The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-07-12
AT Washington That Purchase
Will Be Made
OF THE WEST INDIES
Some Features of Matter That
Enter Into Danish Politics.

I
to the United States win disappear after
the October parliamentary elections in
Denmark. The situation is anomalous.
Once, twenty-five years ago. the change
of flags was almost arranged, when the
United States senate rejected the treaty.
This year, the very party in Denmark
which has longest advocated selling the
islands suddenly began TO campaign
against it. They raised a cry about cut
ting a piece off the noble old banner of
/ Dannebrog, bartering the birthright Of
the people, etc. And they caused post
ponement of the sale by having four
votes more than their opponents in the
landsthing With this victory and the
hag-and- hirthright cry they are going to
the Danish people. They were out of
power and wanted to get in; and if they
do get in it is considered not improbable
that they will then (such is politics.
abandon the flag-and- birthright position.
II seems settled at Washington that the
United States needs these islands, and
that although they are an expense Of
500 900 a year upon the government which
now owns them, they are worth paying
$, 100000 for. In a very short time one
is able to learn that, leaving out their
strategic and coaling station value which
Admiral Bradford and Captain Mahan set
high, they are not worth the price There
are no comparative price figures, as the
habit of France and England has not
been TO acquire islands by purchase. Eng
lands best stroke of business seems to
have been done in Dominica, where, after
it was conquered by her. and later as
signed to her by a peace" with France,
she surveyed and sold cultivatable lands
that yielded to theBritish crown the sum
Of E312.9m lis. Id. sterling. In her re-
ports she is careful to mention that
penny.
In arguing for America in favor Of the
transfer, St. Thomas people declare, first
of all, that the islands could be made"
self supporting. There are the salaries
of government off1cers-these, they expect
would be reduced under American admin
istration. We allow the governor of Por-
to Rico $1,000. so we surely would not
allow the governor of the Danish West
Indies $4,000, as Denmark does. Several
thousands of dollars. no doubt, could be
saved in administration expenses. Den
marks government of the islands is re-
spectacle, conservative and satisfying
The only complaint is that under Den
mark the people do not have the COM
merce, and the outlet for agricultural
products, which would be theirs If they
were under the flag of the neighboring
great republic.
St. Thomas must remain a. free port
they hold, even under American rule, so
revenue from that source should not be
counted on in considering the possibility
of self support Opponents of the sale
danish Office holders and persons who,
Ike the apothecary, Mr.. Rise hold mo-
nopolies) also declare that she should re-
main a free port. she depends so much
upon shipping, coaling, ehandlering. etc;
but that it would be inconsistent with the
ruling policy of the United States TO al
low her. alone of all American ports, TO
have that privilege. There is only a 3
per cent duty now In ST. Thomas, TO pay
for harbor improvements. This permits
her merchants to sell cheaply. and ships
are induced to come for their supplies
on that account. IN St. Croix the duty
is Is per cent, as IL relies upon exporting
sugar and rum, not upon attracting small
commerce.
The insistence on the free port is a
confession on the part of one of the three
main islands CSt. Thomas, St Croix, ST.
john that otherwise St Thomas could
scarcely be self sustaining. They tell
you that the reason why the land is not
cultivated now is because after the lib
Grafton Of the slaves the negroes looked
upon the hoe and cane knife as nipple
ments of servitude. They hocked 10 the
waterfront and the town. where they
could earn enough in one day coaling a
ship TO keep them a week without work.
How low the cost of living is may be in
ferred from the wage rates-50 cents a
monht for a maid servant. SL5o month
for porter. 50 cents a day for laborer.
Inhabitants Of St Thomas lay stress on
the excellence Of their land for growing
sugar. But this is the truth-there is !
scarcely more cultivatable land on St.
Thomas than in Ardsley. Westchester
county. II IS mountainous. and the land
IS perpendicular. They do not raise
horses except on one estate. which they
call the sugar estate. as II it were the on
" one which ever tried to raise sugar
Cattle raising is impossible because the
cattle break their legs browsing on the
steep hHisldes. To go to the top Of these
hills small mountains. you are always
advised 10 so afoot, or mounted on sure
footed horse. Supposing tie soil IS tit
for cotton. sugar cane. manioc. sweet
potatoes, minet. pineappies. The torential
rains would wash the gardens down into
the sea. twenty-five years ago, accord
ing. to DR.. Taylor's Islands of the Sea,
an attempt was made ITO revive the SUI
gar industry. but ended in failure after
several Thousand dollars had been ex-
pended" X is said also that coffee and
tobacco can be raised: that in earlier
times they were raised 50 why not
again2 L is q naive question. Baron
Eggers some years ago advocated cult
waiting divi-divi on tke waste land prom
Using that it would yield $50 OF So TO the
ton. and that the cost would De small
But ne was 2 boianist and apparently
was nor thought practical. fer no one
ever tried divi-dgvi
All the Danish Hes have lost in Dopu-
lation. The last census, a year ago. re-
ported l2eao in st Thomas SO IN St
john and l9.7.o in St Croix II is less
now BY some thousands Many men have
gone 10 Porto Eieo since the americans
came into possession there. and are do
ing wei in thc harbors. plantations. and
Offices because they speak Ensllsh and
the PortoBicans do not. Another effect
= the change Of aas IN Porto Rico Is
thar 81. Thomas now gets none . rs
trade Fortune realty has played fast
and Loose with This island. It's port. Char
lotte Anslia. was ruined ard all but