Connecticut western news., 1899-03-16
WANT TO BE AMERICAi,s
British Tn West Indies Anxious
 For Annexation.
ASK ENGLAND TO GIVE THEM UP.

Petition sent to Chamberlain Urging
 the Opening of Negotiations For
 the Transfer of Islands to the
 United States.
 New York. March 15.-The Herald this morning publishes the following inter esting letter from Andrew Munro, member of the legislative council of the Leeward islands:
 Within the last few days a memorial from the inhabitants of St. Christopher Nevis, the oldest English settlement In the West Indies, has been forwarded to the Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain. her Britannia majesty's principal sec retary of state for the colonies, praying the imperial government to take steps during the present session of parlia- ment to abolish the sugar bounties, or, alternatively. to open negotiations with the government of the United States for the transfer of these colonies to Uncle Sam in exchange for the Philippines or otherwise as may be mutually agreed upon by the two governments.
 "The memorial to which I allude has been signed by members of the legisla- ture, by the leading owners Of sugar estates and by a large number Of mer- chants, managers of estates, artisans, laborers and in fact by the representa- lives of all classes and interests in the presidency.
 .'The significance of this memorial can hardly be overestimated, for, ai- though the movement in favor of po- liticai union with the United States Is at present in the incipient stage, there is no doubt that the people of the colo nies generally. disgusted by the apathy and utter indifference of the British government to their interests, are ready for change of flags.
 Eleven years ago James Anthony Froude, the English historian. indicat- ed very clearly in his book. The Eng fish Tn the West Indies,' what was com ing and even then wrote, The Yankee, whether we like 1t or not, is the ac- knowledged sovereign in these waters.
 Since then Cuba, the Pearl of the Antilles, and Porto Rico have virtually become United States territory, and, in despair of obtaining just treatment from the British government, colonies that have for nearly three centuries been loyal to the English connection are spontaneously asking to be transferred to the government of the republic, and small blame to them, for, with selfish ness that is almost incredible, England has looked on with cynical indifference while the bounty granting countries on the continent of Europe have pursued q policy deliberately calculated to ruin her colonies.
 Fruitless Appeals For Aid.
 lover and over again the colonists have petitioned the imperial govern ment to enact a law similar to the pro- vision contained in section of the United States tariff, which would im- pose countervailing duties on bounty fed products entering the United King dom. But all in vain. By placing the colonists and the foreigner on an equal footing in the English markets 1t was possible that the British workingman might have to pay one-fourth of cent per pound more for his sugar, and, of course, that settled the matter.
 Every consideration of justice and fair play has been sacrificed to this miserable quarter of a cent. with the result that the British West India sugar islands are on the verge of absolute ruin and are looking wistfully to the United States for succor. Even now, in- deed, as Mir. Chamberlain naively ad- mitted a few weeks ago. 1t is mainly due to the bounty provision in the Ding ley tariff that the sugar industry in the West Indies has not entirely collapsed. The colonial secretary went so far. in- deed, as to argue that the United States having done so much for us 1t was un- necessary for the British government to do anything,
 What a confession for minister of the crown to make Is 1t a wonder, un- der these circumstances, that West In- dians are asking for a transfer?
 Failing the prompt settlement of the bounty question, have little doubt that the memorial addressed by the inhab- itants of St. Christopher, the parent English plantation" In the West In- dies. to the secretary of state for the colonies will prove the precursor of many more in the same strain"