The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-02-11
THE DANISH
WEST INDIES.
How the People of the Islands View
a Change of Ownership.

1 don't suppose you Americans think Il
matters nyeh Just how We West Indians
view transfer OF authority and territory
as between Denmark and the United
States. but at least you Will allow that,
being human. We naturally feel like say
ing something. Whether our prospects are
10 he improved or not-and 20 tell the
truth. they couldn't appear much worse
we are anxious To have voice ga the
matter. We have Objected not so much 10
the transfer as 10 being transferred like
dumb cattle. as though our opinions Were
not worth considering, There IL no doubt
In the world as 90 how the majority viii
vote should IL come 10 a plebiscite, for,
10 be frank. our very existence depends
upon annexation by or connection OF
some sort with the United States.
You may have read in the press few
weeks ago that the people over In Santa
CRUZ Gorty miles south OF st. ThomasD
held grand Indignation meeting and de-
clared their continued loyalty To old
King Christian aud the Danish govern
ment. Wen, but did YOU notice the "lit-
tie Joker" appended 10 those resolutions
10 the effect that they hoped and prayed
Tor better trea tment In the future ?Those
resolutions were I'm the nature OF an en-
treaty and threaten fact. the 'rcsolu-
tors knew what they were about They
with prospective loss OF Jobs should the
islands. be transferred 70 the United
States.
The situation is Just this: The islands
have been under Danish control for
many. many years. and all the offices are
nlled by Danes. but the commerce OF the
group Is mainly with, the United states
and English is the language we all speak
IL was only by accident that Denmark
gained possession OF the islands nov
known as the Danish West indies. aud
they have maintained their hold not only
because no other nation wanted them, but
through mistaken sense Of loyalty on
the part OF the inhabitants tntrinsically
they are practically valueless, but 'strat-
ceicauy they are OF great value 10 any
power which, like the United States, IL
contiguous aud has large navy which
must denend In time OF war upon It's
coaling stations.
The only island raising anything Of
consequence is Santa Cruz. and that pro-
duccs sugar, with rum a hyproduct. ST
John yields some sugar. coffee, spices
and bay rum. while 81. Thomas was long
ago exhausted and produces no agricult-
ural staple whatever. Its soil Is worn out
-What the hurricanes haven't blown into
| the Sea-and most OF It's commerce has
long since departed. But II has as you
know. one valuable possession in the har-
bor of its chicf and only town-Charlotte
y
| PRONOUNCED one OF the finest In the world
| lt haprcns that npither of the near ISL
lands Porto Rico or Culebra. has quite so
good haThor as ours, combining all the
advantages OF narrow entrance, deep
water and Facilities for defense And as
20 natural beauty, why, there Is where
/ We cam beat the world. From whatever
| point you may view these Islands they
are perfect gems. and Ia salHbrity of Gle
mate, again. We can challenge comparison
with any section of the globe
Ira aying resided In the islands for many
! Years ! have grown To love them, TO be
sure hut my liking for them does not
blind me 10 their defects. As winter re-
sorts for the United states they possess
Iattractions unsurpassed In beautiful seen
|cry. delightful climate, snowy sand
beaches. fishing grounds. spicy woods
| and fragrant fields, There Is no loVeier
ISLAND. for example. than the little 81.
IJohn, only sixteen square miles In area
and with less than 1900 Inhabitants.
Ihave hunted there frequently and can say
| IL is one OF the most attractive places l
| ever visited. And then, again, IL has In
n Coral bay "A fine landlocked harbor sec
| ond only 10 that OF Charlotte Amslia. And
yet Il is almost unknown 10 the world
| AT large. l don't suppose there Is sin
| gle hut on fits shores let alone a house,
| and this great body OF water Is actually
| going to waste for lack OF appreciation
by some nation with navy.
The scenes that greet one as he walks
| about this island of ST. Thomas are real
ly pitiful The country district Is practi-
cally desolate. the once prosperous plan
II tations are abandoned. and Charlotte
| Amaiia itself, once one of tne most pros
porous ports I'm the West Indies. Is per
| ishing of dry rot. have talked with men
who have seen Spanish dollars wheeled
II through the streets by the barrow load and
n who recall times when all the warehouses
u were bursting with the products of every
\ cline One can live here cheapN enough,
| II that Is all for canned provisions ana
| drinkables. such as wines ana whlskles'
II are about half OF what they are I'm the
II States Clothing Of all sorts, especially "
| made to order from the finest imported
n woolens can be had for next 10 nothing
4 And vet at the same time the rich are
| growing poorer and the poor, many OF
4 them, are on the verge of starvation rms
seems incredible I'm land where the sun
II shines all the time and almost anything IN
the fruit and vegetable line can he prf-
II duced by merely sticking the seed into
| the ground But the fact cannot be gain
II said that the commerce which was AT
Il one time the life of St Thomas has de-
parted.
Now. as 20 the people, there are about
4 "A 600 Of us holding altogether only 1is
II square miles of territory. The bulk OF the
II nopulation Is concentrated In the towns
such as Charlotte Amaiia. with at least
II n. 900 out of this islands total OF 1900
II Christianstadt and Frederichstadt alb
sorbing more than two-thirds the 93SSiia-
ton (2OOOO OF Santa Cruz. This Is an un-
II healthy condition, OF course, but II exists
j People here are gregarious, az they are
I'm the states and elsewhere. and for
various causes flock 90 the centers OF
II population
IL has been easy. then. To obtain
consensus Of opinion as To the popular
Il desire for annexation or absorption by
i the United States. Porto Rico has ex-
cited a Jealous feeling here. for as she
has progressed We have retrosressed. Aud
vet We are bound hand and foot by
Danish conservatism. These islands an
nuaily cost Denmark tDcW more than
they yield 10 her, but the bulk Of the
bin II for soldiers and ofhceholders, who
will be promptly Withdrawn as soon as
Uncle sam takes possession.