Volcanic Disturbances in West Indies 241 



POLITICAL CONDITIONS 



Martinique is officially termed a colony 

 of France. While this is true, it is not 

 a colony as the American and English 

 people understand that word. Our ideas 

 of colonies are founded on the English 

 conception, implying dependencies with- 

 out participation or representation in the 

 legislature of the mother country. To 

 all intents and purposes the island is prac- 



cuss colonial government. I only wish 

 to make the point that the people of 

 Martinique are free citizens of a re- 

 public which does everything within its 

 power to foster and encourage and in- 

 crease their prosperity, and leaves to 

 them the fullest exercise of their per- 

 sonal rights and franchise. As a result, 

 the local products and industries are 

 most diversified ; the peasantry are per- 

 mitted to acquire and own places ; the 







l'liolo bv Kobert T. Hill 



Among the Ruins of St Pierre 



tically an integral part of France, with 

 elected representatives to the French 

 Senate Chamber, and the people possess 

 as complete autonomy and liberty as the 

 departments of France. In no sense is 

 this government analogous to the colo- 

 nial system of Great Britain, where the 

 people do not possess citizenship or 

 complete local self-government. 



This is not the time or place to dis- 



government is absolutely republican and 

 democratic, and the people are of a most 

 cheerful and contented disposition. 



The English West Indies are blighted 

 and dying from the colonial system of 

 government. In Martinique there are 

 still virility and hope It is true that 

 the island has suffered from the decline 

 in sugar, but, on the other hand, the 

 government has met these conditions by 



