The Herald 29. marts 1916
Aabent Brev til Socialdemokratiets Hovedbestyrelse i Danmark.
Dear Sir - Der blev for kort Tid siden under Strejken præsenteret mig en Liste til Undertegning omtrentlig saalydende:
,,To og Tredive (32) danske Socialdemokrater paa St. Croix anmoder herved Partiet i Danmark, om ikke at sende nogen Understøttelse af nogensomhelst Art ud til D. Hamilton Jackson, da der her paa St. Croix ikke exisisterer nogen egentlig Arbejderforening, men Hamilton Jacksons Agitation er nærmest baceret paa ,,Race-had."
Da han ikke indtager nogen egentlig førerstilling, fraraades det herved Partiet i Danmark, at sende Understøttelse herud."
Denne Liste, som var stilet til Socialdemokratiets Hovedbestyrelse i Danmark, saa jo ganske uskyldig ud, og mange godtroende Maend, satte deres Navn under, (det kostede jo ikke noget) mange mente at de som Socialdemokrat maatte støtte Sagen da de jo maatte gaa ud fra, at Listen virkelig var udsendt af intereserede Socialdemokrater paa St. Croix. Dette er, som jeg nu erfarer ikke Tilfældet. Sandheden er den, at Listens Ombærere af Kaptajn Kammerjunker Fuglede, er bleven betalt med henimod 100 Frcs. for at paatage sig Judasgerningen, hvilket i Grunden ikke kunde formenes da der jo er Folk nok, som vil tjene Penge. Samtidig med blev et Telegram afsendt til Socialdemokratiets Hovedbestyrelse, med omtalte Listes Indhold, det gjaldt jo om at forhindre Udsendelsen af den forventede Understøttelse da Strejken var paa sit Højdepunkt, og det strejkende Arbejderparti begyndte at føie Sultens Kvaler.
Den endnu ikke godkendte Arbejderforening var ved Strejkens Begyndelse kun 2 Maaneder gammel og havde selvfølgelig ikke noget Strejkefond at ty til. Bekostningen af dette Telegram sirke 200 Frs. blev rimeligvis bestridt af Fuglede medens Ombæreren matte være Straamand og lægge Navn til. Som det jo heraf sees er det jo ikke Socialdemokratiet paa St. Croix, men derimod, den strejkende Arbejderforenings Modstander Kaptajn Fuglede, som satte Listen i Cirkulation.
Den ærede Kammerjunker synes dog her at have paataget sig en Opgave som sikkert ikke henhører under Gendarmerikorpsets Opgaver da der ikke findes nogen Hjemmel herfor i "Bestemmelser for Ordningen af Tjenesten i det vestindiske Gendarmerikorps."
Dersom Kaptajnen kun har været Straamand for en Administrator, burde hans Titel efter min Opfattelse være Kaptajn Kammerjunker Straamand Fuglede.
Socialdemokratiet i Danmark er jo paa denne Maade i højeste Grad bleven vildledt med Hensyn til Telegrammets rette Forfatter ligesom mange af de ærede Undertegnere, vel heller ikke havde undertegnet Listen dersom de var bleven oplyst om Sagens rette Sammenhæng. Idet jeg herved tillader mig at oplyse D. Hrr Undertegnere om Sagens rette Sammenhæng, er jeg Hr. Redaktør deres.
AXEL E. MORTENSEN.
forh. Corporal i det vestindiske Gendarmerikorps.
Christiansted, 28-3.-1916.
I Jacksons blad "The Herald" mindedes man Gustav Adolph Hagemann i anledning af hans dødsfald på denne måde:
The Herald, 2. maj 1916:
In the Danish News published in this issue we find mention of the death in Copenhagen of Councillor Hagemann.
The deceased is one of Denmark's richest men and is well know and highly respected by his confreres in business and a wide circle of notables.
He was honored by the King with the title of Privy Councillor (Geheimekonferensraad) and is one of the leading men of his political party.
He will be remembered in St. Croix for many reasons: He is the owner of the LaGrange concern and has shares in many others.
Again he will be remembered for his activities against us and our movement --- this reform movement --- and as a strictly pro-sale advocate.
