The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-06-15
CONDITIONS IN JAMAICA
BY Recall of Soldiers Jamaica
Would Become American.
MERCHANTS CONCERNED

the United States.
The announcement that the British
government has decided to remove
the white troops from Jamaica and
other West Indian islands has been
received here with feelings of deepest
concern, says New York Herald. But
enly in one respect, the financial one
The European troops stationed here
number about FIVE hundred, and be.
tween 100000 and 100000 is annual
y spent by the home government
h their keeping The loss of this
amount will be keenly felt by mer-
chants and cattle dealers, all white
men, as practically the whole of the
money went into their pockets.
The whites, although standing in
the proportion of about fifteen thou
sand to seven hundred thousand have
absolutely nothing to fear from the
blacks ,and the removal of the Euro
Dean troops will in no way tend to
affect their personal safety. 1t would
take great deal of provocation on
the part of a white for a black man
10 assault him. In fact, such cases
the as rare as a green" moon-about
one in ten years is a fair average.
And this relationship between the
whites and the blacks is certainly
not brought about by the presence Of
European troops in the island
This state Of affairs is hard to ac-
count for, none the less it is here.
There is an inherent feeling of some
thing akin to affection in the breast
e the Jamaica black for his white
neghbor, and white woman can walk
throughout the length and breadth of
by the natives. There is no race pre-
tudice here, and perhaps this has
something to do with it.
Apart from the monetary stand
point, the removal of the European
troops has been received here without
much comment. The element of per-
sonal safety has never entered into
any of the letters written to the news
papers on the subject, and practically
all these letters are written by white
men. The closing down of the naval
station at Port Royal is viewed in the
same light. The monetary loss will
De great and large number of men
have already been thrown out of en-
ployment, but this is the only concern
that has been caused. The reports
published in English and American
newspapers that the withdrawal of
the white troops, when carried into
effect, will make the white popula-
tion anxious about its personal safe
ty has no foundation in fact.
In addition to withdrawing the
white troops, the War Office has also
under consideration a scheme for dis
banding the black regiment stationed
in the West Indies (the West India
regiment) Should this be done it will
cause huge monetary loss to the
Island, but apart from this considera.
ton the people in Jamaica do not
view the proposal with disfavor. The
black troops instead of keeping the
peace, are generally the worst law
breakers. Nine years ago they caus-
ed riot in the city, running amuck
through the streets and slashing at
the citizens and policemen with razors
tied to the ends of sticks Not even
their own officers could control them
while the riot was on. But it was
their own color who suffered. for the
soldiers took care not to interfere
with the whites-eXcept in the single
instance of police officer, who was
rather dangerously wounded
The disbandment of the black
troops, if it is carried out, will be
gradual, covering a period of several
years. About a thousand black sol
diers are now kept in the island.
The island is thus threatened with
\ total denudement of troops and the
lo' i government has already been
called upon by the home authorities
20 take steps to Immediately increase
the militia force-which now numbers
about ESQ men-to a thousand strong.
Some years ago the rank and file of
the militia was composed of very re.
spectacle young men. But they got
disgusted with their treatment, the re-
suit being that the standard of the
piSSSul lOlte is not very nlSn one.
The force Is practically of little or no
use, and many people are in favor of
its disbandment and the strengthen
ing of the police with the money thus
saved. But in view of the recent de.
velopment-the removal of the troops
this viii not be done, and efforts
will be made to put back the militia
to the standard it held some years
ago. There is absolutely no danger
to the whites from the Jamaica
militia.
In the remote chance of there being
a black uprising here, the mulattoes
whose numbers are considerable
would undoubtedly take sides with
the whites.
An important question which ro-
been revived by the announcement
that the troops vii! be removed.
which is now receiving a great deal of
discussion in the press, is what effect
the change will have oa the loyalty
Of the cOlOnV The cnpeancuo oP o,;n