The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-20
THE UNITED STATES AND THE WEST
INDIES

Recent information from St IhomaS, one
of the Danish West Indies, states that adj
vices from the United States are read there
with great interest for two reasons, one of
which may be called serious and the other
frivolous. The first is because the people of
the islands think that the prospect of war
between the United States and Spain will
hasten the acquisition of the islands by the
United States. Practically everybody in
st. Thomas desires the annexation of the
islands to the United States, not because
Danish rule is harsh or inefficient, for it
is neither, but for economic and commercial
reasons The other reason why war news
from the United States is eagerly scanned
there is because society in st. Thomas is
exceedingly dull, eligible and companionable
young men being very scarce. and the
young women think that war would bring
the island some visiting war ships and
young men in naval uniforms, thereby
causing an access Of gayety which is great
ly desired by ST Thomas society.
The Danish islands in the West Indies are
St Thomas, st. John and st. Croix, or
Santa Cruz, three small islands lying a
short distance due east from Porto Rico.
Although not of very great value, they are
worth owning, and would have some
strategic Importance for the United States.
Denmark has been willing, even anxious,
to sell them to the United States for many
years past. They are of no great value to
her, and are too remote to be within the
scope of her political plans. AS long ago as
1867 treaty was concluded between the
governments of Denmark and the United
States regarding the sale of two of the
islands, st. Thomas and st. John, to the
United States. The price fixed upon was
81 800, 000-just 100000 more than the United
States paid in the same year for Alaska.
The Danish government was willing to sell
also the third island, Santa Cruz, but made
it dependent upon the consent of France,
which, for some reason or other, was not
given. The transfer of the other two
islands was made dependent upon a vote of
the people of the islands in favor of it. An
election took place in December, 1867 which
resulted in a vote of 1924 in favor Of the
transfer and q against it. A month later
both houses of the Danish Parliament
unanimously ratified the transfer and the
far as TO issue a proclamation couched in
very friendly terms, announcing the conclu-
sion of the treaty and expressing the hope
that the transfer of the islands to the United
States would be we'll received by all the
people. He concluded:
With sincere sorrow do we look forward
to the severment of those ties which for
many years have united you to us and the
mOIner
many demonstrations of loyalty and affec-
ton we have received from you, we trust
size to secure the future welfare of our be-
loved and faithful subjects, and that a
mighty impulse, both moral, and material,
VIII be given to the happy development of
the islands under the new sovereignty.
President Johnson sent the treaty to the
Senate, but it met with opposition In his
annual message of Dec. 8, 1868, President
Johnson said
The, acquisition of Alaska was made with
the view of extending national jurisdiction
ana republican principles in the American
hemisphere; Believing that further step
year entered into a treaty with the King
of Denmark for the purchase of the islands
OF St Thomas and st. John, on the best
terms then obtainable and with the express
consent Of the people of those islands This
treaty still remains under consideration in
the Senate. new convention has been en-
tered into with Denmark charging the
time hxed for final ratification of the origi-
nal treaty | am aware that upon
the question of further extending our pos
sessions it is apprehended by some that our
political system cannot successfully be ap-
phed to an area more extended than our
continent; but the conviction is apidly
gaining ground in the American mind that
with the increased facilities for intercom-
municatfon between all portions of the
earth the principles of free government as
embraced in our Constitution, if faithfully
maintained and carried out, would prove of
Tcrfh hrNn <1Nl
bend within their sphere and influence the
civilized nations of the world.
IL this was a good argument for the pur-
chase of st. Thomas thirty years ago, it is
much better one now for the acquisition
of Hawaii as a free gift Hawaii is far
moro valuable and desirable than ST.
Thomas and st. John islands, both COM
nercially and strategically, and the devel-
opment of the United States as a naval
power makes insular possessions far more
important now than formerly But Pres
ident Johnson's argument failed to impress
the Senate. The treaty was not ratified
and the proposed purchase fell through. No
doubt the King of Denmark felt some
chagrin at this outcome of the transaction
after his farewell proclamation to the peo-
sion on the subject. Within the last year
or two the proposition for the sale of the
islands to the United States has been re-
vived. 1t is said Denmark is quite as
anxious to sell them now as she was thirty
years ago, but it is doubtful if the United
States is more anxious to buy. There are
other islands in the West Indies much
larger, more valuable and nearer the United
States than st. Thomas and st. John.
which are steadily gravitating in our direc-
zion, and which will fall into our hands
when the time is ripe. BY right the United
States ought to own all of the West India
islands. In the event of war with Spain we
would have possession of Cuba and Porto
Rico inside of thirty days, and even with
out war Cuba must eventually become a
part of the United States.
THE MISSING WORD AND THE
MISSING SKINNER.
The postal authorities have recently in
terfered with the vocation of a citizen who
bears the somewhat suggestive name of