POLITICAL INFLUENCE OP THE AFRICAN* 



party, as the opposition party is called, is composed almost 

 exclusively of white members. The reason of this classifi- 

 cation is very obvious, and illustrates the nature of the 

 power possessed by the former. The Country party is 

 composed of the large planters, who pay the most of the 

 taxes, and who need legislative protection. The colored 

 classes in general do not feel the taxes, and have nothing 

 to be protected. The present policy of Downing street, it 

 is well known, is adverse to protection. The planting 

 interest wishes the expenses of the island, and the official 

 salaries reduced ; the appointees of Downing street wish 

 no such thing, The colored people generally care nothing 

 about the expenses of government, for they do not have to 

 pay them, while they are not adverse to high salaries, 

 because the home government sagaciously dispenses a 

 liberal share of the offices and patronage among this part 

 of the population. Probably four-fifths of all the public 

 offices on the island are filled by colored people and ne- 

 groes. 



It is unnecessary to say that this state of things is beget- 

 ting a serious antagonism between the government and the 

 country parties, and has ahead v gone far to alienate the 

 latter from their allegiance. It discourages and disgusts 

 them. Its more remote tendency is to depreciate the value 

 of every kind of property, but especially of real estate ; and 

 to promote emigration of capitalists and capital from the 



