New-York tribune., 1902-01-19
FEELING IN DANISH WEST INDIES.
DIsCORD CAUSED BY ARRIVAL OF COR
RESPONDENT FOR COPENHAGEN
NEWSPAPER

IRON 4 SPECIAL. CORRESPONDENT TRIBUNE. !
St Thomas, d. w. l.. Jan. 2-The coming OF
Herr Franz Jessen, representative of the
National Tidende." of Copenhagen. to these
islands has been a veritabe apple of dscord
among their Inhabitants. 1t must be stated TO
his credit that he has done his best for his paper
TO stir them up a demonstration against the
sale but whatever he has accomplished In that
direction has been only among few individuals
as compared to the bulk OF the population first
meeting was held In Chrstlansted, St Crolx. It
was convened by Pastor LawaetZ. Schmiegelow
and Svitzer, planters, and Pretto and Canegata,
merchants. who magnified leading plant
ers and merchants There We're some two hun
dred full grown men; the rest women and
children Of the poorer classes really spectators
Cakes and soda water and Danish flags were
distributed. Pastor Lawaetz told the people
they were being sold like cattle. He then asked
"Do you want 10 be sold like cattle?"
He also told them that the American Govern
ment had said that those who did not want to
become Americans could clear out. and then
asked 'if they wanted to be driven out OF their
country" \ pro-sale planter then stood up in
his phaeton and told them that there was not
one of the speeChmakers who could make a de-
cent speech, and that If the people would come
over TO where he he would tell them the real
truth about the sale At Iawaetz's request he
fused to go two policemen took his horses by
the bride and led them off, while others sur
rounded his phaeton. The pro-sale planter then
stood up and shouted to the people "All who are
for the sale, follow me-" and about twO-thirds of
the crowd did So
cable dispatch sent from ST Crolx TO
New-9ork, pronOuncng this demonstration a
humbug and describing to what class the DEM
onstrators belonged. The majority of the plant
ers in st. Croix, whose very existence is threat
ened by the anti-sale party in Copenhagen, are
Indignant at these attempts TO stir up the native
agrarian population. whom any unscrupulous
demagogue might excite TO fury and to apply
the torch to their cane fields and their homes
AS they say. justly: IF we are so beloved by
Denmark, why should she have offered to sell
us; and. now that the desire is awakened and
we see the advantage of belonging to the United
States of America. why should the anti-sale
party of Denmark. that is making so many
promises which will never be fulfilled send out
a man to stir up strife among us? Every one
had become reconciled to the change and now
old sores are reopened and strife has COM
menced again. through the advent of Won
JeSSen."
This, of course is not Herr Won Jessen's fau1t
He is doing his duty for the paper he repre-
sents but it is difficult to make the people
believe this, especially the pro-saIe party are
AFRAID IN many instances, of expressing their
views openly. AS an instance a telegram stat
Ing that the so-called demonstration in ST
THOMAS was only squad of marines from the
Nalkyrien marching through the streets accom-
panied by the customary rabbe was used bv the
anti-sale Editor of The st. Thomas Bulletin
TO show that the pro-sale party were vilifying
loyal Danes cine rabbe alluded to was a
dancing mop OF colored boys and women which
generally amuses itself in this way Whenever
soldiers or sailors march through our streets)
Upon this several of the leading pro-sale mer-
chants of st. Thomas and the Editor of 1T ipht
bourns Mail Notes" were called up to the private
once or the Policemastsr ana Questioned as to
their connection with the telegram. There WA