The Express.
London, England, 1865-03-25 00:00:00

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LONDON. SATURDAY. MARCH 25.

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1

Tas vote of Thursday night will not have all
the ill consequences which some political observers
have apprehended. If it really pledged us irre-
vocably to a military policy in Canada, and was
likely to be so understood by the Canadians, it might
prove one of the most disastrous resolutions ever
taken by the House of Commons. It would place
in the power of the government of the United
States a material guarantee that would enable
them to exact any amount of concession on our
part in our contentions with them, and when at
length we found the burden intolerable, we should
have the alternative of making war at • ruinous
disadvantage, or withdrawing amidst the re-
proaches of the deceived colonists and the contempt
of the world. But this would be far too serious a
view to take of the recent debate. We can all
tell whether the House is solemnly deliberating,
or only going through a conventional patriotic
form. The proceedings of Thursday night
were • homage to sentiment—to a very
excellent sentiment—but nothing more. There
is a time for all things : a time for indulging
pleasant illusions, and a time for soberly looking
facts in the face. At present all is fair sailing,
and we are acting as we generally do in similar
circumstances. The House of Commons knows its
leader ; knows that he, now the foremost and moat
assiduous flatterer of every vain wish, will become
first the most reticent and then the most rational of
statesmen whenever the time for earnest resolution
arrives. The Marquis of HARTINGTON opened the
debate and Lord Pararntsros closed it by an
appeal to the sentiment of the House, and it is
that sentiment, and not a rational resolve, which
the vote fairly expresses.
It is true that there is something about this way
of proceeding—of shutting the eyes as • prelimi-
nary to making large promises--which to the aus-
tere may seem too speculative, and to the unob-
servant too dangerous, too much like gambling,
to be suitable to • great national council. It is
• fair weather policy, as Mr. Lows observed,
one by which we shall get all the credit of defend-
ing Canada, if the Government is only right in
believing that there will be no war. The merchant
who with fifty thousand pounds becomes liable for
another to the amount of half a million, believes
to the last that he shall never be called on for
payment, and if be never is he serves his friend
cheaply. Lord Pant/ignores way suits our
practical genius, better perhaps than the use of
our eyes, and it succeeds. Even in the recent
case of Denmark it succeeded in the main, for
although we did not get all the glory we bad pro-
poaed to ourselves, we kept out of the war, and
took credit for preventing its becoming European.
Iu that case some of us felt • little compunction
at having misled the Danes as to the kind of as-
sistance which they might expect of us, though
it was afterwards explained that the fault
was entirely on the side of the obstinate little
nation. But we shall not incur the risk of de-
ceiving the Canadians. These parliamentary de-
bates, no matter what turn they may take, or how
they may end, will save us from that danger.
Speeches, with whatever intention delivered,
spread • knowledge of the facts, and their publica-
tion renders an inestimable service to the Cana-
dians, making the military situation of the colony
plain to the meanest capacity. A Minister rises
in his place and enforces on the House the sacred
obligation of defending Canada ; but before he sits
down it becomes apparent that this is an obliga-
tion which the Government has no serious intention
of assuming, he drops a statement as to the proposed
measures of the Government, and the Canadian
reader perceives at once how ridiculously these are
clisproportioned to the case for which it is pretended
to provide. The recent conversation on Canada
in the House of Lords was considered here a fine
demonstration of British opinion ; but it has spread
alarm in Canada, where more attention is given to
what the Government offers to do than to the
splendid, and as Lord PALMERSTON would say
" high," sentiment its members express. Accord-
ing to the latest advicea from Quebec the news
that only 50,0001. was to be voted for the defences
of that city was received with astonishment, and
one of the Canadian Ministers felt bound to assure
the Canadian Parliament that there must be some
mistake in the figures, and that half • millionsterling
was no doubt intended. Whet will be the surprise
of the Canadians on learning, on the authority
of the Marquis of HARTINOTON, that the
grand British army which is to represent the
honour and power of the empire, and to defeat
GRANT and SHERMAN, with LEE and LONGSTREET
by their side, is to consist of twenty thousand
men ! But this is the approved way of gently
letting the colonists down. We should prefer •
plainer method of dealing ;something possibly not
so " honourable," but more honest. The Cana-
dians will of course get at the truth, but we
should like to see it fairly stated to them. They
' remark the observation with which Lord PAL-
mrmaros commenced his reply to Mr. Thmorrr, for
expresses • truth which concerns them. The
proposal of the Government voted on Thursday
was framed with • primary view to parliamentary
success. That is the beginning and the end of
matter. If it contents them, if it brings
im security, if they feel that they are any the

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