock could be established,
and the defensibility Of the port seem to
form sufficient advantages, while the posi-.
tion OF st. Thomas for strategic purposes is
also good. As to the price, although Mr..
SEWARD once offered 81, 500, 900 for st.
Thomas and st. John, it has recently been
surmised that SO, 900, 900 would buy all
three islands, and that st. Thomas might
be acquired for half that sum.
The alleged desire Of Germany for the
islands brings up an entirely different set OF
considerations, ana very grave ones. They
need not now be discussed, however, because
it Is we'll understood that Denmark for
various reasons prefers that the United
States, with which she originally dealt in
the transaction, should be the purchaser
and thus the primary question for us IL
whether we want the islands or not.