One of his sons, Mr. Gunnar Hagemann, has resided out here some years, but is no in favor of expending more money on the concern. This we learnt from his own lips in Europe last summer.
It is to be hoped, however, that, in the demise of the Hon. Councillor his estate out here will continue to receive the same attention they have been having during his lifetime, and that the industry in that part of the island will not be affected.
På Hagemanns Kollegiums nuværende hjemmeside, står der under "historie": " 1908 indviede industri- og videnskabsmanden Gustav Adolph Hagemann sit historiske kollegium på indre Østerbro under mottoet "Tien andre, vil selv du tienes." Hagemann benyttede derved en del af sin formue, der var indtjent gennem et langt liv, til at afhjælpe studerendes boligbehov." Ingen detaljer om hvor han havde tjent formuen, bl.a. sukkerindustrien.
Ringsted Folketidende, 12. maj 1917.
Bragte et langt interview med en af besætningsmedlemmerne Volmer Nielsen, der den 10. november 1915 sejlede til vestindien for at "virke beroligende paa de livlige Gemytter derovre". Han berettede bl.a om på Valkyrien:
En Midtsjællander fortæller om Togtet til Vestindien hvor han også nævner ildebrandene og lemfældigt tilskriver dem den indfødte befolkning:
Det hændte bl.a. under de Plantagebrande som i Januar Maaned forskellige Steder paa St. Croix. Disse Brande var sikkert paasatte af den indføfte Befolkning."
Til brandslukningen blev også fanger fra Frederiksted brugt, ofte truet med revolvere. Om Hamilton Jackson udtalte han at han havde set og hørt ham
"adskillige gange bl.a. paa Unions-dagen da han af Negrene blev fejret som en sand Nationalhelt. ... .
Nu, da Amerikanerne er bleven Herre paa Øerne, er Hamilton Jacksons gyldne Dage
som Folkefører nok ude. Noget af det første, de nye Magthavere foretog sig var at beslaglægge hans Trykkeri."
H. N.s (Hans Nielsens) artikler fra Social-Demokraten blev oversat til engelsk og bragt i "The Herald" den 25. maj 1916:
The Herald 25. maj 1916:
Editorial
The article by Mr. Hans Nielsen, the translation of which appears elsewhere in this issue, is sufficient evidence to show the public that the "conditions in St. Croix" are well understood in Denmark.
That the director of a large concern out here would try to create the impression at home that the strike was the outcome of a want of rioting is not surprising. And that men high in position but low in morals would write wicked lies against us is just what could have been expected. But what we said about the horrible conditions in the island was substantiated by Danes who had been in the West Indies.
The writer speaks of the ill-will against the officials who are the representatives of Denmark. There have been well founded reasons for the ill-will. The planters are reproached for the low wages paid the laborers - 20-25 cts. per day; while we find the highest official here, telling some of the planters, at a meeting in Government House, that they could pay the laborers f. c. 25 cts. per day, and let them pay $1.00 per month for a room. At that time laborer's wage was 25 cts. per day, and he paid no rent for his room. When Mr. Helwig-Larsen was attacked by "Social-Demokraten" he wrote in "Berlingske Tidende" saying that the lowering the laborers' wages was not discussed at all.
We hear of some engaged in such indignified proceedings as bribing others to cable false reports to our supporters in Denmark.
A habitual drunkard never seems to feel more insult than when reproached of being an inebriate. Dishonorable, mean men, who disgrace their positions, never feel more insulted than when their deeds of wrong and induce are made public; then everyone begins to fight for his HONOR. We are in the midst of such a bunch.
The people in the West Indies know that the Danes are a highly cultured people, but they gained this knowledge from books. There are some high-salaried Danes out here who possess no culture and refinement. See how they abuse their servants. Think of the pressure they bring to bear on all who would dare to expose their acts of dishonesty, immorality and injustice.
The greatest local fighter against this movement died while our editor was abroad; and the ablest fighter against us in Denmark has also thrown down the cudgel and repaired to his last earthly resting place, perhaps to await the day of reckoning.
