The Sun.
London, England, 1870-02-22 00:00:00

ENGLAND'S TRUE POLICY.

(From the Anglo-American Times.)
The Minister for the Colonies, in his reply to
the Earl of CARNARVON, upheld the plan of fede-
rating the British North American Possessions into
a gieat nation, and although be denied that there
was any present prospect of the new Dominion ask-
ing for a severance of the British connection, assert.
ing the strong loyalty of the inhabitants, yet,
from
the tone of the debate, the general belief is evident
that Canada may soon assume an independent
position. Lord LYVEDEN only hoped, that if it did
i go, the parting would be as friends and allies, and
not, as with the United States, as enemies. What
interest has Great Britain in baulking, if possible,
the laudable aspiration of the United States, to
federate into one Republic the country from the
Rio Grande up to the North-West Passage ?
Supposing that the connection between the new
Dominion and the British Crown be severed,
what greater interest will England have in that
portion of the North American continent, than
in the neighbouring Union ? There can be but
one answer, which is, that in the former Eng-
land has a friend, in the latter a probable foe.
No one will dispute that the whole of anything
desirable, is better than a part. Then why should
England try to retain the friendship of what, ill
comparison, is a paltry section, when we assert that
the warm alliance of the whole can be achieved if
she has only the " pluck" and the wisdom to adopt
the proper course ? Unquestionably there is a
deep-seated jealousy and fear of the United States
implanted in the English mind. ROEBUCK'S fare-
well legacy, " Beware of America," was a use-
less donation to a nation alreadyburdeued with such
Stock. We do not deny that England has cause
for this alarm when she puts faith in the bun-
combe of Young JONATHAN. No doubt that typ'eal
personage is fond of mounting his spread-eagle, and
soaring into the clouds, whence he gets a hazy view
of the British lion, on whom he pours out the words
of indignation. But JONATHAN has been rapidly
growing older of late, and is beginning to discover
that in indulging in these flights he has really been
supplying his enemies with the shafts of ridicule.
The native American element has no such hostile
feeling against Great Britain as Great Britain has
against the United States. It has had, indeed, a
chronic indignation ; a perpetual grievance, till it
has grown to consider a grievance against Great
Britain to be a part of the American atmosphere.
Notwithstanding, there is a genuine veneration and
respect for England, which might easily be nursed
into real kinship and alliance, and the way is
sufficiently c'ear. If Canada can establish the new
Dominion, and form an independent nation, let it
do so ; but not aided by England in an unfriendly
spirit towards the United States. England has no
direct interest in the matter ; and, as a questiota inti-
mately concerning the future well-being of the inha-
bitants of the continent, it is notright that sheshould •
interfere, to give, perhaps, a bias in a wrong direc-
tion, which may ultimately lead to most disastrous
Consequences. If England does interfere, it should Le
in promoting annexation to the Union instead of en-
deavouring to divide the continent, bscause therein
lies her wisest course. She will never be quit of her
false connection with the Dominion till the Domi-
nion is thus absorbed, when the political severance
from North America will be as complete,- as it is
desirable it should be. From that connection the
good is imaginary, the evil real, and the danger
threatening. But when the political connection is
thus severed, the relations between the kindred
people of the North American continent and of the
British Isles will enter on a new phase. No possible
ground of quarrel could arise; even did a large sec-
tion remain hostile, but the whole Republic would
assume a changed position towards Great Britain.
Now, there is a Union made up of States, which
hand down traditions of England's oppression and
violence. In reality the States which experienced
the injustice are but a small section of the Repub-
lic; others have been acquired and settled, large
enough to swamp these, extending from the Alle-
ghenies to the Pacific, while to those great States
will then be added a territory exceeding in extent
the area of the Republic. With wholly different
traditions the new Provinces will enter, and the
effect must be felt from the Executive Mansion
down to the school of the village " =rm." In-
deed it is in these schools where the influence will
be most potent ; for if American history has hitherto
consisted of a record of British injustice, the sequel
will then be given in a great and generous atone-
ment, as the termination of the political connection
of England with the Continent. If the Thirteen
Colonies had a tale of misgovernment to tell, a
Dominion larger and more populous than they were,
will have a longer story of an enlightened and libe-
ral policy, and the Dominion will enter the States
fo cast its voice decisively in favour of the most
amicable relations between the mother country and
its great offspring. We would put it to Lord GRAN-
VILLE or to Lord CARNARVON if there be not truth in
these remarks--if they do not indicate the best solu-
tion of all North American difficulties. Yet no Peer
hinted at such apolicy, and they very wisely refrained
if perceived— for the nation is not yet ripe for it.
Still the vision, even in that House, is not wholly lost
of a federation of the English-speaking people--
that sort of federation which works smoothly and
flexibly, as the great aims of the different sections
are identical, and their interests not diverse. Sup-
posing it to be recognized that Great Britain,
her colonies, and the Union are to have in com-
mon a well-defined foreign policy, approved by
each and all, and that their intercourse is regu-
lated by an international code accepted in a ge-
neral consultation, would it not be for the Bri-
tish interest, as well as of all the English-speaking
people, that the North American Continent, from
the Rio Grande northward, should be one, not two
nations? We believe that, if these desirable ends
could be achieved of broadly harmonising a foreign
policy and regulating intercourse by an improved
international code, while England fully trusted in
the fidelity with which the covenants would be ob-
served, there only could be but one opinion as re-
gards this Union. Then, would it not be wiser to
cease to allude to this Confederation as a dream,
and to take hold of it as a policy, not merely for dis-
cussion, but for action ? There is, however, we re-
gret to sayjone huge barrier in the way, in England's
pride. If North America be federated into one
Union, the centre of the world's power must gravi-
tate there, and England will see the seat of Anglo-
Saxon dominion established across the Atlantic.
We grant that this is not a pleasant prospect for the
proud old country, but it is inevitable, and ought
to be so recognized, and not permitted to interfere
with the policy which promises most advantages.

