The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1899-06-07
NEGROES FOR INDEPENDENCE
Manifesto Issued by ST. Kits Annex
ablOnlSts on Admission 10
American Union.

ifH WEI lHhlhH " AH' hhitNh NNhf'H -
nothing new A. matter Of casual dis
cussion at leas,. /, has been on the card
since 1851. when GENERAL Grant developed
tho scheme for acquiring the Danish
islands
lt however remained for the American
conquest Of cuba and Porto Rico to
awaken the English colonists to a ful
realization OF the outlook. The American
izallon Of those Two Islands presents a
mysterious menace to the industrial and
commercial prosperity OF their British
neighbour. ana u is only natural that the
English coionisH should have been at
lrac,ed by Andrew Carnegie suggesIIoo
10 exchange the British West indies for
The Philippines.
As far back ~ August OF last year the
question Of securing annexation to the
United States vas mooled ia Jamaica,
Nothing came OF It. however A DicDcS-
cite was suggested In planting circ.cs
ana the commercial community vas not
wanting In sympathy with the proposal.
hut. on the other hand the extreme an'
tagonlsm Of the eolorcd population was
20 marked that the most enthusiastic
annc1atlonis,s realized the Impractical
bllty of plcbescite Consequently the
matter was speedily shelved.
The continued Industrial dccadence Of
h., islands undrr the unfair treatment
Of the mother country. and the ever
growing menace OF cuba and Porto Rico
has again brought The question into prom
inrncc. In this case Il is the island Of
St kits that has taken the Initiative
and made some definite move, White
Jamaica on the principle OF half loaf
being better than no bread, insists on
securing commercial reciprocity with the
United States. 81. kits has come for.
ward with a picbescite asking for actual
annexation.
As might have been expected, the West
Indian newspapers a. a whole being very
largely IN the hands OF colored men, TO
whom the very word American Is OBJ.
noxious. have denounced the plebescite
and cndcayorcd TO Obscure US signin-
caucc, Under tho circumstances the St
kits annexallonists have issued man.
ifcrIo to their sister colonies. setting forth
their position and furnishing seven rea
sons why the West Indians should seek
admission Into the United States.
This manifesto, signed by the most
men on the Island, has eX-
cited widespread attention and promises
10 bring the whole question to an acute
stage Following is the text Of the rea-
sons on which the annexation movement
Is based
l--Bccause the persistent refusal OF the
British government. In spite Of % years OF
agitation petitions and appeals o. various
kinds. to do simple Justice to them in the
matter OF the sugar bOunties, has re
luccd the people TO poverty and despair
and has released them from all claim to
oyal and grateful allegiance to the
mother country
.9-,Becausc the expensive and extrava-
CANT and expensive administration main-
ialncd In the colonies against the will OF
he people entails heavy and oppressive
taxation which is entirely out OF proper.
lion to the slender and woefully reduced
means OF the inhabitants.
S-,Bccause the continuity OF the islands
10 the United States makes the latter
'ountry the natural" country for their
aud as the bulk OF the exports
20 to the United States, I, is only ques-
ion o. time for the bulk OF the imports
o como from there also.
i-,Because In very short time the pop
i,ation OF the United States will number
"a, ,OO0, 900. and as the Americans are
lmong the largest consumers OF sugar In
he world, incorporation with the United
'tatos would guarantee the West Indies
permanent, remunerative marke, for
heir staple product in which they would
Ind protection from unfair competition,
5.-Because the population Of the United
states is essentially English and under
epub!ican Institutions. full political lib
rty and equal rights of citizenship and
he birthrlght of all, irrespective of race
reed or class,
6-Because at any time the United
states government may, by change In
he tarlCT law. discriminate against the
West Indies and there being no available
market for the staple product of these
stands. the people are liable at any mo-
rent to he reduced to starvation This
,recarious and absolute dependence upon
he grace Of foreign government is
,ery undesirable and should come to an
md.
7-Because with an insured, protected
market in the United States and under
he stimulus Of American energy and
American capital, industry would revive,
.rade generally would improve the de-
nand and the remuneration for labor
would increase, the wholesale exodus OF