Our supporters in Denmark are good and sincere people, who would not like to know that Denmark rules over a colony of slaves. And but for their powerful and effective agitation, this beautiful island had been the scene of ruin.
St. Croix is in the grip of three men - wicked, cruel men. Men who hate the Negroes. And the sooner she gets rid of them, the better.
The Herald 27. maj 1916:
Conditions in the Danish West Indian Gendarmery Corps.
Suicide of the Danish West Indian Gendarme No. 104, John Lemcke Otto.
From "Nordlyset."
I shall here try to inform my readers of the reasons for this young man's sorrowful action.
Gendarme No. 104. Otto, a nephew of the Commandant of Copenhagen, Major-General Lemcke Otto, came as gendarme to the West Indies in 1914. After a short stay in St. Croix he was in the month of June same year removed to the detachment in St. Thomas. where Lieutenant A. G. G. Bang resided as Commander of the detachment.
Gendarme Otto, who was much cared for by his comrades, was at once chosen, on his arrival in St. Thomas, to fill the place of trust in the general housekeeping - a housekeeping which is administrated by three gendarmes, but under the control and responsibility of the Commander of the detachment.
After the outbreak of the war the prices of foodstuffs in St. Thomas increased considerably, and in consequence thereof there was a little deficit in the cash of the general housekeeping. This deficit, which amounted to about Fr. 15 per man, was deducted by the command of Lieutenant Bang from the wages of the men.
In the meantime as it stands in the rules for enrollment that only Frc. 1.75 (35cts.) per man can be retained daily for food, the men naturally refused to accept the little balance of wages, maintaining of course the conditions under which they were enrolled.
The men, on the contrary, were willing to do as they had done on previous occasions when there was a deficit in the cash, to work out this deficit by strict economy in the following months. This did not, however, suit Lieutenant Bang, and at roll-call the following day he three times commanded the men to receive the few pennies left them as wages, reminding them at the same time what it meant for them to refuse to obey a command given three times.
Gendarme Otto, who as chairman for the general housekeeping spoke for his comrades, did not agree with Lieutenant Bang on this point, but as he himself was aware of what the consequences would be if the men refused to obey a given command, he was obliged to suffer the same fate as his comrades, and let Lieutenant Bang keep his poor salary.
The result was that the poor Negro women who attended to the washing of the men's uniforms had to wait fcr a long time for their hard-earned wash money.
From this moment Lieutenant Bang seemed to take a dislike towards Otto, which only awaited an opportunity to show itself.
And this opportunity was not long in coming as Otto was so unfortunate a short time afterwards to appear four minutes late for police duty. He was at once sentenced to a punishment of two days' arrest, whilst a gendarme No. 55 Christensen, who some time later met 12 minutes over time for said duty was only sentenced to one day's arrest. As Otto furthermore, on a later occasion had been relieved about 25 steps from his place of relief in town he was, with a few hours' notice removed to King's Hill, St. Croix, a little Gendarmery station located in the centre of the island, - a dreary resort for a young man.
The effects of this soon showed itself, as the previously glad and lively young man assumed a gloomy and depressed state of mind.
A short time afterwards he was placed in the hospital of Christiansted and was promised by Capt. Fuglede that he would be dismissed and allowed to return home to Denmark.
But one fine day the order came from Capt. Fuglede that he should leave the hospital, and again go to King's Hill to serve the balance of his time.
The young man, who had been unspeakably glad at the thought of returning home became extremely depressed upon receiving this order, and his melancholy state of mind made a painful impression on his comrades at King's Hill They imagined that something serious would happen - and it did happen!
On the first night of his guard after returning from the hospital despair gained the upper hand in the stillness of the night.
Otto left the guard room about 1 o'clock,. went behind the barrack, placed a revolver to his temple, and fired. He was found alive in the morning at 5:20 o'clock, by Sergeant Sebak. who telephoned to Christiansted for Dr. Heyn, and at the same time informed Capt. Fuglede of what had happened. Dr. Heyn had, in the meantime, gone on his usual morning sail: and Capt. Fuglede. instead of telephoning immediately to Frederiksted for the Doctor there, who could have arrived at King's Hill in about 20 minutes and perhaps saved the young man's life, sat down to wait until Dr. Heyn returned. Through which means Gendarme Otto only received medical attendance about 2 ½ hrs. after he had been found. Shortly afterwards Otto drew his last breath and died of internal hemhorrhage.
