Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-06-06
West Indian Islands Want
to Come In the Union.
REASONS GIVEN
United States is the Country That is
Their Chief Market and Can by
New Tariff Laws Reduce Them to
A State of Starvation.

Kingston, Jamaica, May 3o.-(Corre-
! srondence of the Associated Press)-The
abstract question of the political posi-
| bility and the Industrial and commercial
d~esirability of the annexation of the Brit
ish West Indies to the United States is
nothing new. As a matter of casual dis
cuss:on at least it has been On the cards
since 1867, when General Grant developed
the scheme for acquiring the Danish
islands. II. however, remained fer the
American conquest Of Cuba and Porto
Rico to awaken the English c%olonist to
a full realization of the outlook. The
A~mericanization Of those islands presents
a mysterious menace to the industrial
and commercial prosperity of their Brit
the English colonists should have been
attracted by Andrew Carnegie's sugses-
ton to exchange the British 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
Jamaica. 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 popu-
lation was SO marked that the annexa-
pleboscite. Consequently the matter was
speedily shelved. The continuing indus
trial decadence of the islands under the
unfair treatment Of the mother country
and the ever-growing menace of Cuba
and Porto Rico has again brought the
question into 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 principle
of half a loaf being better than no bread,
insists on securing commercial recip-
rocity with the United States, st. Kits
has come forward with a plebescite for
actual annexation. A. might lave been
expected, the West Indian
as a whole. being mostly in the hands Of
colOrel men, to whom the Very word
American is obnoxious, have denounced
the plebescite and endeavore1 to obscure
its Significance. Under these circum-
stances the St. kits annexationists
have issued a manifesto to the sister COL
onies. setting forth their position and
furnishing seven reasons why West
Indians should seek admission into the
United States. This manifesto, signed
by the most important men in the island,
has excited widespread attention. and
promises to bring the whole question to
an acute stage. Following is the text of
the reasons on which the annexation
movement is based:
l.. Because the persistent refusal Of
the British government, IN spite of g
years agitation, petitions and appeals o.
various kinds, to do simple justice tt
them in the matter of the sugar boun
ties has reduced the people to poverty
and despair, and has released them from
all claim to loyalty and grateful allie
glance to the mother country.
,. Because the expensive and eXtrav
agant administration maintained in III
colonies against the will Of the peopl
entails heavy and oppressive taxatio,
which Is entirely out of proportion to tn
slender and woefully reduced means 0
the Inhabitants.
3. Because the contiguity Of tn
islands to the United States makes tn
latter country the natural Market 70
their produces, and as the bulk of the ex
ports goes to the United States, it i
only a question of time for the bulk O
the imports to come from there also.
4. Because in a very short time tn
population of the United States vii
numbe 100, 600, 600, and as Americans ar
among the largest consumer of sugar il
the world. Incorporation with the Unite
States would guarantee the West Indie
a permanent, remunerative market 70
their staple product, in which they woul
find protection from unfair competition
5. Because the population of tn
United States is essentially English, flu.
political liberty and equal rights of citi
zenship and the birthright Of all, ire
spective of race, creed or class is guar
anteed.
6. Because at any time the Unite
States government may, by a change i
their tariff law, discriminate against tn
West Indies, and there being no othe
available market for the staple produc
in these islands, the people are liable t
be reduced at any moment to starvation
This precarious and absolute depend
ence upon the grace of a foreign govern
ment is very undesirable and Shout
come to an end.
Z. Because, with an insured, protecte
market in the United States and unde
the stimulus of American energy an
American capital, industry would re
vive, trade generally would improve, tn
demand and the remuneration for labo
would increase, the wholesale exodus c
the cream Of the population which is no,
taking place would be arrested. the clou
Of poverty and depression, which hang
like a pail over the island, would b
lifted and all classes would be richer
happier, better off and more cOntente
than they are under the homeless and dc