The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1901-1903, 1902-08-31
WOULD BE
ANNEXED
JAMAICA SICK OF THE BRITISH
COLONIAL POLICY AND WOULD
LIKE TO BELONG TO U. S.

kingston. Jamaica, Tuesday, Aug. 10.
Correspondence of the Associated
Press THE past two or three
months have witnessed a remarkable
recrudescence OF the American annex.
alton idea in at least two of the largest
and most important British West Ia.
dia possessions-Tr and Jamai.
ca. The leaders OF the agitation are
generally planters and businessmen.
These point to the growing prosperity
OF Porto Rico and denoUnce the sys.
tenn OF British colonial government.
They also point to the desperate state
Of the sugar industry and to the de.
plorable condition OF the people of the
islands and seriously suggest annex.
alton to the United States as the only
possible chance of reviying their fall
en- fortunes. Such Is the view of the
planters and business men, and both
together form very influential class
perhaps the most influential class
of the community
The natives, on the other hand, res
urrect stories Of ~iynchings and the
workings Of the antinegro laws ia
the southern states and declare them
selves emphatically against annexation
and strongly in favor OF the British
rule, which gives them freedom that
has become to them even more prec
ious than Industrial and financial pros.
perity Between these two factions
comes another class. influential
enough though in a hopeless minority
holding that federation with Canada
Is the only remedy for the ills from
which the islands are absolutely suf
fering And between them all the
newspapers have been kept busy pub.
fishing letters and recommendation
and protests. One paper had finally
to decline TO publish any letters bear
ing on the subject
The truth Of the matter Is that the
Intelligent people here are becoming
altogether sick of the British colonial
policy. a policy that has resulted in
the almost total destruction Of the su-
gar industry Of the islands. The fruit
trade with the United States Is the
most profitable undertaking in Jamsi.
ca today. Its growth is continuous
and phenomenal It is the mainstay
OF the island. Nobody attempts to
deny that without the United Fruit
company Ian American eoncern) the
island must long ago have given up
the struggle
The depression over the country Is
as acute as it is real. Government
departmental reports TEEN with refer.
ences to it. Taxes are becoming hard.
er to collect because people are daily
getting out Of work In consequence
OF the failure of the sugar Industry.
Within the past few months thousands
upon thousands of persons have been
prosecuted for non-payment OF taxes.
They are generally given month or
two in which to pay up their dues,
or in default take term OF imprs.
onment, which does not cancel the
debt.
II Is the opinion of good many In.
telligent men that If the expensive
system of government which obtains
here We're superseded by a system Of
the kind being introduced into Po~-
to Rico. the island would not be long
IN recovering itself. The salary Of
S25.000 (besides numerous exemptions
and privileges1 which the governor
is paid is regarded as distinctly ex.
travagant and out of all proportion to
the colony's general revenue. And the
revenue cannot be increased. I'm.
port duties are at the highest posi-.
BILE point. and the government dare
not raise them any higher. 1t is.
therefore, not at all surprising to ind
the whole island seething with discon.
tent. shouting for reforms-reforms
which, like the governments stand
ing promise Of better times"-nev-
err come. 1t Is realized that the colo
ny is rapidly nearing the parting Of
the ways And the future VIII depend
almost entirely on the future policy
of the imperial authorities with re-
gard to this and the other islands OF
the West Indies