Otto was buried in the plainest manner. The men were refused permission to show their dead comrade their last marks of honor. A simple wooden cross marks the spot where the unfortunate young man lies buried in Dr. Kalmer's estate.
At home, in the far distant Denmark, his two old parents remain, bewailing the loss of their unfortunate son, who, young and gay, left their home, - that home to which he never more would return.
Now I ask, whose is the grave responsibility?
AXEL E. MORTENSEN.
Former Corporal in the West Indian Gendarmery Corps.
New York, May 6th 1916
Demokraten lod i en artikel 21. august 1916 på forsiden Axel E. Mortensen advare mod at lade sig hverve som gendarm på St. Croix. Udover de dårlige forhold som fx sygdom, advarede han også mod officererne der anklages for at være folk som "af en eller anden grund finder det tjenligt at ryste fædrelandets støv af sine fødder". Og herunder kaptajn, kammerherre Fuglede. Han kom til Vestindien i juni 1914. Da der ikke findes nogen straffemyndighed i Vestingen, har han "en næsten uindskænket straffemyndighed som han også har brugt i høj grad, hvilket det store antal straffe og krigsretsdomme beviser, som er bleven afsagt siden hans tiltrædelse som chef for gendarmerikorpset". Herefter referer han gendarm nr. 104 John Lemcke Ottos selvmord. Endelig beskriver artiklen i detaljer dagligdagen i tjenesten. Herunder ydmygelser foran lokalbefolkningen. Officerernes drukgilder. Fugledes sparetiltag som alle sammen er gået ud over gendarmernes forhold.
Den 8. juni 1916 blev en fredelig forsamling af knap 4.000 personer splittet ad af bevæbnede gendarmer, efter ordre af politimesteren som handlede for guvernøren. Hamilton Jackson klagede til guvernør Helweg-Larsen der forklarede at politimesteren kun havde modtaget en telefonisk henvendelse hvori mødet blev bebudet, og mente han havde krav på en skriftlig. Guvernøren måtte erkende at det slet ikke havde været nødvendigt med en anmeldelse, og at politimesteren var blevet informeret om denne praksis, og at politimesteren i Frederiksted ikke kunne forbyde forsamlinger af denne art for fremtiden.
The Herald, 5. juli 1916:
Vi Skulde Skamme Os!
N. B. - Følgende Artikkel har vaeret indsendt til Flere danske Blade af dem som angreb Hamilton Jackson. Det har saaledes ligget paa Berlingske Tidendes Redaktion i over tre Maaneder - men uden Resultat.
Intet har i den sidste Tid gjordt mig saa ondt som da "Valkyrien" blev sendt til "Dansk Vestindien". Det glaedede mig meget at se Befolkningen derovre sende Hamilton Jackson herover for deres Spareskillinger, det glædede mig endnu mere at se hans velbegrundede reformforslag. Jeg saa deri Fölgerne af den gode Paavirkning de seneste Aar har faaet fra Booker Washingtons Skole: At Negrene skal rejse sig ved eget Arbejde. Men straks faldt det danske Grin over ham fra mange forskellige Sider. Det gjorde mig meget ondt, fordi jeg vidste, hvor alvorligt Negrene selv saa paa Forholdene, baade fordi jeg vidste, hvor inderligt de ønskede at tilhøre Danmark, samtidig med at de indsaa, hvor nødvendigt en Reformation var.
Jeg gik derfor til de Blade, som mest hensynsløst omtalte Negrenes retfaerdige og ideelle Krav, og bad dem om at optage Artiklen om Forholdene som de virkelig ere, og som jeg vidste, de bedste Negro saa paa Forholdene.
Det var mig imidlertid ganske umuligt at faa mine Artikler optaget, derimod var man straks villig til at optage en hel Del løse og mindre paalidelige Beskyldninger mod Hamilton Jacksons Person, blandt andet, at han var bleven afsat, fra sin Stilling som Laerer.
