Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-23
CHARLOTTE AMALlA.

although she was very coy at first. and in
SISTED upon knowing just how much Uncle
pam was willing to pay for her West In
d nan Islands before proceeding further
Iiei minister was instructed TO obtain a
iepls, Wheh there interviewed that terrible
tragedy by which orr nation lost its Pres
ident, and Mr.. Seward himself was pros-
tidteu by the hand OF a would-be assassin
n natural dencacY prevented the subject
from being reopcned by the Danish minis
yer ana II was not until January 1865;
that Mr.. Seward, having meanwhile made
d voyage 10 the West Indies for the res
toration of his health, resumed the tenta-
1--WE negotiations. He had visited St Thomas
ana all his previous impressions of its be-
ing oeslr able acquisition for our govern
nent We're confirmed A basis of negotia-
tlon was finally secured and our minister
at Copenhagen was instructed to offer So
Uoo,oo) for the three islands-St Thomas
santa Cruz and st. John. This offer was
declined, but DenmS TX made a counter
proposition. Offering to cede the three is
lands for SO 900, or St. Thomas and ST
John for $10,0o0,oO0, with an option of
Santa Cruz for SJ,O00,o0O more. A compro-
mise was finally effected at 81 800 900 for
the two first named-St. Thomas and St
John. 1t was in July, 1861. that Mr. Sew
ard cabled to Copenhagen: Close with
Denmark's offer: st. John, st. Thomas,
seven and a half millions. Send treaty
ratified Immediately
But the Danes are a leisurely people, and
it was not until October that the treaty
was SlSutu COnCluueU. Meanwhile
there was question to the wishes Of
the inhabitants of the islands with refer
ence to transfer of allegiance, and an
agent was sent by each nation for the
purpose of taking u plebiscite. They ar
rived in St. Thomas about the middle of
November, 81; few days later occurred
a terrible earthquake and a tidal wave.
which have become matters Of historical
Importance inasmuch the tide of senti-
ment in the United States was doubtless
turned against the treaty. 1t is not known
that the island ever experienced a similar
visitation of such terrible character: it
certainly has never had one since. But
this was sufficient to set in motion all the
antagOnistic elements of earth and sea- as
If the very stars and planets fought against
the project.
Agreed to the Transfer.
Notwithstanding the predictions Of the
superstitious people of the island, however,
a vote was taken, which was nearly unani-
nous, for transfer to the authority of the
United States. Considering the preliminary
convention as binding equally upon both
parties to the agreement. the King of Den
mark had sent out, by his commissioner,
his royal proclamation, announcing the
severance of their relations, beginning:
I'VE, Christian the Ninth by the grace of
God King of Denmark (etc., etc. send to
our beloved and faithful subjects of st.
Thomas and ST. John our royal greeting.
We have resolved to cede our islands of ST.
Thomas and st. John to the United States
Of America, and have to that end, with
the reservation of the constitutional con-
sent of our rigsdad. concluded a conven-
ton with the President of the United
States" Concluding: with sincere sor-
row do we look forward to the severment
of those ties which for many years have
united you to us and the mother country
and, never forgetting the many demonstra-
lions of loyalty and affection we have re-
ceived from you we trust that nothing
has been neglected upon our side to secure
the future welfare of our beloved and faith
full subjects, and that mighty impulse,
both moral and material, will be given to
the happy development of the islands under
the new sovereignty. Commencing you to
God
Given at our palace of Amalienborg, the
18th of October, 1867 under our royal hand
and seal. CHRISTIAN, r."
The popular vote was taken on the 9th of
January, 1868, which was made a universal
holiday, and the American flag substituted
for the Danish on every point of promi-
nence, tower and hilltop.
The treaty was submittedst to the Danish
rigsdad. and by them promptly ratified, the
king aftixing his signature the same day,
June 80, 1868.
The position Of Denmark, acting in good
faith, and presupposing that the United
States would do the same, waAnow irrevo-.
cable. She had offended several of her
mightier neighbors, Germany, France, Eng
land, who looked upon this acquisition by
the United States as prejudicfal to their in
terests. :.
Over the subsequent proceedings we
must draw the veil Of charity, to avoid the
use Of harsher epithet; for the conclusion
OF this chapter is by no means creditabie
to the United States. Four months were
allowed for the ratification of the treaty
by our Senate, then extended to a year.
again extended, to the 14th Of April. 1870
when the committee Of foreign relations