A trip to the Windward islands. Straker, D. Augustus (David Augustus), -1908. Detroit : J. H. Stone & co., [c1896] http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015018048408 Public Domain, Google-digitized http://www.hathitrust.org/access_use#pd-google We have determined this work to be in the public domain, meaning that it is not subject to copyright. Users are free to copy, use, and redistribute the work in part or in whole. It is possible that current copyright holders, heirs or the estate of the authors of individual portions of the work, such as illustrations or photographs, assert copyrights over these portions. Depending on the nature of subsequent use that is made, additional rights may need to be obtained independently of anything we can address. The digital images and OCR of this work were produced by Google, Inc. (indicated by a watermark on each page in the PageTurner). Google requests that the images and OCR not be re-hosted, redistributed or used commercially. 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DL and Birth- :ss Money 166 Woodward Avenue, DETROIT, niCH. Tr.is Book is tho praoarty , >ui largest and I most completer* institution of .* the kind in Michigan. Students prepared for high-class teaching,.* for concert-playing on all instruments, and-.* for church, oratorio.* and concert singing.** It PhofdWAPriE^. 224 Woodward Ave. DETROIT. KEPT IN Cawn LAWNS ORDER By the week or season. mowing Mail Orders Promptly Attended to. «and* II. C. CLARK, Roiling neatly Done. Phone 3722. 1 72 Adelaide St., Detroit. A TRIP TO THE Windward Islands; OR Then and Now. AUGUSTUS STRAKER, " Author of the Life and Times of Touissant L CVerture," and "The New South Investigated." DETROIT, MICH.: Press of James H. Stone & Co. AUG 2 0 I ^TROTT, MICH. Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 189G by D. Augustus Straker, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington, D. C. This Book is Dedicated to MY MOTHER In grateful recollection of her sole maternal care. THE AUTHOR. BENEFIT OF TRAVEL. " In various knowledge to instruct my youth, And conquer prejudice, 'worst foe to truth, 'By foreign' acts, domestic faults to mend, Enlarge my notions, and my views extend." —Lord Lyttleton. * Contents. CHAPTER L Page. Introductory 7 A Trip to the Windward Islands— Views andJObservations 10 8t. Thomas >1 St. Croix " St. Martins 16 St. Kltts 1* Nevis »1 Montserrat Antigua 28 Gaudaloupe *S Martinique 28 The Saints *7 Dominica 28 St. Lucia s» CHAPTERJII. Barbadoes— Its Discovery, Industrial Status, Political, Social, Moral and Religious Condition 81 Froude in Review 64 General View 88 CHAPTER HI. Colored West Indians who have attained prominence "in the United States M Prominent Colored Men in the Windward Islands 73 Present Condition 78 CHAPTER IV. Annexation of the West India Islands to the United States (?) 78 Constitutional Crisis of 1876 88 APPENDIX. Brief sketch of Trinidad, Jamaica, Hay tl and Bermuda 96 Cuba and Porto Rico Reviewed 107 End. 257215 INTRODUCTORY. These pages are written with a view only, of causing investigation, and reflection upon the condition of our little neighbors, the West India Islands. Like a brood of chickens, they nestle near us, and would seem to demand our attention, and protection when needed. Their con tiguity to our shores, places them in relation to the continent of North America as the arms to the main body. Our recent war with Spain has placed them more con spicuously than ever before, in an interested relationship with the United States. Of late more than usual and ordi nary interest has been awakened concerning these islands, and although the Windward Islands, of which we especially treat in these pages, mostly belong to Great Britain, yet they are a part of the cluster known as the West Indies, and their condition —although not like Cuba and Porto Rico under Spanish rule, nevertheless on account of our recent new relationship with the Spanish colonies of Cuba, and Porto Rico—awakens inquiry concerning the entire group, and their future relationship with the United States. The Ethnologist, the Philosopher and- the Statesman all, are seeking to inquire about the habits, customs and capacities of these people. The Monroe Doctrine only has kept the question in abeyance for these many years. This doctrine now modified and expanded in construction, in the language of David Dorchester, D. D., in an article in the January number, 1899, of the American Monthly Review of Re 8 Introductory. views, brings "the United States face to face with a new problem thrust upon her by the issues of the late war. Hitherto she has been content to live within herself, hus banding for the benefit of her own people the higher life her institutions have developed. Recent events call upon her to disseminate her best gifts in 'regions beyond,' and to share a part directly in the uplift of needy outside popula tions. Shall she establish colonial and protectorate rela tions over the weaker people thrust upon her? * * * * "Who shall say that the United States, peopled from Europe, and sharing in her civilization in an even higher degree, is not also called to the same worldwide responsi bility?" It is to be augured from such sentiments, that our future relationship to these islands will be that of a protector, if not a governor. After centuries of struggle under the iron heel of Span ish tyranny and misrule, bordering on savagery and bar barism, the Republic of the United States is the first sover eign power to exercise the higher law of human rights above international code, and emancipate a struggling peo ple from an unparalleled thraldom, both civil and physical. Disregarding precedent, or the letter of the law, with our blood and treasure we have added a new page to interna tional obligations, we have fixed a beacon light in civiliza tion, which for centuries will not become dim, and its light will shed glory, make clear human rights and secure justice between the strong and the weak for ages to come. No more "might over right" shall prevail; but the principles established by the forefathers of our Republic will receive our protection, whenever or wherever needed. This is American destiny. Some may view with alarm what may be termed expansion of our territorial possessions. Nor does the writer advocate such for the reason of possessing ourselves of distant lands, save only as commerce and pro tection shall demand ; but nevertheless the following pages TROPICAL PALMS AND COCOANUT TREE. Introductory. 9 will inform concerning the condition of the people so nearly a part of us, as to make some inquiry concerning them not altogether unprofitable. This is not imperialism nor pater nalism. It is simply foresight. Our commercial relation ship with the West Indies will take on a new phase in the near future. But, as the reader will observe, these pages do not seek to thrust relationship, commercial or otherwise, with the West Indies upon the United States, but only de scribe a condition among these people which the philoso pher of history will not deny, will bring about a change of masters soon. Local self-government is the cry of the nineteenth century, and will be the consummation of the twentieth. From the time of the Netherlands, to home rule in Ireland, the struggle has been going on. William the Silent of Orange, Garibaldi, Parnell and Gladstone, have been raised up for such work. The development of man kind is the question of the hour. The objection held by the writer to annexation of terri tory to the United States is distance without adequate profit. The Philippines and our future relationship with these people present different and distinct reasons than those for a closer relationship with the West Indies. In deed, it is with no purpose to urge either annexation or conquest, that these pages have been written. A careful review will show the reader that the tendency in the Wind ward lies of the West Indies is, to Confederation or Home Rule. Even in such a condition shall we not need know more about them, their resources and their benefits. It is with such a view the following pages have been written and are presented to the public. AUTHOR. IO A Trip to the Windward Islands. ' CHAPTER I. A TRIP TO THE WINDWARD ISLANDS— VIEWS AND OBSERVATIONS OF THE PEOPLE AND THEIR CONDITION. On April 23, 1895, I left Detroit on the Grand Trunk Railway for New York, from which place I took steamer for the West Indies, my destination being Bridgetown, the chief town of Barbadoes.