New-York tribune., 1902-06-14
MARTINIQUE AS A COLONY
AN EXPERIMENT WHICH HAS NOT BEEN
ALTOGETHER SATISFACTORY.

r,aI e,nerirnents in the island of Martinique the
scene Of the recent awful disaster, nave Io'' a.
cording to the publication of the IFeasuLs "u ~
of Statistics Colonial Administration been aI'o
ge+ba- satisfactory While many of the French
colonies have been successful and prosperous.
those Of the West Indies by reason OF lheh a
area and distance from the mother country nave
nroved not only a burden financially, but some
what unsatisfactory in the demands which ther
representatives have made and continue 10 hah0
on the mother country. France has tried the eH-
pertinent, did Spain, Of giving TO certain Vi H0i
colonies representation in the legislative pody VI
the home government, and according TO quota
ton made in the Bureau of Statistics publication
from NJ LEROY T3eaulieu. that experiment has been
unsatisfactory The French colonies in America
is well known, consist of Martinique ana Guaoe-
Ioupe, with their adjacent islands, forming part
of the chain of small islands which stretches IN
semi-circe enthusiastically from Porto Rico al
most 10 the coast of South America. On the main
land of South America. the southern terminus
of this semi-circe of islands just mentioned Is an
other colony of France, French Guiana, while fur
ther north just off the southern coast of New
foundland. is the remainder of French colonial
America, the islands of ST Pierre and Miquelon-
Martinique has of 3S1 square miles, and
had before the disaster, a population of about
10000. of which number about 5000 were laborers
brought from India and 5000 aborers from
Africa; also about 500 Chinese immigrants The
remainder of the population is largely native
groes. the white population numbering in all about
lo0N. A large share of the interior of the island
has been brought under cultivation. although
it has been occupied by the French almost
stantly since 1856. A period 267 years. the only
interruption in French control being the period
from 1874 to 1902. when the island held by the
British. Slavery existed until 1S4S. when ii
abolished in this well other French colonies.
Notwithstanding the fact that large part of its
interior has never been brought under cultivation
the island is described by Reclus as "one of the
most densely populated spots the globe the
arabic lands people packed as closely as in
such Industrial centres Lancashire, Flanders or
Saxony"
The government of Martinique consists OF a local
legislative body. composed of natives, which has
the power to pass laws applicable the exercise
Of political rights the regulation of contracts
matters relating TO wills. egacies and SUGGESTIONS,
the institution of juries. criminal procedure,
methods of electing local officers in the cities and
towns The Governor and other officers are
pointed by the French Government. which also
makes the tariff laws OF the island. as is the case
other American colonies of France have, already
than any other Of her colonies and are each rep.
resented by Senator and two Deputies in the
gress of the United States. These large powers of
SseI-government and Of participation IN national
IeslsIatlon are the subject of open criticism by
french economic writers. Leroy Beaulieu. in his
AS regards politics, We have introduced French
liberty into our colonies: we give them civil
e9rnors admit their representatives into our par
Lament and while all these reforms excellent
ney VIII IN practice result in abuses. and that un
less the mother country is very watchful, those
whom VarTirL0me d "a p @ ne 1epuIes @
rance OF the blacks. The weak executive power in
France allows itself to be intimidated by these
and incapable governors. whose indecison of char
the native population of the island
Sir Charles Dixie the well known British Iesis-
not Join in the pessimistic views which the French
writer's VII RS express REGARDING the experiments which
local sel,goTernment in their West Indian colonies
Some who think the negro untitled for sef-goN-
in the French islands Of Martinique and GuadeIoupe
power is in the hands of the colored people while
those Islands in which the negroes and colored'
people have been intrusted with large share in
Tesentative institutions seems 10 show that their
negro are now aoe to point To the progress ef-
fected by the West Indian peasant proprietors. to
place aIreadv taken bv fndividuaIs Of the African
race. The example of Martinique and Guadeloupe
goes to show that it is time that We Uhe English)
contended that where representatives of the peo-
pie are elected by manhood suffrage. Is the
and Reunion the result has been a recrudescence
Of race haJreds "a and the political subiSeton OF the
contempt for the French. considered as cooniz-
admits that the French have been more success
ful in Martinique and Guadeloupe than We have
ceIlent results have been attained by the French
through their frankly accepting the principle that
the colored is better suited to the West Indies
than Is the white, and France has encouraged
and helped the colored people to become dominant
in the French Islands Meantime the trade OF two
French islands. Martinique and Guadeloupe Is
roughly speaking, one-third that of all the Brit
ish West Indies. vastly greater in size and popu-
lation and the British island of Dominica. which
stands between the two French colonies; shows
lamentable contrast 10 their prosperity
The commerce of the French colonies, Mar
Unique and GuadelOupe. with the United States has
amounted to nearly & 100000 year for long term
of years larger proportion being exports from the
United States those islands. In the 1900 our
exports o islands 81. S67.16S and i'm
ports from the islands s3O.176. From them I'm
port chiefly vanilla beans. while exports to
them four. cottOnseed and mineral oils coal,
lard. meats and lumber.