The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-01-27

Z
their inertia, shamed them with fiery
words OF scorn for their lack Of self-re-
spect. and taught them how they might
make themselves a power IN the land.
Once negro village on the seacoast
was flooded from the swamp-lands in the
interior. AS the village was below the
sea-level and protected by a dam. the
water could not drain on by natural
drainage The villagers telegraphed to
Jimmy for aid. He sent q gang Of
coolies 10 help. and followed on their
heels himself When h. got there the
coolies were working to dig a trench 10
! The sea, by way Of an estate-draining
route. and the villagers were standing idly
by, claiming that they should be paid be-
fore they took shovel in hand The gov
ern0r le3ped from his horse, STROBE
among them, dashed them with his con
tempt, and took a spade and worked for
an hour in the trench until II was com
pleted. Then he turned to the leaders
among them. and said: NOW you know
how 20 do Il. Never let nae hear from you
again They took the lesson to heart,
and built the necessary dams 10 protect
their village without delay.
lie was never q respeCtcr Of persons.
One day big gun went TO Government
House TO argue with him about a certain
measure he was engaged I'm drafting for
the consideration Of the local legislature.
II YOU do 1t that way you viii hurt
us. he said.
And who are you that you should not
be hurt if the masses Of the people viii
beneht?' Numbered the governor. Go
away, sir; go away, and mark me, I am
governor here. and govern for the peO-
pie. not for selfish minoritiesr'
Himself Quick TO Help.
When the news Of the Martinique cats-
clysm reached British Guiana. the legis-
lature was not sitting. and its members
were scattered all over the hundred thou
sand square miles Of the colony SWetten-
ham did not hesitate an instant. He char
tered steamer lying in port, bought the
entire cargo Of an American -four boat.
dispatched il with a letter Of credit on
the colony for $1,000 To the suffering
people Of Fort de France-and then sum-
moned the legislature. The native ele-
ment in the legislature, ever sticklers for
procedure. Condemned his action as illegal
without their previous consent. and
threatened 10 refuse TO ratify IL or 10
authorize payment Very wen. gentle
men; as you will But I will not break
faith with these poor sufferers IN Mar
Unique and ST. Vincent / viii pay it my
self, and 7 am confident that it viii be
placed To my credit in their gratitude.
And, gentlemen. ! have no intention OF al
tering my decision Il will be- from the
people Of British Guiana all the same.'
The native element abandoned its Opp0sl-
ton, and the bill was paid.
As a protector Of the common people
Swettenham has had no equal in the rec
ords OF West Indian goveruorships He
discovered on his arrival i'm British
Guiana that the coOHe immigrant women
Were being made The victims Of the plant
eTs and the estate OversecTs. Several OF
the most prominent planters. leaders in
/ the society OF the colony. were guilty
| lie warned them by circular and by pub
+ lie utJerance. They took no notice Then
I be told them that he would stop immigra-
ton, as he was empowered 70 do. under
. the agreement with the Indian govern
ment, II he had cause 90 believe that the
coolies were being in treated. They
/ laughed at him. never dreaming that he
would ever dare TO take such drastic
measures. as the maintenance of the es-
tates depended entirely on the yearly
supply OF Immigrants
Took Prompt Action.
They had not gagged their man. He
promptly took up the case of one of the
worst offenders. took every c0olie away
/ from the estate under this mans man
/ agem at. and notified the owners and at
/ torneys Of the estate thar the coolies
would not be allowed 10 go back as long
as the manager remained In charge To
I keep the manager there meant ruin He
was suspended, and the proprietors took
/ the matter into court. The courts upheld
! the governor. and the proprietors appealed
! to the colonial Office. While the appeal
was pending. a deputation Of planters ap-
/ preached the governor. and threatened 10
make things 50 hot for him If he did not
| give way that he would be compelled 10
resign. He heard them out. and then he
I turned on them and said.
Gentlemen, I hold my commission from
the King. The King ordered me to guard
( the interests of his subjects here. I am
! the guardian in the Kings name,-of ev-
I cry co0lie. man and woman I'm this coll
I Cny. You are committing "a crime against
I these people I warned you 90 desist
You have defed me. Now YOU threaten
/ me- But III make you all an example
/ yet, Go home, and try and be men,
The colonial office upheld the action of
| the governor declared that he had acted
/ IN the interests OF the De0Ule and though
! they allowed the dismissed manager 10
/ take UP another management did SO on
mad the right 10 act rs he had done. and
! that if a second case occurred they would
not interfere. The lesson was taught and
the planters We're compelled by public
! opinion 10 behave themselves
Friend of American Capital.
While thus guarding the rights of the
/ common people. he was not unmindfuI Of
the future Of the colony. The gold fields
were almost inaccessible He took all
/ possible steps TO improve means of COM
muuic7tion with the interior. and laughed
at the foolish prejudice which had kept
American capital from coming in. while
British capital held off. afraid To venture
He encouraged American capitalists to in
vest their money in the colony. He blew
up huge rocks in the falls and rapids
which rendered the passage up the great
rivers fraUght with imminent danger To
life. restored many Of the old roads which
had fallen into desuetude. and stirred up
public opinion to a firm belief I'm the col
onys future. 1t was solely due TO his
energy. his initiative and his broad and
liberal policy toward American investors
that large company Of New York capt.
taiists was formed, and is now operating
the largest and finest equipped gold mine
in the three GUianaS.
Jimmy was feared by the common
people but they an believed in him and