The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-03-02

she must remain. She may no doubt improve the quality of her black work CTS, but that will be slow process. Cuba, moreover, sets great hopes on the devel- opment of her internal communications by the construction of trunk line or railway, with branches north and south, in the eastern part of the island. Ja- maica has already if not as many rail- ways as she needs, yet more than she can afford, for the Government to which they belong makes no profit out of them, and does not think of extending them at present. Unfortunately they have been built with too wide a gauge. Thus Cuba can at least feed herself upon bright prospects. which have no place on the more limited horizon of Jamaica.
 Neither has Jamaica any political ques- tions before her comparable to those grave and exciting ones which Cuba Is called to solve. She has had no serious internal troubles since 1865. The disturb ances of that unhappy year, due to un- fair treatment of the negroes by the planters, led to the withdrawal of the form of representative government. which then existed. Under the present Consti- tuition the Assembly is rather an advis- ory than a truly legislative body. for the Governor can when he pleases appoint sufficient number of nominated members to enable him to pass the measures which he. or which the colonial effice in Eng land wishes to see carried. There IS all ways some grumbling in the Britisn STOWu COiOHleS WHICH ACLS diC PooSSN by majority of nominated members against the votes of a majority of the elected members of any legislative body, and at present the elected members or the Jamaica Legislature complain of their practical impotence. But everybody ad- mits that a country in which some D per cent. of the population are of Af- rican race. and in which from 80 to 90 per cent. have neither knowledge of nor interest In political questions, is not fit for self-government under representative institutions.
 Permanence of Paternal Rule.
 Jamaica must depend upon the wisdom of those who rule her despotically in a more or less paternal spirit, either d. rect from England or through officials sent from England. The great bulk of the people appear. so far as visitor can judge, to be content with her present po- sition. The negroes and the people or mixed color, who in Jamaica hold them selves rather aloof from the pure blacks. are quiet and peaceable, and, for the most part, indifferent to politics. The whites are occupied with their economic depres- sion. and want to get more help from home for the development of their in- dustries. The finances of the island are In a depressed state. and even the aid which the mother country has given does not enable things to be done which ought to be done.
 A concluding word may be said on the attractions of the two islands to visitors Jamaica is perhaps the more beautiful of the two, for it not only has a more luxuriant vegetation, with a profusion of towering trees. but has shores more generally picturesque. Nothing can be imagined more charming than the line of the north coast with romantic bays, backed by richly wooded mountains and bright. foaming streams. descending to the sea in waterfalls or from the re- cesses of the limestone rocks The eli mate is. however. a little warmer and perhaps a little moister. As respects ho- tel accommodation, Jamaica has less than she ought to have or might easily have, if her people were more enterprising, yet far more than Cuba can at present offer. Outside the neighborhoo od of Havana. there Is scarcely a hotel inN Cuba to be recommended. Jamaica has. however. be- sides two good establishments. one in and the other quite near Kingston: credltable hotel at Port Antonio. to which most of the steamers from the United States ply, and several places in the in terior offering tolerable quarters. IT these were further improved Jamaica might become a most attractive winter resort, for the interior is in many places high, and with a climate which is espe- cially in the western half of the island, fresh and bracng, while never chilly. For the beauty of skies and landscape. no praise can be too high.