The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-06-06
A STRONG CASE.
Made Out by the People of st. Kits
For Annexation.

Correspondence of Associated Press)
\ Kingston, Jamaica, May 3O-The alb
Stract question of the political posi-
bility and the industrial and commercial
desirabilitY of the annexation of the
British West Indies to the United States
is nothing new. AS a matter of casual
discussion, at least, it has been on the
cards since 1867, when General Grant
developed the scheme for acquiring the
Danish islands.
It, however remained for the Ameri
can conquest of Cuba and Porto Rico
to awaken the English colonists to a
full realization of the outlook. The
AmericaniZation of those two islands
presents a most serious menace to the
industrial and commercial prosperity
of their British neighborS and it is only
natural that the English colOniStS should
have been attracted by Andrew Car
negie'S suggestion to exchange the Brit
ish West Indies for the Philippines.
AS far back as August of last year
the question of securing annexation to
the United States was mOoted in ia
maica- Nothing came of it, however,
plebescite was suggested in planting
circles and the commercial community
was not wanting in sympathy with the
proposal But on the other hand, the
extreme antagonism of the colored pop
ulatiOn was so marked that the most
enthusiastic annexationists realized the
then impracticability of a plebescite
Consequently the matter was speedily
ShelVed.
The continued Industrial decadence of
the islands under the unfair trea tment
of the mother country and the ever
growing menace of Cuba and Porto
Rico has again brought the question in
to prominence. In this case it is the
island of St. kits that has taken the
initiative and made some definite move.
While Jamaica on the principal of half
a loaf being better than no bread, in
sists in securing commercial reciprocity
with the United States. ST. Kits has
come forward with a plebiscite asking
for actual annexation.
AS might have been expected the
West Indian newspapers, as a whole,
being mostly in the hands of colOred
men, to whom the very word American
is obnoxious, have denounced the pie
biscite and endeavored to obscure it's
significance. Under the circumstances
the St. Kits lamentations have issued
manifesto to the sister colonies setting
forth their position and furnishing seven
reasons why West Indians should seek
admission into the United States
This manifesto, signed by the most
prominent men in the island, had ex-
cited widespread attention, and prom
1ses to bring the whole question to an
acute stage. Following is the text of
the reasons on which tn annexation
movement is based:
because the persistent refusal of
the British government, in spite of thir-
ty years of agitation, petitions and APP
peals of various kinds. to do simple JUS
tice to them in the matter of the sugar
bounties, has reduced the people to
them from all claim to loyal and CRATE
full allegiance to the mother country
2-BecauSe the expensive and extraV-
agant administration maintained in the
colonies against the will of the people
entails heavy and oppressive taxation
which is entirely out of proportion TO
the slender and woefully reduced means
of the inha bitantS.
3-Because the contiguity of the is
lands to the United States makes the
latter country the natural market for
their products, and as the bulk of the
exports goes to the United States, it is
only a question of time for the bulk of
the imports to come from there also.
population of the United States will
number 100, 600 900 and as Americans
are among the largest consumers of su-
gar in the world, incorporation with the
United States will guarantee the West
Indies a permanent, remuneratiVe mar
ket for their staple product, in which
they would find protection from unfair
competition.
because the population of the Uni
ted States is essentially English and
under republican institutions, full polit-
zeal liberty and equal rights of citizen
ship and the 'birthright of all, irrespec-
tive of race, creed or class is assured.
6-Because at any time the United
in their tariff law, discriminate against
the West Indies, and there being no
other available market for the staple
product in these islands, the people are
liable to be reduced to starvation at
any moment. This precarious and alb
solute dependence on the grace of a