Lad vaere, at Hamilton Jackson er blevet afsat, det aendrer dog ikke hans retfaerdige Krav og det, at han er blevet afsat og ikke har kunnet faa Ansaettelse igen, kan godt vaere den bedste Anbefaling der kan gives Manden, thi jeg har fra mange, og meget paalidelige Kilder erfaret, at man er saare langt fra at saette Pris paa Booker Washingtons ideele Studenter - ja vaerre endnu - man har enda ikke skammet sig ved at lade disse begejstrede unge Maend og Kvinder maerke, at Negrene egentlig var bedst tjent med at blive i den gamle Uvidenhed og Slavetilstand.
De var nemlig lettere at kujonere for de middelalderlige Slavefogder eller "Drivere", som man betegnende nok for Arbejdet kalder Forvalterne derovre.
Det er for en stor del disse Slavefogders Skyld at ,,Valkyrien" blev sendt - men det at Negrene begynder at skamme sig, ved at have slige Ridefogder og slige Forhold paa Øerne- -er en udmaerket Anbefaling for Negrene derovre.
Hvis godtroende Danskere vidste, hvad der er Driverens Opgave - hvorledes han virker og hvad han ustraffet kan byde den sorte Arbejder saa vilde man forfaerdes, og selv om der findes Haedersmaend blandt Forvalterne, Systemet - der har brug for slige Herrer finder Sproget ingen Ord, de kan forsvare.
Naar man vundet Negrenes Tillid, siger Booker Washington, General Armstrong og andre der kender negrene saa findes der ikke en mere trofast Race paa Jorden. Derfor havde det været bedre at sende en Mand der havde vundet Negrenes Tillid eller lytte til en af Negrenes egne Repraesetanter f f. Eks. lade Negrene sende et Medlem til Danmarks Rigsdag. Det havde vaeret bedre end at sende "Valkyrien" thi et Krigsskib vinder sandelige ikke Negrenes Tillid.
Men hvad der end sker - Vestindien maa bevares for Danmark - og det sker kun ved, at Befolkningen bliver oplyste, lykkelige og aedruelige, at der skabes gensidig Tillid - og det sker kun ved at Negrene faar Lov til at styre med.
Lad dem sende et Medlem til den danske þÿRigsdag -- slig en Negerrepraesentant vil blive en Aere for den danske Nation -- og vi vilde som for 100 Aar siden faa Aeren af at have gaaet i Spidsen.
Kristen Svaneborg
Forfatter
New Tork den 24' Juni 1916
I Dansk Forfatterleksikon er omtalt K. Svaneborg (1884-1957) som desuden er vicevært og lokomotivfører, født Kristen Andersen Svaneborg, med pseudonymet Johannes Lund.
Stemningen i Danmark var ved at vende en smule, men kun en smule i form af enkelte kritiske artikler beskrev om de hvides opførsel overfor de sorte: Under overskriften "Arbejderforholdene i Dansk Vestindien" skrev skoledirektør i Dansk Vestindien O. Rübner-Petersen i Berlingske Tidende artikler 8., 12. og 17. juli 1916 (Se Mediestream). De referedes i socialdemokratiske aviser:
Demokraten (Århus), 15. juli 1916:
En oprejsning for Hamilton Jackson og de vestindiske Arbejdere.
En opsigtsvækkende Artikel i "Berlingske Tidende Tidende".
Man erindrer endnu den Haan, som Højrebladene - og ikke mindst "Berlingske Tidende " - øste ud over Hamilton Jackson og de vestindiske Arbejdere, da Negrene erklærede Strejke paa St. Croix. Højrebladene stemplede Hamilton Jackson som en samvittighedsløs Rabaldermager, og Negrene blev kun omtalt i de mest nedsættende Vendinger som dovne og upaalidelige. Forsvaret for Planterne og afdøde Hagemann var lige saa varmt som disse Blades Angreb paa Negrene var hadefuldt.
