The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1902-01-29
OF ISLANDS
DANISH WEST INDIANS NOT
AGAINST TRANSFER.
People Look Forward tO Change
As the Best Thing That
Could Happen.

NEW YORK. Jan. 27.--A special cor
respondent of the Tribune al St.
Thomas. u. W. l.. sends the follow
ing In connection with the reported
transfer of the islands 10 the United
States.
What puzzles the average Danish
West Indian more than anything else
is the impression which seems to have
gained ground in America and else
where that he objects to the transfer
NJ these Islands and that a plebesclie
II necessary Apart from the fact
that there are so many different ma
tlonalIties In the Danish West Indies
that II would b. q matter Of great
difficulty to arrive al a just conclu-
sion In case Of a pIebescite, It may be
confidently asserted that no such wish
has been expressed and II It We're pos
slble to take vote, under such cir
cums,anccs. It would be in favor Of
tie transfer
THAT there may have been a feeling
against It sometime ago among a few
of the natives is possible, but this
was partly owing to sentiment and
partly TO the statements made by the
anti-sale party about the miserable
condition OF Porto Rico under Ameri-
can rule Now that the truth has
come to light about that Island, and
every mail brings further reports Of
It's progress, once again as in 1861, our
people are looking forward to the
chang believing that there can be
nothing save prosperity for these ISL
ands should II take place.
1T is a pity that this state OF feel
Ing OF the inhabitants has not been
more widely circulated throughout
the United states. 50 that Americans
might know that they are not taking
under their protection an unwilling
population--a fact which can be sub
s,antiated by any American who has
visited the islands
There has been a little excitement
here the past few days. owing to
rumor that the sale was on at st.
CroIx. as a special telegram sent the
financial minister and ribsdag by 146
leading inhabitants, among whom
were 40 planters, representing 10000
out of $4,000 acres Of cultivated land
of the island. praying for the sale. an
opposition list was started
The few property holders that were
overlooked refused to sign It. but the
and a few policemen did so.
But the opinion seems to be gaining
ground that all the opposition has
been fostered by Danish speculators
In tie hope that should negotiations
he declared of and value become fur
ther deprecated they may be able
to purchase lands and houses for a
song.
"The ST. CroiX Avis, In a letter from
the rector Of the Anglican church.
expresses the manner In which anti
sale signatures were obtained to a list
in Bassin, the other town. This list
was sent by cable to the prime minis
tr Of Copenhagen on the 9th inst II
protests against the telegram sent by
the 10 planters and lO6 proprietors.
already alluded to, characterizlng
them as American capitalists and asks
his eXcellency to use his influence 10
keep st, Croix under the Danish flag
on condition that the mother country
will know how to find means to make
the cultivation OF sugar which AT pres.
ent finds Itself in most critical pcsl.
tion. remuneratiye TO this lsland.'"
This is signed by three Danish
planters, two merchants and by 2Ir
other persons, all eminently respectable
but not employers of nearly two-thirdr
Of the islands laborers. who wiz
shortly be without employment unless
some change takes place for even IN
against the sale admit tn,
critical position Of the sugar industrv
The general feeling is that Of despai
( the future OF these islands II Ii
sale is not completed.