New-York tribune., 1900-12-23
THE DANISH WEST INDIES.
HOW THE QUESTION OF THEIR SALE TO
THE UNITED STATES is REGARDED
IN THE ISLANDS
From The Great Round World.

From The Great Round World
In our issue Of November / 1900, in the course Of
projected
West Indies TO the United States, we said:
curious feature Of the affair is the attitude OF
the Danish colonials themselves. A meeting of the
Colonial Council has been called at st. CroiX TO
the sale of the islands to the United States. The
colonial newspapers are printing the words I'VE
This account based on cable dispatches.
now able TO add a number of details which throw
further light on the attitude of the people OF the
The Colonial Council of St Croix is made up of
eighteen members. of whom five are appointed by
the Crown and thirteen elected by the vote of
an American. During the recent attempt TO put
through the council protest against the sale OF
the islands he was absent from the ISLANDS, being
on visit the United States. His authority,
chairman, the Rev. ii. Lawaetz a Lutheran clergy
man at Ghristiansted and member OF the Council II
strongly opposed to any transfer Of the Islands
abled him to call for the purpose of protest meet
Ing Of the Council, which doubtless would not have
The Council met, then October 2s BY the
rules which govern % Its proeeedngs OF te
the time of this meeting three of the eighteen
sisted Of eight members. Twelve were present
when Mr. Lawaetz called the meeting to order
posed TO the sale, and five were In favor OF IT,
St croix avis" who Is also Inspector Of schools
for the island; three irish planters who have lived
st. croix, OF Irish parentage The anti-sale mem
and four colored men.
The following resolution was offered: THE Co
loniaI Council Of st. Croix begs most submssivey
20 express Your Majesty 1.-THE King of Denmark
the wish that the islands may continue to remain
under the Danish Crown We believe that know
that the alienation TO the United States is against
the wishes OF the majority OF the Inhabitants The
five pro-sale members protested that the meeting
was not qualified TO express the wishes OF all the
inha bitants. Then they left the meeting, breaking
the quorum. The chairman however refused TO
recognize the absence of the five, and passed the
resolution with seven votes. The pro-sale members
thereupon entered formal protest which the local
government forwarded TO Denmark at the same
time with the resolution. The Danish Ministry s
unlikely 70 place any faith In the resolution ac-
companied as IL Is by a strong minority objection
The colonial newspaper which printed the words
1--WE do wish 10 be sold is edited by coored
man. backed by Dane. who at present enjoys a
lucrative business monopoly.
The local Government at St. Croix appears 10 be
passive regarding the sale. Doubtless the question
may be resolved TO the question of personal adVan-
tage disadvantage which the change would bring
TO Individual inhabitants Men who now filling
lucrative offices controlling trade monOpolies are
said to be opposed 10 a transfer: but others while
they admit that the first result of change of rule
would be business confusion hold that the ultimate
benefits would more than compensate for tempo
Tsgy troubles.