"Berlingske Tidende"s Læsere ser nu - sikkert til deres største Forbavselse - Bladet gør en fuldstændig Kovending. Allerede for en Maanedstid siden bragte Bladet en "Artikel af Skoledirektør paa de vestindiske Øer, Rübner-Petersen, der har opholdt sig paa Øerne i en Aarrække og saaledes kender Forholdene ud og ind. I denne Artikel fremtraadte Hr. Rübner-Petersen som en varm Forsvarer for Negrene. Forleden bringer "Berlingske Tidende" en ny Artikel fra Hr. Rübner-Petersens Haand, der i endnu højere Grad gendriver Højrebladenes usande Skildringer af Negrenes Kaar og de Begivenheder, der blev en Følge af Planternes Profitbegær. Hr. Rübner-Petersen skriver bl. a. om den skammelige Udsmidning af Negrene fra deres Hjem, Hr. Hagemanns Bestyrer satte i Værk, efter at Strejken var erklæret:
"Jeg maatte strax tage Parti for de Strejkende, der, bortviste fra deres Hjem og for Størstedelen ludfattige, var saare ilde stedte, og det laa da nærmest for mig særlig at tage mig af Mødre og Børn som de mindst modstandsdygtige.
Under Strejken voksede min, og for øvrigt mange andres, Sympati for Arbejderne, fordi de som Helhed betragtet opførte sig beundringsværdigt, og det selv under Forhold, som det vilde have faaet endog mere udviklede og af Naturen mere beherskede Mennesker til at tabe Taalmodigheden. At dette skyldes Lederne, først og fremmest Hamilton Jackson, der har en næsten ubegrænset Indflydelse paa dem, skønt, eller maaske snarere fordi, han ofte optræder strængt og alvorligt overfor dem, og hvem de følger i et og alt, som Børn følger en forgudet Lærer, kan der ikke være nogen Tvivl om. Den Ro, der herskede under Strejken, tjener derfor ikke alene Arbejderne, men ogsaa deres Ledere, især Hamilton Jackson, til megen Ære
_ _ _
Se - det er noget ganske andet, end Højrebladenes usande Beskyldninger mod Hamilton Jackion og de fantastiske Meddelelser om Optøjer, hvormed Planterne forsøgte at ophidse Stemningen mod Negrene. Hr. Rübner-Petersen fortsætter:
Udenforstaaende vilde vel nærmest være tilbøjelige til at sige, at den Forhøjelse, Arbejderne opnaaede, næppe svarer til mere end de sidste Aars Stigen i Priserne paa Levnedsmidlerne, og at de altsaa nu ikke er synderlig bedre stillede end for et Par siden, undtagen for saa vidt som de nu har en Forening, og deres Medbestemmelsesret er anerkendt, hvad der da ogsaa er af største Betydning for dem, og naar først alt kommer til rigtig Ro efter Lønkampen, vist ogsaa vil vise sig at være til Fordel for Arbejdsgiverne. Hr. Rübner-Petersen slutter med at sige, at en Nedsættelse af Lønnen paany vil medføre, at Arbejderne vil forlade Øen og dennes Landbrug gaa til Grunde.
Hr. Rübner-Petersens Artikel er - som man ser - en fuldstændig Oprejsning for Hamilton Jackson og de vestindiske Arbejdere.
I den danske presse begyndte der nu også at fremkomme ganske enkelte artikler som forsvarede landarbejderne, i andre blade end Social-Demokraten. Nedenstående er et uddrag af en artikel fra Berlingske Tidende:
Den til Forsendelse med de Kongelige Brevposter privilegerede Berlingske Politiske og Avertissementstidende, 17. juli 1916:
Flere Gange har jeg saaledes under Striken hørt, at nogle af Arbejderne burde skydes ned for at bringe Ro tilveje - at Arbejderne ved Militærmagt skulde tvinges til at genoptage Arbejdet paa de gamle Vilkaar, - at Arbejderne og deres Familier netop skulde føle, hvad det var at sulte, - at Skolernes forbedrede Undervisning ødelagde Negrene etc. etc. Muligt er saadanne Udtalelser ikke altid saa slemt mente, som de lyder, hvad forøvrigt ogsaa kan siges om de Udtalelser om Overklassen, som fra anden Side bruges, men Sindelaget overfor Negrene viser de alligevel.
