New-York tribune., 1902-01-30
A GLIMPSE OF ST. THOMAS.
ADVANTAGES IN AMERICAN ANNEXA-
TIoN TO THE ISLANDS AND TO
THE UNITED STATES.

rYBoM STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THIBuNE.l
Caracas. Venezuela, Jan. 1S.-lt has been said
by Clifford Palgrave that the Virgin Islands in
the day of their decadence should be known as
the lone spinster If not, indeed the old maids
islands and know captain who, having
been laid up for six weeks with a broken leg
ct 81. Thomas, shares that view. On the other
hand. anti-imperiaist frisnd for whom the
rsmes Porto Rico and Philippines are signals
for objurgation, came down through the West
Indies last winter and went home saying that
St Thomas the one altogether delightful
rpot for the sake OF which he would hold in
sbeyance his anti-expansion principles. There
fore, II was with much interest and diverse
pectation that / looked toward the town of
Charlotte Amelia last week Friday when the
Hamburg American yacht Prinzessin Victoria
Luise entered that harbor the first OF her two
winter cruises to the West Indies. Certainly,
whatever loss Of prosperity has come with chang
ing conditions OF ocean traffic and fall IN price OF
sugar, my snti-imperialist friend is justified in
his enthusiasm over the prospect A more beau
titui situation is scarcely to be found. A large
,andlocked bay is backed by three hills or
mountains, green to their SUBMITS. the middle
one higher and larger than the others. On
these the town is built in three parts. separated
as the land rises by the valleys, and presenting
the appearance from the water of three pyra-
rnids Of houses, mostly white or yellow, with
red tiled roofs and ample verandas, well shaded
by deciduous trees. The island looks less tropi-
cal at a little distance than might be expected
IT rises in large part abruptly from the sea, and
there are fewer stretches Of fatland where the
cocoanut palm finds its natural salt water nour-
tshnnent than we had just before seen in Porto
Rico. Nevertheless, there plenty Of cocoanut
groves and banana trees to be found close
inspection and a wonderful wealth OF tropical
flowers. Little OF the island is cultivated, and
Il raises nothing for export beyond such pro-
visions as are taken by the many ships which
make St Thomas their coallng and supply sta
ton. This however. is not for lack of fertile
soil One hundred years ago there were ninety
suse., indigo and tobacco estates under cutiva-
tion When the slaves were freed in 1s4S they
turned from agricultural labor to the more Sc
suctiye and remunerative occupations Of the
town which, with its then bustling commerce,
was able TO offer them all living Left with
out labor and lacking the enterprise which led
the English Of Trinidad to meet the same prob
lem by importations Of coolie workers. the
estate owners abandoned cultivation, and until
they can get better access to the American mar
ket, IN which they buy the bulk of their sup
plies they have little incentive to resume
operations
Time does not allow minute study Of any place
On a cruise like this but the stops of the Prin-
ressin are so conveniently arranged that, going
from island TO island, can grasp the salient
characteristics OF EACH compare their prosperity
and civilization understand the nature Of their
problems and thereafter inteIligently study
what more leisurely investigators have said
about them, besides having a delightful time
the Journey, which, perhaps. the visitor who
stayed for longer views In West Indian hotels
might not enjoy. I had my glimpse Of st.
Thomas after seeing the beginnings Of new life
in Porto Rico under the stimulus Of American
commercial energy and administrative efficiency
aid before going on to Martinique, dear to SEN
tinentslists as the birthplace OF Josephine,
where nature is more rornantically beautiful
than in the Danish island, but where the popu-
iation is Of a much lower type. Martinique
offers brilliant example OF the folly Of leaving
,n the name of liberty inferior race to set its
standard of civilization and morality for a com
srunity in which il happens to be numerically
preponderant part. The contrast with Trini-
dad, where the English, though IN the minority,
keep the government In their own hands, Is con-
spicuous. Order, cleanliness and decency pre-
vail, the people tend TO live up 10 the standard
set them, instead Of degenerating as they seem
20 have done in the French possession. Some Of
those who came here proclaiming IL necessary
20 our democratic principles TO turn Porto Rico
over 10 the tender nnerces of it's own inexperi-
ence have noted the difference and confessed
that the English crown colony administration
Despite its horribly despotic name, is an admir-
able institution full OF suggestions to Ameri-
cans II they can only get over being hum
bugged by phrases.
St Thomas resembles the English rather than
fhe French colonies, with this important differ
ence: Socially there is no race question Many
OF the most prominent white of the island
have married colored women, their are
well educated. and their daughters are charm
ing, cultivated and refined. They move in Off
rial circles on terms of perfect equality. was
entertained in one such home, and could not
wish TO meet agreeable people. English Is
the almost universal language. correctly spoken
among all the better people, and by the women
in peculiarly seductive tone. They caress their
words and make their. listener feel II he
himself had a share Of their favor along with
his language. There is nothing like it either in
the English or American voice. Whatever the
effect Of this intermarriage on the white race.
its result in producing large class of persons
who frequently you would never know not
pure Caucasians il you were not told so. has
been highly beneficial to the colored race. The
best people of the Islands have been in q sense
their people, and have set them all example
which shows in the average conduct Any en-
couragement of steps in the same direction at
home would be worse than folly. but if the
United States acquires the Danish islands 1t
VIII be under the highest moral obligation to
do nothing to raise race question In them or
create prejudices which do not now exist.
This question Of annexation is to be looked at
from two sides. that of the United States and of
the islanders themselves. The considerations
which impel Americans to acquire the Danish
West Indies have been in view ever since Secre-
terv Seward negotiated the treaty which the