The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-06-07
ANNEXATION Is DESIRED
British West Indians Are Again AsitaIng
The Question.
WOULD BE BENEFITED IN MANY WAYS
Not Receiving Fair Treatment at
Hands of Britain.

Correspondence OF Associated Press.)
Kingston, jamaica, May SO.--The alb.
.tract question OF the political possibility
and the industrial and commercial desir-
ability of the annexation OF the British
West Indies to the United States is moth
ing new. AS 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.
1t, however, remained for the American
conquest Of Cuba and Porto Rico to awaken
the English colonlsts to a full realization
Of the outlook The Americanlzatlon of
these two Islands presents a most serious
menace to the Industrial and commercial
prosperity Of their British nelghbors and
1t IS only natural that the English colony
should have been attracted by Andrew
carnegie's suggestion 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 1t, however pebiscte
was suggested in planting circles and the
"n1p1 .IcI1l community was not wanting
Ia ogMs ahy with the proposal. But on the
o,Scr nand the extreme antagonlsm OF the
tci t5d pc pie was so marked that the
IN 81 enthusiastic anneXationists realized
the impfacJicabllity Of a pleblscite, Con-
'Cduently the matter was speedily shelVed.
The continued industrial decadence of
he 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 1t is the Island of st. Kits that
has taken the initiative and the definite
move Jamaica, on the principle that halt
loaf is better than no bread, insists on
securing commercial reciprocity with the
United States. St. Kits has come forward
with a plebiscite asking for actual annex
alton AS might have been expected, the
West Indian newspapers, as a whole, being
N silly in the hands of colored men, to
whom the very word American is obnoxi-
GUS have denounced the plebtsclte and
endeav1red 20 obscure Its significance. I'm
der the circumstances, the ST. Kits an
neXatonists 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 mCst prominent 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 is based
l. Because of the persistent refusal OF
the British government In spite OF thirty
years of agitation, petitions and appeals of
various kinds, to do simple justice to them
in the matter Of the sugar bounties, has re-
duced the people to poverty and despair
and has released them from all claim to
| loyal and grateful allegiance 10 the mother
country,
3 Because the expensive and extrava-
giant administration maintained in the col
onies 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 inhab-
itants
g. Because the contguIty Of the islands
( to the United states makes the latter coun
| try the natural market for their products
and as the bulk Of the exports 20 to the
United States It Is only question OF time
for the bulk of the imports to come from
there also
a Because in a short time the population
OF the United states win number 100000
/ 600 and as Americans are among the larg-
est consumers Of sugar in the world moor
/ poration with the United States would
guarantee the West indies permanent,
| remuneratiye market for their staple prod
! uct, in which they would find protection
| from unfair protection.
>, Because the population Of the United
States Is essentially English and under
I republican Institutions full political lib
/ erty and equal rights of citizenship and
/ the birthrght of all. irrespective of race
| creed or class.
/ G. Because any time the United States
government may, by a change in their
/ tariff law, discriminate against the West
/ Indies. and there being no other available
market for the staple product OF these is
lands the people are liable to be reduced
to starvation at any moment. This pre-
carious and absolute dependency on the
grace OF foreign government is very un-
desirable and should come to an end,
e. Because with an assured, protected
market IN the United states and under
the stimulus of American energy and
American carital Industry would revive
trade generally would improve, the de-
mUpd and the remuneration for labor
would increase the Wholesale exodus Of
Tho eream of the population which is now
taking place would be arrested the cloud
81 poverty and depression which hangs
like a pall over the island would be lifted
end ~ classes would be richer, happier
Nc't-r 90 and moro ccntentel than they
e rrter g. 2 hopeless and depressing
.rrrsi'io-y ~, result from the apathy
r. 'ae = Mn government.