INTERNATIONAL COINAGE.--We have received a
paper signed by Leonard Bruton, secretary to the Bristol
Chamber of Commerce, giving notice of a resolution to be
proposed by that body at the annual meeting of the Asso-
ciated Chambers of Commerce, to be held next Tuesday
at the Westminster Palace Hotel, approving the following
decision of the Royal Commissioners, as reported July 25,
1868 :—" Upon full consideration of all the circumstances,
we do not recommend that this country should merely
adopt a gold coin of the value of 25 francs to be substituted
for the sovereign. The reduction of the value of a pound
would disturb all existing obligations, and would cause
the many and serious difficulties which we have stated in
the earlier part of this report, whilst if at any future time
a more complete assimilation of coins should be determined
upon, a further change would be required, in many re-
spects more difficult of application." The change alluded
to was to reduce the English sovereign from 113 to 112 grains
of fine gold, equal to twopence in the pound, or one per
cent. The Bristol Chamber also approves the recom-
mendation of the Commission, that the further consi-
deration of the question of a uniform international system
of money and accounts should be remitted to a general In-
ternational Congress. The paper before us controverts
the statements made in the report of the sub-committee
of the Associated Chambers on these grounds : —l. rlo
report of the Itoyal Commission of 1868 is ignored, although
emanating from persons peculiarly qualified to frame ono.
2. The countries which have formed the monetary union
acted in as much accord with their own interest as if
England, Ireland, and Scotland invited the world to adopt
their monetary system. 3. The United States are shown
not to exhibit the strong disposition to join the mone-
tary union asserted by the sub-committee, nor Canada,
nor China, nor the Papal States, though all are claimed.
4. The assumed advantages are either fallacious, or weighed
down by the disadvantages, or greatly exaggerated. The
subject is of deep interest, and although we are not biassed
in favour of any particular scheme, we strenuously advo-
cate whatever tends to uniformity, as simplifying mercan-
tile transactions, and making the advance necessary on
this point to bring up a lagging interest into the line With
the onward march of civilization.