Washington sentinel., 1898-04-02

| StaHaGra-London, March IS.
The House of Commons decided BY
large majorities last night in favor Of
assisting the West Indies by substantial
grants IN aid, as was recommended by
the Royal Commission. The particular
vote agreed upon was for one hundred
and twenty thousand pounds, to make
good certain deficits in some OF the
smaller Islands, and to provide for the
construction of roads and for the settle.
ment of the Creole population upon the
land. Last nights debate showed
that the two front benches have joined
forces. Whatever be the fortunes OF the
sugar industry, an effort must be made
to develop these colonies by works of
public utility, by giving the Creoles &C.
cess to the land, and by teaching them
how to cultivate il. We need not discuss
the particular cases OF Dominica and st.
Vincent. The purposes for which the
vote was granted are not peculiar to
those islands The inhabitants are
descendants Of the negroes whom our
torefathers brought from West Africa to
work in the sugar plantations. They
have better title to help from us than
natives whom we have conquered on
their own ground. In other West Indian
colonies there is also a large Asiatic
population. For these we are bound 70
make provision, should the sugar estates
in which they are lndentured De aban.
doned. Their contract is with the plant
ers through the Government, and for its
due performance the Imperial authori.
ties are ultimately responsible
In so far as general ruin IS imminent in
any part Of these possessions, the fault
lies with the Mother Country. For many
years she has seen the sugar industry
tottering to its fall: but she has let mat
ters drift, her statesmen being too
Indifferent to come TO Parliament for
money to throw open the islands and the
interior OF Guiana to the Creole and to
the British capitalist. The era ofneglect
has passed. Last nights debate and
division will convince Mr.. Chamberlain
that with the exception of the few sur.
vivors OF the policy of cutting the
colonies adriit, the House of Commons
is in accord with the Government IN
their efforts to avert disaster from the
West Indies and broaden the basis of
commercial prosperity.
Daily Chy0Eicle--London, March IS.
We are brewing for ourselves fresh
difficulties. simply because West India
planters, owing to their slowness in the
Introduction Of modern methods OF
treating the cane, have not made sugar
growing pay, and have equally failed in
"iruit, cocoa and Coffee" Other colon
les make fruit, cocoa and coffee" pay,
but because the West India islands do
not, the home taxpayer, who only wants
his sugar, "fruit, cocoa and coffee" at
the lowest prices he can get them, is to
subsidize particular colonies to produce
them at the expense of others. Lord
Salisbury has said that we cannot give
up free trade, but Mr.. Chamberlain does
not sit at the feet of Lord Salisbury. He
ANS ~NNhNA bCNOnAG All ally Oh II
Chaplin. We are astonished that
any member OF the front opposition
bench could be found to advocate what
Mr.. Courtney rightly called this "dole,"
even on the specious plea of coming 20
the assistance OF these colonies" Our
old principle, as he said. was to make
each colony pay its way, and the West
India islands could have paid their way
but for gross extravaganza in expendi-
ture and want of enterprise in trading.
Now we are embarking on a policy of
subsidies, the direct consequence of
which. let the people OF the United
Kingdom clearly understand, is protec-
tlOn first in principle and not long after
in practice. And that, of course, means
dearer food and dearer clothing for the
people OF England, Scotland and Ireland.
many OF whom are in a far worse condi.
tion than even the negroes of the West
India Islands.