Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-02-05
The Danish West Indies.


;et to be done--the Senate must con-
firm the treaty which has been made.
the House must appropriate the pur-
chase money. and the inhabitants Of
the three little islands must vote
favorably on the question Of the trans
fer-but Washington dispatches indi-
cate that all these things will be done.
and St. Croix, St John and st. Thomas
y.ill be added with due Formally TO
Uncle Sans stock Of islands. The
sentiment of Congress is said to be
overwhelmingly in favor Of acquiring
the islands, and little or no opposition
is expected among their inhabitants.
Although this group of islands has
been much before the American public
for over q generation. the average per-
sor knows but little about it. and the
journal will venture a little definite in
formation for the benefit of Its readers.
The advantage of the acquisition of
these islands does not lie in their COM
mercial Importance or In the increased
area they will give the United states,
but rather in their naval value, since
they occupy an important strategic
position at the mouth of the Caribbean
sea where our interests are becoming
more and more important. We not
only want the islands ourselves but it
would never do to let them fall into the
hands Of a European power. AS far as
their area goes, 1t is only l2S square
miles and their population is only 80
Ooo They lie about 50 miles due east Of
Porto Rico.
These islands, we are told, we're dis
lowered by Columbus on his second
voyage in 1893. He had become be-
Gained just as he was entering the car
ibbean. and he was waiting anxiousy
for the dawn. AS the enn rose its rays
fell upon an island that looked Ike a
flaming cross to the rapt vision of the
deyout explorer. Columbus hailed this
az n kindly portent. andIhe called the is
land the Holy Cross-Santa Cruz or st,
Croix and the two islands near IT, st.
John and St Thomas. Since 1911, over
two ana a quarter centuries, they have
been under the flag of Denmark, soon
to come down forever It was over
thirty years ago that the islands were
very near coming into the possession of
the United States. Our cruisers in the
Civil War had an exasperating task in
chasing the Alabama, Florida and other
Anglo Confederatc craft through the
Caribbean archipelago. Everywhere in
British, French or Spanish colonial
ports the United States shire were
annoyed, INSTRUCTED, denied coal and
supplies. or deceived by false in
formation. President Lincoln and
his Cabinet determined to acquire
a West India coaling station Of our
own, and Admiral Porter recon-
rended St. Thomas as the best har-
Dor for our need and the keystone
to the arch of the West Indies" 1T
commands them ALL he declared,
1T is Of more Importance to US than
20 any other nation" Thereupon, in
January. 1865. President Lincoln di-
rected Secretary Seward to intimate
TO Denmark our desire to purchase
her valuable but unproductive col
ony.
Poor Denmark had just come out
of the disastrous Prussian war, los
ing her provinces OF Schleswig- Hol-
stein. and King Christian was in no
mood TO part With still more of his
possessions. He fatty refused TO
Seward, who had meanwhile visited
ST. Thomas. reopened the question
offering 100000 for the islands
The Danish treasury was empty
This was a tempting proposition
There had been q change of govern
ment The new ministry was favor
able to the transfer. Denmark con-
scented to sell for sl5.OOo.Ooo, blu,
finally accepted Mr.. Stewards revised
offer of s. 100000 in gold for st
Thomas and st. John, with an "op
ton" on St. Croix for s3,750.o00
The inhabitants of the islands were
to be allowed to vote upon the ques
ton of annexation. and the election
was about to be held, in November
1857, at st. Thomas. when there
came q terrific earthquake and tida
wave, sweeping the United States
sioop-of-war Monongahela three.
quarters OF mile inland. ard fright
ening the colonists so that for the
time being they lost all interest in
annexation and everything else. In
January. 1858. however. they voted,
1889 for eesslon and only % against
il. The King Of Denmark signed the
treaty In the following July. bur the
long delay had chilled the zeal OF
orr government and plotted out the
lesson OF the war. In March, 1869. The.
rra,ty WAS laid on the table by The