The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-06-22
IN DENMARk'S
WEST indies
WHERE NEGROES SPEAK FOUR
LANGUAGES.
Many Are Graduates of Foreign Uni
versities-Transfer to the United
States Will Bring in Race Issue
and May Ruin Trade-The People
Do Not Want It.

The better Informed OF the Danish
West indian islanders tand that
means seven. tenths OF the popula-
ton. for the st. Thomas negro ts
probably better informed titan any
other man Of his color) are watching
movements in Porto Rico, and, in fact,
all legislation in the United States
which affects Porto Rico. The one
resource OF the island is the trading
interests. the daily bread of nearly
all the inhabitants depends upon the
shipping in the harbor. The drydock,
cwned by a British syndicate. does
a good business, and there are several
ship chambers of good rating.
The people look on 1t as inevitable
that the islands must some day come
under American control as Denmark
cannot afford to continue the yearly
contribution OF $l5O,00O (arproximate
cstimate) to supply the deficit. The
merchants do not seem pleased at
what they hear of American progress
in Porto Eico. Such n thing as a tar
iff is unknown here, and such an in
stitution Is considered an impossible
ity. With a closed port, the opinion
seems to be that the islands would be
worse off than now.
The Hamburg American Steamship
line recently established a coalirg sta
tion here. which it would have to give
up should the port be closed. The
French line also has q coal dock.
These steamship lines are the heaviest
purchasers of supplies here, and it
would be great loss to the island to
lose their trade.
THE RACE QUESTION.
After the question of free port. the
next objection is the race question. 1t
is an exception to meet a white man
here. The average American is sur
prised at the intelligence OF the col
ored people. Many of them have been
graduated from French, English or
German universities, and their general
knowledge of world affairs Is astonish-
ing. 1t is not rare to find a St. Tho
mian who speaks with apparent equal
fluency English, French, German and
Danish
"If we come under the American flag
how will be looked upon by the Ameri-
can people," asked a prominent mer-
chant, who is a negro. I'VE are ma
turally anxious to know what our sta
tus will be. Now, We can send our
to Europe to be educated, and
they will be received with the respect
due them. We are colored, but we
have the refinement and education OF
the white man, and we feel we are
their equals. We can go to England
or on the Continent without embar-
rassment. Now. can you mention
hotel in New York or any other Ameri-
can city where we would dare to reg
lister.
IF We come under American rule
our trade must be with America.
Could we go to the United States to
purchase our stock without being hu-
Should the United States acquire
these islands she will have a difficult
problem to solve in the race question.
AS a rule, however. the residents here
seem to expect annexation and are
prepared to meet the inevitable, but
come of the negotiations, which have
been under way for nearly two years.
1t is generally believed that, should
the United States acquire the islands,
the governor of Porto Rico will he
placed in charge with power to ap-
point subordinates.
The government Offices are now
mostly held by Danish subjects. On
account of their color the St. Thomians
10 not expect to succeed the retiring
Danes.