84 



MR. STANLEY f S DEFENCE OF ABSENTEEISM. 



dence in a colder climate. With the Cuban planter the 

 case is different ; yet the Cuban planter, settled all the year 

 round at the Havanna, sees hardly more of his estate 

 than the Englishman. But even supposing that after 

 many years and frequent deaths, a race of British proprie- 

 tors had become permanent residents of Jamaica and 

 Guiana, and thereby accustomed to the climate, I believe 

 the change would not be found beneficial. In fact the 

 process of acclimation to an Englishman, necessarily involves 

 the loss of his European energies, and an approximation to 

 the bodily condition of the people among whom he lives. 

 There is even now a large Creole population of white de- 

 scent ; and assuredly their best Mends will not say of them 7 

 that in energy or industry they approach the natives of the 

 north. I have myself seen Americans from the United 

 States, not the most naturally indolent of men, settled in 

 the cities of the Spanish Main, and after long residence, 

 hardly distinguished in point of activity from the people 

 among whom they live. 



" On this ground then, I doubt the advantage as well as 

 the possibility of establishing in the West Indies a class of 

 resident English landowners ; and I utterly and altogether 

 deny the assertion, that the unproductive nature of West 

 Indian property is owing to the absenteeism of its owners." 



In other words, Mr. Stanley argues that the Englishman 

 cannot preserve his physical and mental vigor in the tropical 

 climates ; therefore absenteeism is not one of the causes of 

 the unproductiveness of West Indian property. I submit 