Ret betegnende i saa Henseende er da ogsaa de mange Meddelelser om Negrene som især i sidste Halvaar danske Blade næsten altid uden Opgivelse af Hjemmelsmanden, har bragt, og som hovedsagelig skal godtgøre, hvor umulige og ondsindede Negrene er, men som heldigvis ofte er saare langt fra at være paalidelige. Lad mig nævne:
Hvide Mennesker, endog Embedsmand kunde en Tid ikke færdes paa Vejene uden ved Stenkast oa paa anden Maade at lide Overlast og blive forulempede. At dette ikke er rigtigt, vil let kunne oplyses gennem Politikontorerne.
Liberty Day, d. e. den nye Fridag, Hamilton Jackson har proklameret og som blev holdt 1ste November ifjor, opførte Arbejderne sig vel nogenlunde, men dog blev der kastet Sten paa Gendarmerne, og kun disses modige Optråden var Skyld i, at der ingen Excesser blev begaaet. - Sandheden er, at Arbejderne, der den Dag i store Flokke fra hele Øen drog til Christiansted og samledes dér, opførte sig mønsterværdigt, og det endog, skønt der engang blev kastet Sten ind mellem dem, og en Kvinde blev saaret og maatte under Lægebehandling. De viste sig, baade i Byen og paa Vejen dertil og derfra, at være en Flok af harmløse og glade Mennesker, der vilde nyde deres Fridag og ikke gøre en Kat Fortræd. - Hvorvidt der den Dag blev foretaget Arrestationer, og i saa Fald hvor mange og af hvad Grund, vil jo forøvrigt let kunne oplyses. Hvem der var Stenkasteren, er ikke udfundet, men det var Arbejderne, ikke Gendarmerne, der blev angrebne.
Arbejderne har anskaffet en Mængde moderne, amerikanske Rifler. Herude kender man intet dertil, udover at, nu som for, nogle har forsynet sig med Jagtgeværer, hvorimod det er en bekendt Sag, at mange Hvide har anskaffet Skydevaaben og Ammunition; naturligvis kun til Selvforsvar, vil enhver sige, naar det drejer sig om de Hvide, og det er ogsaa sandt nok, men nogle af de Sorte kunde jo i og for sig have samme Ret til at sætte sig i Forsvarsstand.
Saadanne Meddelelser har i den senere Tid ikke været sjældne, og bør ikke staa uimodsagte, da de hjemme kan gøre megen Skade og svække Interessen for at ophjælpe Negrene, der i saa høj Grad trænger til Støtte fra Moderlandet.
Noget godt om Negrene ser man derimod sjældent....
I sommeren 1916 begyndte den danske regering at arbejde på at den lovgivning som gjaldt i Danmark, også skulle gælde i Dansk Vestindien. Her havde straffene ellers været ulige meget hårdere end i Danmark - moderlandet. En tilpasning til danske forhold ville derfor betyde en væsentlig lempelse af straffeloven på St. Croix. Dette hilstes velkommen af The Herald, men nævnte samtidig at den kommission som var sat til dette, nok ikke var den rette til at gennemføre det:
The Herald 27. juli 1916:
Editorial.
One of the first points in our complaint to the Finance Minister was the system of justice as practised here in the Danish West Indies. At that time we spoke only for St. Croix and for the black population. That St. Thomians are satisfied to remain in the trammels of oppression may he seen from the fact that up to now, not one of the inhabitants has entered a single protest against the tyranny exercised upon them. We were surprised to learn of the outrages that have been possible in St. Thomas, and the natives, subdued by oppression, and therefore, trembling with fear, have never openly protested against the ill-treatment of their person. They have never kept watch over the members of the Colonial Council who put them under the laws then make for them. They have always supported a press that has never don? other than speak for the Government, and except St. Thomas get a free press and independent editor, with a patriotic public backing him up, they will have to depend upon St. Croix to work out their destiny. We should be glad to welcome such a man. and give him all the assistance possible.
The Common Civil Penal Law of the Mother Country which prescribes the punishments for all civil offences was recently sent out from Denmark with the object of having them enacted in the
Danish West Indies as a part of the Danish realm. This law had to be laid before the Colonial Councils of St. Croix, and St. Thomas and St. Jan for their sanction.
