New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-07
TIE TO BUY ST. THOMAS.
Sc aErARY Stewards ATTEMPT TO SE-
IRE 1T FOR THE UNITED STATES.
AID rHA1. PoGTERs REPORT RECOMMENDING ITS
PURcHAsE-Now THE ATTEMPT
WAS DEFEATED.

PuncTiAsE-How THE ATTEMPT
WAS DEFEATED.
- ,.w n, N. immlnence of war between this
country and Spain. Senator Lodges bill for the
nurchssc Of the Island OF s.. Thomas, which was
favorablv reported by the Committee on Foreign
Relations the other day. but was Withdrawn TOT tne
time being because OF lack OF general support IN
the Senate is still Of more than usual interest
Naval authorities are agreed on the Importance
Of having a naval base and coalins station lor
American soips in tho West Indies. and the stua-
tim of ST Thomas renders 1t the most advantageous
that be secured.
The desra billy Of acquiring this island became
evident to Mr. Lincoln and his Cabinet during the
civil War The United States did not possess
s,ncle one OF all the islands OF tho Caribbean sea-
All the great commercial Powers OF the world ex-
cent tho United States were the owners or Colo
MES there. with convenient ports from "ncn' !"
case of hostile relations with the United STATES
their ships might issue to destroy American co'-
merce and ravage the Atlantic Coast
The recognition OF the Confederate states nv
England France and Spain had opened the west
India ports OF these nations 10 the prlvateers anu
blockade runners Of the Southern states anu
Nassau and other ports became vast storehouses
whence arms ammunition and all kinds or needeo
supplies were furnished the Confederacy' Inc
governments OF these countries stretched the pro-
visions Of international law In favor OF tho soutn
and all their colonies In the West indies eagerly
welcomed the Confederate prlvateers, ana py theif
friendly Offices enabled Semmes and his coheasues
70 operats agans: tho commerce or the Ohi'eu
State. with an energy that soon swept It from the
American seas Mr. Lincoln and his Secretary or
state Mr. Seward made up their minds tnat tne
hes. remedy for this condition or anairs WIS 'n'
ACQUISITION by the United States OF one or more
islands in the West Indies that had safe and con-
,or,.r, harho-s They called Vice-Admiral Porter
into consuI,ation and. after a thorough eXamina-
ton Of the subject no submitted an exhaustive
renort in which he recommended the purchase OF
the Danish group in the Virgin Islands OF wnich
St Thomas is tho chief In this report he said;
st, Thomas RICH, in the track Of all we yssfes
cinc Ocean bound 10 the West lndan isianus OF
10 .ng A odb for SUPPLIES when needed coming
from any OF the above stations II IL ccntrhi
s G.n' .' cam be assaed while impervlous 70
attack from landing parties ana can o" ,o', ,nnn
Of S. Thomas is nmos, circular. the entrance trance
being by neck guarded by TWO hesvy iSa,s WT for
cirn Power car ever hope TO take It. 81 Thomas
. snail Gbrosr Of orcs rh aTa wo"a re
possibility Of landing troops thsre as tho Island p Is
near which vessel or boat could approach Is
natural fertilization. and only reaure,s guns WIZ
ro harhor In the West indies better fitted than ST
homa, or naval staten T aas hS w nne
and would contain ell the vessels OF the larges,
navy in n. world where they would % pro.scars
ar,n., an enemy In fn. ST. Thomas I, tho key
stone TO tn. arch Of me VEST Inn,ss ~ ,han 70
any other nation.
NEGOTIATIONS OPENED WITH DENMARK
TIT, rcpor. determined Mr.. Lincoln and his Cao
re, upon tho immediate acquisition or the Danish
islands and IN January. 1855. Mr.. Seward opened
negotiations with IN. Danish Minister. General
pa,l-or Tn. nrs, stop an Informal intmauon
TO him OF the desire OF this Government TO puF-
chase them.
IN. Danish Government Ind shortly before been
obliged 20 submit 70 tho huma,irg treaty OF
Vienna signed October %. 1854. by which KING
,-h-.,ian TX surrendered scheswir fiolsein. there
bv rel,nquishing one-hrd OF his territory and two
arms ~ his subiccts The Ministry felt that this
vo. no limo 20 negotiate for the surrender OF an
other part % tho already dismembered Kingdom
and in reply 10 Mr.. Stewards intination they re-
turn.i an absolute refusal even TO consider tho
question.
IN tho winter OF 1866 Secretary Seward visited
tho West Indies for the benefit Of his health and
while .h,r- investigated FOR himself tho condition
ard advantages @, ne islands He was SO much
Impressed by what ho learned that on his return
IN urged upon President Johnson tho importance |
0, making another effort to obtain them His rep
r,.-n,ations convinced Johnson and In July, 1866 |
NJ Seward made through General Raalson
formal offer 70 Denmark OF SooooO for the Islands
OF 81, Thomas 81, John and Santa Cruz Soon
after this oner was made EsasoH returned 20
X
taken place ard 1iberdl Ministry mao succeeded
the Conservative Cabinet.
or this Ministry RaalsoN was mado Minister OF
War and he once began TO exert his influence
with the Minister OF Foreign Affairs. Count Frijis
IN favor OF selling the islands The Danish treas
my was empty and tho most important sortresses
Ind been almost destroyed by the Prussian and
Austrian armies in the recent war. Their rcstora-
ton was absolutely necessary TO the safety OF tho
Kingdom the people were In no condition TO re-
spond 10 increase OF taxes. and the Ministry
recognized that IL sale Of their West India Islands
va. the only means OF obtaining the necessary
funds While the Ministry were slowly arriving at
this lnwclcous conclusion the United states Gov
errrncnt was becoming impatient. Il was known
that Germany ana France opposed tho transfer
and that the English Cabinet. with i;s accustomed
foresight was exerting all s influence TO defeat It,
q, January 70 1851 Mr. Ycaman the American
Minister at Copenhagen. received this dispatch
from Mr.. Seward:
Tell Raasor haste important"
Yeaman communicated this to Raalsofr. and. IN
reply TO a question from him TO whether Con-
ercss would approve a treaty OF purchase made by
the President told him thu, he thought There
could not possibly be any dnicu,y about that. rs
Congress would assuredly not refuse the necessary
approprlation TO execute the treaty"
Meanwhile tho President was concluding a treaty
with Russia for the purchase OF Alaska FOR $500
90 which treaty was promptly ratified by the
Senate on June 90 1867. That body had therefore
sanctioned the policy OF annexation, and II seemed
reasonable that It would promptly approve
treaty which would acquire territory so essential
to the National welfare as the Danish islands. Nj
Sumner chairman of the Committee Foreign
Relations, In discussing the Alaska treaty. had
said
Now that tho treaty has been signed by plenipo
tentiarcs each side. duly empowered. It Is dim
cult To how refuse TO complete the pur-
chase without putting to hazard the friendly rela-
tons which happily exist between the United States
he
from III. After delay OF years the bargain was
a, length concluded II IS with nations as 1t Is
with individuals 4 bargain once made. must he
kept Even II stl omen to consideration. II must
not be lightly abandoned. ! am satisfied that the