The National tribune., 1907-01-24


maica planters were arrogant to the
last degree, and the enormous wealth
resulting from their monopolies and
cheap labor made their assumption lin
itless. The British Parliament had a
great deal of difficulty in managing
them. In their Colonial Assembly they
frequently sent impudent responses to
Parliament. to the effect that their in
ternal affairs and the government of
their slaves were something with which
the Parliament had nothing to do. They
would manage these to suit themselves.
When 1t was proposed to emancipate
the slaves the planters rose in wild
wrath and threatened secession, which
seems ridiculous, since there never
were more than 10000 or $1,000 whites
on the island. They also proposed to
join the United States, and hoped to
embroil our Government with Great
Britain in defense of their slave prop
erty. The Governors who were sent to
the island received instructions to as
sert the British supremacy with the
utmost rigor and to curb the insolence
of the planters.
Religion also played an important
part in these troubles The planters
were all strong EpiscOpalians and in
sistent upon the rights and prerogatives
of the Church. The Baptists and Wes-
leyfans sent missionaries to the island,
who gained large number of converts
among the slaves and afterwards the
freedmen. The planters regarded the
Baptist and Wesleyan clergymen with
especial aversion, and not infrequently
subjected them to physical maItreat-
ment. In 1888 the population was es-
timated at 617,446, of whom $4,000 be-
longed to the Episcopal Church, 10000
to the Baptist, $4,000 Methodists, TO-.
500 Presbyterians, $3.50 Roman Catho-
lies, $4,000 Moravians and $500 to 9TH
er churches. AS these figures did not
include the children, the number be-
longing to each church would probably
be tripled or quadrupied.
The Mixed Bloods.
Another source of trouble has been
the large number of mulattoes, who
have continually melted disturbance
and bred unrest in the minds of the
people. There are about 100000 of
these mulattoes to 100000 blacks and
1900 whites. 1t is almost wholly the
mulattoes who are insisting upon hold
ing Office and possessing equal rights
and privileges with the whites. They
have frequently threatened the expul-
sion of the whites, but the best check
upon them are the pure blacks, who are
more hostile to the mulattoes than they
are to the whites.
The Decreasing Prosperity.
The prosperity of the island has de-
creased with frightful rapidity since the
manumission Of the slaves In 1884. This
has not been altogether due to that act.
but because the profits OF sugar raising
have steadily declined owing to the
Of the beet-root sugar in
dustries and the free trade with Eng
land, which was Jamaica,s best GUS
toner. The islands EXPENSES have been
constantly greater than its income, and
hundreds Of plantations have been
looking to annexation to
the United States. in Iorder to secure
access to our markets, and these have
been particularly active SINCE the Span
ish War. They are not likely, how
ever, to amount to anything. There
has been of recent years a. hopeful de-
velopment of fruit raising, and a num-
ber of New England firms have largely
engaged in planting and shipping ba-
nanas. This also emphasizes the need
of free access to our markets, and
probably will promote the spirit of an
nexation. The last report, which was
in 1902, gives the total number of acres
under cultivation 739,e56, of which
200,16S under tillage and 413,15 under
pasture. Under sugar cane, 27,342
acres; coffee, 31,265; bananas. 32,S42;
cocoanuts, 1924; corn, 1874: cocoa,
3.548; ground provisions, 91.733; Gui-
nea grass, 1896; common pasture,
329,603; common pasture and pimento,
1879; pimento. 4,170.
Kinsston.
Kingston which has been over