We have explained, and it is well known that the system of representation of the people in the Colonial Councils is one of the biggest political schemes to oppress and trample the black populations, because the limit fixed for enfranchisement is far out of the reach of the earning capacity of the bulk of the people, and only the privileged few have that right, consequently only the privileged few are directly represented.
Now, these privileged few are mostly planters and merchants, who would do anything to prevent the liberation of the people, and one of the measures used is the enacting of barbarous and unconstitutional laws, whereby they are trampled down and made to grovel on their knees before their oppressors.
As we were saying, the Home Government has recognized that the laws passed here by the Colonial Councils are barbarous and antiquated. belonging to an age when slavery and serfdom existed.
As a proof of the foregoing we quote as examples the two latest cases of pardon or reduction of sentences.
In the one case, Gordon Gill for committing burglary and stealing 40 cents was sentenced to six years in a house of correction. The sentence was confirmed by the Upper and Supreme Courts, showing that the Judge did not make a mistake in sentencing the man after the law. But they saw that the law was cruel, and therefore cabled out to release the man.
In the other case a man, for assault was sentenced to 120 days penal servitude, the State Council, consisting of the King and his Ministers, altered it to 20 days bread and water.
Here we have the new laws before the Council for their sanction. What have they done with it? Put it out for a Committee Report. Who are the members of this Committee.
Lawyer A. E. Stakemann, Chairman
Lawyer J. NIelsen, Speaker
John R. Leevy
F. Coulter
G. B. Fleming.
It would be too laborious to go into details concerning what this Committee has done, but we shall call attention to a single paragraph, that is purposely intended for anyone who publicly agitates against the actions of another part of the community. It will not take much thinking to show that personality is meant.
Paragraph 104 of the Common Civil Law says:
"When a crowd assembled at a public place has been thrice by the magistrate admonished in the name of the King and the law to disperse, those who do not obey this order are punishable with
fines and prison.
"Is, besides, violence done by any one to persons or chattels, though not so that the matter falls under § 103, he incurs prison, or under aggravating circumstances, labor in a reformatory
until 1 year.
The Committee's amendment makes the following wicked addition: "Whosoever publicly excites any part of the population against any other part of the same in a manner which is likely to disturb
the public peace, shall be punished with fines or ordinary imprisonment, provided a more severe punishment be not merited by the nature of the act.
"The punishment may under aggravating circumstances rise to hard labour in the House of Correction for 3 years."
What is the meaning of this? It means that these members of the Committee, are finding a way to stop the laborers speaking against the planters: the one church preaching from its pulpit doctrine that clashes with and excites one congregation against the other: the one political party endorsing, instead of denouncing the other political party's conduct; in short, while angrily aiming at closing our own mouth: it is an attempt to prevent any crusade against the infamous atrocities that might be in question. This is legislation. This is what the representatives of the people are doing. It is generally believed that the population (more commonly styled the PEOPLE) consists of a few planters, and these planters believe that they alone have the right of lift, liberty and property. Nothing is thought about the laborers. They were never considered units of the population. Now that they are. these representatives of the FEW would crush them. We take this pleasure in informing them that this clause will be struck out by the Mother Country, and their own holies of seeing the people's cause crumble, will crumble like the walls of the houses of Calabria during the earthquake. We shall return to other parts of the Law later on.
Dagen efter bragte en leder yderligere beskrivelse af foreslåede indskrænkninger i presse-, tale og forsamlingsfriheden, og med store bogstaver advarede mod forslaget: Too Late! Herald erklærede at mere end nogensinde var det blevet klart at den lokale regering udelukkende repræsenterede plantageejerne. Og spørgsmålet var nu hvorvidt moderlandet ville fortsætte med at acceptere dette.
Den 31. juli skrev en læser i Herald at flertallet på St. Croix ønskede at forblive under Dannebrog. Men på den anden side ønskede man også love som stadig hvilede på slavelovgivningens grundlag skulle afskaffes, en forbedring i de sociale forhold, og sluttede: Giv os reformer, eller sælg!
