The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-01-18
-IAE DANISH ISLANDS

The revival on the part OF the United
States OF the old proposition to purchase
the Danish Islands for the reason that
Germany IL ready 10 negotiate for their
purchase aids a feature to the transac-
tion which was not prominent when the
former negotiations came to naught by
reason Of the failure OF the Senate 20
ratify the treaty on the subject. says
the Philadelphia Ledger. The avowed OBJ
jcct OF the United States I'm the negotia-
tions IN the sixties was 20 acquire coal
ing and naval station on st. Thomas or
St John. The need OF such stations. II
was strenuously insisted upon. had been
shown by the civil war, which had not end
ed when the transfer OF the islands was
proposed in 1865. The original price
which Denmark asked at that period for
the three possessions was the snug sum
of $35 100000. After much chaffering,
z Denmark consented TO accept Sll ,250. 600.
II was discovered however. that one OF
the islands, Santa Cruz, could not be ad-
yantaEeously fortified. There was also
some question about the necessity OF se-
curing the consent of France TO the trans
fer OF this island. owing TO the existence
of an old treaty. The bargaining resulted
In the offer by Mr.. Seward of S,50o,00
for st. Thomas and St John. Denmark
agreed 10 this price upon the highly inn
portaut condition that the inhabitants of
the two islands should consent by vote
to this transfer of their allegiance.
In January. 1865 the people OF both ISL
ands voted on this interesting question.
The vote OF ST. Thomas was almost
unanimous for annexation. and that OF
St John was absolutely unanimous fur
it The precise vote was: st. Thomas.
1889 votes for annexation. p against IL;
St John 205 votes for annexation Den
mark thereupon ratified the treaty. but
the United States Senate did not. The
treaty was rejected by the Senate com
nttee on foreign relations without
dissenting voice Messrs Cameron. Cas-
serly, Fessenden. Harlan, Morton and
Patterson were the members OF the COM
mittee MIR. Seward was at first disin-
clinod 10 hold the transaction In abeyance
until The people OF the islands gave their
consent So we were placed in the cu-
rious position OF yielding TO the resolve
of the Danish king that his subjects
should not become American citizens
without their consent. obliglng us TO give
this particular recognition OF our fundu-
mental political doctrines.
This was more than 20 years ago.
whether the consent Of the governed
ss 20 be asked again. IL the present re-
ported negotiations for the transfer OF
the islands are completed, remains TO be
seen No reference to this matter hats
vet appeared I'm the meagre published DIS
matches touching the revival OF this old
subject " Is singular that while Mr..
Stewards bargain was unceremonlously
rejected by the foreign relations com
mittoe just after a war In which the nee
cesify of our possession OF the Islands
would have been demonstrated. II at all.
us purchase az this time IL treated as "A
matter oc course By many newspapers.
The fact Is that tho statesrnanship OF the
now world power" looks upon tho pur-
rhose of another group OF Islands at 81
Eno n0o ~ "a mere bagatcllo i'm benevolent
assimilation The islands. II is urged. are
necessary Tor the protection of the feet.
when purchased It will be urged that
larger ncet s. necessary for the protec-
tion ~ the islands SO the carnival OF
extravagant Federal expenditure goes on.