The National tribune., 1908-03-26

sugar each year one-tenth of the money
loaned them.
The remainder of their store they
were free to dispose of on as good terms
as they could make to the Netherlands
Trading Company, which held the
monopoly of transport and sale of Gov
ernment produce. Enormous profits to
both mill owner and Government almost
Immediately followed the introduction
of this system, and for a decade Java
enjoyed revenue of more than So, ,000,-
600 yearly from its Java sugar sales.
The whole east end of the island and
the low, hot lands along the coast were
planted in sugar, and the system work
ed so satisfactorily that the mill owners
made no protest against the compulSion
imposed upon them of selling one-third
of their product to the Government at
its price.
Tea and Coffee.
Sugar raised under this system proved
such a success that it was decided to
try tea, and the Government initiated
tea growing with great anticipations.
Tea plants were brought over from ia
pan and China with skilled cultivators
to show the natives how to care for
them. But the Java leaf did not COM
pare favorably with the China, Japan
or Indian teas. and until its price was
greatly reduced it was a good deal of a
drug on the market. Java teas have
greatly improved in quality, and much
ground is devoted to their cultivation,
but the expectations entertained of it as
a source of revenue were hardly real
lied on account of its powerful COM
petitors in the field.
Under the culture system the coffee
production was increased, and by pay
ing the native official who had charge
of each community percentage for any
superiority in Ehe berries produced in
his district the quality of the coffee was
greatly improved until it was conceded
to be superior to any other coffee sold,
which reputation it sustained for many
years.
Under this system the condition of the
Javanese was wonderfully improved
They acquired comfortable homes. many
of them becoming quite rich. During
the so years that it fourished more
money was paid directly to the natives
each year than the entire native tax AS
the remarkable success of this system
began to be manifest to other countries
envy of Hollands SNAP" was awaken
ed, taking shape in storm of indigna- |
ton, which broke upon her head, for
what was considered her injustice and
iniquities perpetrated in Java.
1t was pointed out that almost no part |
Of the great revenues were being en-
ployed for the education or christianiz-
ng of the natives, and comparatively
little used in the way of public improve
nents by means of which the natives
would benefit. The country was drained
If its wealth for the sole advantage of a II
listant monarch. Ignorance of the true
situation called forth entirely erroneous
as is always the case, in
which the inquities and horrors of the
Dutch management of the cinnamon
,ardens in Ceylon and the cruel tyranny
# the East Indian Company's govern
nent of Java were stupidity mixed up.
Finally public opinion was aroused in
which reached its hight just
lbout the time that the price of Java
ugar began to fall on account of west
.rn competition, and when most of the
Office plantations were ruined by a
blight. Then Hollands conscience de-
,lared that the culture system must
70, and It was abolished at once
The culture system was nothing short
If an inspiration, and accomplished in
/ few years what its native population,
f left TO themselves, would not have
lone in centuries, if ever. 1t brought to
he island great numbers of refined, in
elligent, capable men, who became the
most important body. of Europeans in
lava, and who with their sons to-day
'eally rule the country