The times., 1898-09-12
THE FUTURE. OF JAMAICA
The Question: of It's Annexa-
tion by This Country.
ITS PEOPLE ARE WILLING
A Leading Newspaper of the Island
An AnglO-SaxOn Who Thinks Ja-
maicn Cannot Continue as 1t r.
Influences That Favor Annexation

A writer, who signs himself Anglo.
Saxon, and who is now at Kingston. In
Jamaica, sends to the Chicago Times
Herald an interesting statement about
the annexation question. He says:
From time TO time during the last
twelve months the idea of the annexation
or Jamaica to the United States has been
broached by correspondents writing for
the English and also the colonial press.
Several months ago one of the members
| of our legislative council. while on visit
to England. was reported in the English
press as favoring this Idea quite decided
ly. But until very recently this proposal
to sever the long-existing relations OF
Jamaica with England cannot be said ia
be taken at all seriously
The close of the late very remarkable
war, however, with the new relations tc
exist between America and the islands oi
Porto Rico and Cuba, has created wide
ly prevalent conviction that the interests
of Jamaica imperatively demand that this
island must be placed on as favorable
| footing as the sister Islands, CONNER
cially, to avoid very serious loss. if not
absolute disaster. The leading newspaper
of the islands has the following brief
news item:
4" a movement is on foot for the an
nexation of Jamaica to the United States.
we understand that Il petition is TO be
drafted and circulated, with the view of
obtaining the signatures of those favora-
bic to the proposal. The promoters of
the movement believe that the people of
the country generally will agree to the
scheme when its advantages are pointed
out to them. The petition, when signed,
will be forwarded to her majesty
'The remarkable thing is that the pa
per makes this mention of so grave
matter without word of censure or pro-
test. Another paper. which has been
looked upon as one of the three most in
fiuential papers In Jamaica, discusses the
mattery very cautiously, but under the
ominous heading. Annexation or Annihi-
lation.' So far no one of recognized influ-
ence and high position has championed
this movement 1t may eventually develop
into something OF Importance. but at
present it seems TO be put out as a feeler
and to be intended main5y us a means of
influencing the English authorities. There
does not appear TO be the least foundation
for a hope that the English government
will impose countervailing duties upon
foreign sugar, so as to Increase the value
| of sugar grown in her colonies but there
| is possibility of obtaining subsidies to
steamships as fruit carriers, which, ii Is
| believed by many, viii make England
| available as a market for Jamaica fruit;
and there is also possibility of obtaining
| larger loans on easy terms for establish
| ing central factories, whereby sugar
could be produced. at less expense than
now and the sugar industry possibly put
| upon a remunerative basis.
at appears to me TO be an unthink-
| able conclusion that jamaica can remain.
| for any length of time, in an unpros-
| porous condition The soil is fertile the
| climate is Of the best, the variety of
| products is large. and the necessary ex-
| penses of the laborer for the mainten-
ance of vigorous life are small. and there
| is now such a degree of intelligence on
| the part of the laboring classes that there
| Will be found little difficulty in training
| them to use improved methods and proc
| esses in producing and preparing for
| market those products of the soil which
| will prove most profitable.
| 1.-The success of the Boston Fruit Com.
pany has been an object lesson to the
| people of Jamaica that has not been un-
| needed The Americans constituting this
! company have shown what can be accom-
| plished by intelligent and thrifty enter
prise, and have steadily extended the
| range of their cultivation, and have now
| so large an acreage established in fruit
| and purchase fruit to such a large eX-
| tent that they are credited with main
| tanning in prosperity three of the fourteen
/ parishes of the island.
| The question is agitating the people o
! those parishes whether under the changed
conditions the Boston Fruit Company vii
not cease any further expansion in ia
| maica, or will not even contract its opera
| tions and eventually abandon this island
altogether and transfer all it's enterprise:
and energy to Cuba If the people should
| become convinced that the latter result i!
almost certain, unless Jamaica is placed
| on an equal status with Cuba with re
| spect to the American market, the move
ment in favor of annexation would re
ceive a mighty impetus.
| 'The most influential men of Jamaica
1 are so far, holding aloof from the move
| ment, and If England responds to any
| adequate extent to the appeals for ait
| that have been sent forward the move
ment will not reach the point of seriou:
| consideration. And no one will indors.
| the movement as something desirable il
| itself for the people of Jamaica are loya
| to England, and satisfied, as they have
4 every reason 10 De- Win the stable aNt
| just government they have enjoyed under
| English rule.
This feeling of satisfaction Is all tn.
| deeper because of the contrast in thi.
| particular, between Jamaica and tn,
neighboring islands, Cuba and Haiti
! This loyal feeling, however. has no
| struck its roots so deep as If Jamaic;
were an integral part of England, insteac
| of being 5000 miles away; and If tn,
| time shall come when Jamaica asks an,
| England comedies that transfer t.
| America is necessary for the prosperity
of Jamaica, the transfer can be mad
without any violent wrench to the feeline
of loyalty that undoubtedly exists.
| "Of course, so far as that feeling de
pends upon sympathy with Representative,
! forms of government, with the literatur,
| of the English language. with Englisl
| educational institutions, there will be NJ
wrench whatever; and very many of The
| people will hardly be conscious of an,
| difference resulting from a transfer o
! allegiance from England to America.
Indeed, the signs are many that er
| long among all English-speaking peopl,
one will feel almest equally at home
| whether under the banner of ST. George
the flag of thousand-years, or under OF,
| Glory
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