Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 January 1902 — DANISH WEST INDIES NOW BELONG TO UNCLE SAM. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

DANISH WEST INDIES NOW BELONG TO UNCLE SAM.

HE treaty of cession of the-Danish West Indian Islands from Denmark to the United States was sighed at the Jl State Department Friday by Secretary Hay and Constantine Brun, the Danish minister. The treaty was submitted to the Senate for ratification Immediately. The Danish West Indies consist of three small islands lying southeast of PoTto Rico, St. Thomas having about 12,000 people, St. Croix 25,000, and St. John the smallest and least important. St. Croix Is the largest, but commercially and strategically not as important as St. Thomas. To the United States St. Thomas has been of great value. With a safe and easy entrance, a roadstead deep and almost land-locked, affording safe anchorage to more than 200 vessels at one time, It has become the chief port of call and the chief coaling point in the West Indies. More than 100,000 tons of fuel, all of which comes from the United States, are handled there each year, and such is the business of the town and Its close connection with America that English has been the language generally spoken there for the last fifty years. Moreover, the harbor can, by fortification, be easily made impregnable. All of these things have made for annexation. Vitiations for tlhe sal© of the islands to the United States were begun by William H. Seward, Secretary of State, In 1869, when a treaty between Denmark and the United States was concluded. An election held in the islands resalted in practically unanimous ratification, but when the treaty reached the United States Senate It was turned down. This country was then in the throes of the reconstruction period, when many of the Southern States were without representation at Washington. There was a heavy public debt which many thought could be wiped out only by repudiation, and the people were unwilling to add to their burden. They rejected at tile same time the proposition to anaex San Domingo.

MAP SHOWING LOCATION OF THE DANISH WEST INDIAN ISLANDS.