Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-18

Macmillan and the confederates and urged
the acceptance of their offer, but the en-
peror was afraid of compromising himself
with the government of the United States.
He had a lingering notion that Secretary
seward would permit European empire to
exist upon the North American continent
and was afraid to prejudice the authorities
at Washington by accepting aid from con-
federate refugees. Had his decision been
otherwise his fate might possibly have
been different. There has been a great deal
of interesting speculation on this subject
Gov. Reynolds told me that he believed
himself responsible largely for Macmillan s
fate After Louis Napoleon had withdrawn
his support and had refused the appeals of
Carlotta for more money and more troops
Macmillan determined to give up the fight
and make the best terms possible with
JuareZ, but Gov. Reynolds. whose advice
he sought, convinced him that such
course would be fatal to his reputation as
well as his life; that the liberals under
Juarez would shoot him anyhow and that
appeal to them would be unworthy of
his race and his rank.
The Austrian archduke accepted this view
of his duty and fell under volley from re-
publican rifles at Quereterro.
White Men in the Tropics.
The confederate colony did not prove a
success. This is not white mans country.
He does better IN cooler zones. He can
manage railways and factories and do a
commercial business or other indoor work
in any climate. but very few Americans or
white men of any race can work in the
fields make successful farmers in the
tropics. There have been many foreign
settlements and individual planters down
here but they did not thrive The original
settlers, and perhaps a second generation,
may survive, but third generation never
appears. This fact is not peculiar to Mex
leo. 1t is the same everywhere in the trop-
les Speaking on this subject. one of the
oldest American residents or Mexico said
the other day:
Ideal tropical conditions for vegetable
growth such as a heavy rainfall and In
tense heat and humidity, are Incompatible
with the health of people who are born in a
colder zone. Hence the number of success
full northern farmers in the tropics Is very
small. Those who are fortunate enough to be
able to spend the unhealthy season in a
cooler climate get along very well. but such
relief is not possible to the ordinary
farmer who Is trying 10 develop q coffee or
sugar plantation for himself. The sun and
the malaria will get him sooner or later.
and the effect of the climate upon his moral
consciousness is quite bad as upon his
physical health; the tendency of all immt-
grants from the north In tropical regions Ia
downward and not upward The immoral
microbe is quite abundant and danger
Gus the maiarial mosquito. Weak char
acters go all to pieces. They become reck-
less and dissolute; they lose their ambi-
ton and seif-respect and let go of them
\
do things down here that they would con-
denim with the greatest severity at home
II takes about nine months for man to
get acclimated morally. and IL he survives
that period without losing his own self-re-
spect and the respect of others he can be
trusted. The railway companies and other
large employers recognize this popularity
of the climate and do. everything they can
to brace up their imported employees. and
furnish them with healthful diversions and
keep them out. OF temptation. The constant
association with q lower order OF fellow
beings together with the enervating infiu-
ences OF the climate. the lack OF restraint
from moral and religious surroundings and
the temptation to lonesome, homesick
man to Kill time with dissipation Is even
more to be dreaded than the climate.
would not advise any northern man to
come to tropical Mexico to farm or to seek
employment of any kind. He can do much
better at home
Success Of Some Americans.
The confederate colony dispersed In few
years. The last OF them. DIR. Russell, for
merly of Chattanooga, Tenn. died about
officially appraised at $4,000. which he
bequeathed to nephew tsome say niece).
two years ago. . bachelor, leaving an estate