The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-15
The British West. Indies and Porto
Rico.

All the sugar-growing islands in the
British West Indies took part in the con-
ference which met lately in Barbados.
The members professed loyalty to the
British Grown, but some did not conceal
the opinion that the only practicable solu-
ton Of the industrial problem with which
they are confronted is annexation to the
United States. This view Of the situation
will be pressed home with tremendous force
after Porto Rico has begun to reap the
economic benefits of union.
The resolutions passed by the conference
declared that the imperial grants proposed
by Mr.. CHAMRERnAnN, the Secretary for the
Colonies, were appreciated, but that, at the
best, they would only serve as ~palliatives
for the economic catastrophe into which
the British West Indies have been plunged
by the refusal Of the mother country to
give to the staple product of those colo
MES that equality of opportunity In the
home markets of which they are deprived
by foreign bounties On beet-root. sugar.
That equality Of opportunity can only be
obtained in one Of two ways: First, by In
| ducing the countries Of Continental Europe,
from which beet-root sugar is exported, to
abolish the bounty system; or, secondly, by
imposing such customs duties upon sugar
imported from foreign countries into Great
Britain as will enable the producers Of that
commodity in the British colonies to COM
pete upon equal terms.
The abolition Of bounties Is out Of heques-
tion /; the Brussels Conference, which was
called blythe opponents Of the system, came
tonothing, owing to the refusal Of France
and Russia to acquiesce in the proposal.
1t is also most improbable that the Brit
ish Parliament will ever consent TO tax the
tens Of millions Of sugar nsume in the
United Kingdom for the benefit OF the
planters of sugar cane in the British West
Indies. It Is absurd to suppose that any
government. which desires to remain in
power at Westminster, would undertake to
do for the relatively few producers Of sugar
In the colonies what IL would refuse to do
for the relatively numerous producers Of
food staples In Great Britain itself. Solong
as the wheat growers OF the United Kingdom
are left unprotected against the competition
Of the United States and Argentina, 30 long
must the sugar-caDe growers Of the West
Indies expect to remain unprotected against
the bounty-fostered beet sugars Of the Con-
tinent, which are sold In the English market
for less than the cost Of production. This
IL tantamount to saying that there Is abso-
lutely no hope for the West Indies so long
as they remain dependencies OF the Brit
ish Grown, for 1t Is acknowledged by the
spokesman Of both political parties In Great
Britain that In that country the principles
Of free trade will never be renowned. The
delegates Of British Guiana In the confer
ence were. therefore. entirely justified In
saying that the c~olonists were being ruined
because they had the misfortune to be Brit
ish subjects. The representative from An
tigua did not hesitate to express the CON.
viction that 1t would be preferable for that
colony to transfer its allegiance to another
power than to die Of starvation.
II this Is the view taken of the situation
even now by somerBritish colonists, how
much more widely is 1t likely to be enter
tanned when the formal annexation OF Porto
Rico to the United States shall nave borne
fruit In the development Of the islands
natural resourcesT The moment Porto
Rico shall have become a Territory in the
Union. 1t will acquire that priceless right OF
absolute freedom Of trade with all the other
parts OF the republic which Is shared by
every State and Territory. That Is to
say, its sugar, its coffee, It's tobacco, It's
fruit and the products Of its forests
will be admitted to our markets duty
free, whereas similar commodities from
the British West Indies, being subject to
duties. will be practically excluded from
composition. This will mean to jamaica,
for example. not only the loss Of whAt sugar
export trade 1t still retains. but also the
loss Of the banana trade with this country,
which has been carefully built up, and
at present is worth about a much as the
sugar trade.
Notonly will the Increased export Of Porto
Rioan staples to the United States pHdeE