Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-02-19
DANISH WEST INDIES
THE ISLANDS WHICH WILL SOON
BELONG TO UNITED STATES.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLANDS AND
PEOPLE - OF GREAT STRATEGIC
VALUE TO THIS COUNTRY.

Danish West Indies are in q fair way TO
become the p roperty of the United States.
There are several things yet to be done
the Senate must confirm the treaty which
has been made, the House must appro-
pirate the purchase money, and the in
bsbitants of the three little islands must
vote favorably on the question of the
transfer-but Washington dIspat ches in.
dictate that all these things will be done,
and st. Croix, st. John and st. Thomas
will be added, with due formsiity, to
Uncle Sans stock OF islands. The senti-
ment OF Congress is said O be over helm-
ingiy In favor of acquiring the islands,
and little or no opposition is expected
among their In bs bitsnts.
Although this group Of islands has
been much before the American public
for over generation, the average person
knows but little about 1t. The advsn-
tage of the acquisition of these islands
does not lie In their commercial impor-
lance or In the increased area they will
give the Uoited States, but rat her In their
naval value, since they occupy an i'm
portant 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 1t would never do to let them fall
into the hands of a European power.
As far as their area goes, it is only 12s
square miles, and their population is only
10000. They lie about fifty miles due east
of Porto Rico.
These islands, we are told, were dis
covered by Columbus on his second
voyage In 1888. He had become becsmeo
just as he was entering the Caribbean,
and be was waiting anxiousiy for the
dawn. As the sun rose it's rays fell upon
an island that looked like flaming cross
to the rspt vision OF the devout explorer.
Columbus hailed this as kindly portent,
and he called the island the Holy Cross
Santa Cruz or St. Croix and the two
islands near 1t, st. John and st. Thomas.
Since 1871, over two and quarter CEN
turtles, they have been under the flag OF
Denmark, soon to come down forever. 1t
was over thirty years ago that the islands
were very near coming into the possession
of the Unit ed States. Our cruisers in the
Civil war had an exssperating task in chas
ing the Gala ba map, "Fiorida" and other
Anglo Confederate craft through the
Caribbean archipelago. Everywhere in
British, French or Spanish colonial ports,
the United States ships were annoyed,
obstrucied, denied coal and supplies, or
deceived by false information.
President Lincoln and his cabinet de-
termine TO acquire a West India eoaling
station OF our own, and Admiral Porter
re commended st. Thomas as the best hsr-
Dor for our need and the "keystone to the
arch OF the West Indies". sit commands
them ALL" he declared, "it is OF more i'm
portance to US than to any other nation"
TbereupoD, in January, 1865, President
Licoln directed Secretary Seward to in
innate to Denmark our desire to purchase
her valuable but unproductive colony.
Poor Denmark has just come out of the
disastrous Prussian war, losing her
D -ovinces OF Scbleswig Holstein, and
King Chr st ian was in no mood to part
" hstili more OF his lusse ssIous. he
fatty refused 10 Mt goiisie. But in July,
1866 Mr. Seward, who hsd mesnwb bile
visited st. Themes, re-opened the quss-
tIop, offering s5 GOO 900 fer tie islands.
The Danish treasury WAS empty. This
WAS a tempting proposition. There had
been u change of government. The new
ministry was favorable to the transfer.
Denmark consented to sell for SIS 900 600,
but finally accepted Mr.. Stewards revised
offer OF 81, 100000 in gold for st. Thomas
aid st. John, with an "option" on st.
Croix for S3, $50 900.
The inhabitants of the islands were o
be allowed to vote upon the question of
annexation, and the election was about to
be held In November, 1867, at st. Thomas,
when there came terrific earthquake and
tidal wave, sweeping the United States
sloop- of-wsr "Monongshels" three quar-
tiers of mile inland, and frightening the
colonists so that for the time being they
lost all interest in annexation and every
thing else. In January, 1868, however,
they voted, 1899 for eession, and only
twenty-five against it.
The king OF Denmark signed the treaty
IN tue AoHONinB july pAt tuS lohB ucihy
had chilled the zeal OF our government
and hlotted out the lesson of tue war. In
March, 1869, the treaty was laid on the
table by the Senate, and year later 1t WAS
rejected. Now the United States is seeur-
ing all three OF the Danish islands for s5,-
600 900, which is two. thirds OF the price
which it would have paid willingly gem
GRAFTON ago for two OF them.
st. Thomas Is the principal member OF
the group, and is best known to commerce
through the business carried ON at Char
iotte Amaiie, which looks out upon one OF
the finest harbo on the globe. Besides
being a refuge for ocean steamers in times
OF distress aud storm, 1t is also a rendez-
vous for the psvies OF Europe. Some
10000 people live at Charlotte Amalie, and
they are chiefly engaged in purveying to
the ships which arrive in the harbor. The
marine railway and the dry dock give em-
ploy ment to large mum bers of men. Sup