The Sun.
London, England, 1867-03-29 00:00:00

LONDON, _FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 1867.

The opinion of the House of Commons respect-
ing the Canadian Loan was last night unmistakeably
expressed, and we hope that the vote will not be
without its effect on the other side of the Atlantic.
Despite the elaborate arguments of some crotchety
philosophers, and the short-sighted economy of
timorous financiers, there is no doubt that the pre-
vailing sentiment in this country is heartily in
favour of giving prompt and cordial assistance to
our colonies in time of need. More especially does
this fueling display itself when the assistance asked is
only supplementary to the efforts of the colonies them-
selves, and all they want from us is that moral support

and encouragement which costs us so little and is
worth so much to them. When a parent has esta-
blished his son in the world he naturally expects to
be called upon for assistance from time to time,
not only in money but as a reference, an authority,
a guardian ; and so our colonists while exerting
themselves to the utmost in their own behalf have
a right to look to the old country as a friend in re-
serve who can be confidently appealed to. The
favour asked in this case is no very great one to a
nation like our own. It is simply " That the Com-
missioners of her MAJESTY'S Treasury be authorised
to guarantee interest at a rate not exceeding 4 per
cent. per annum on any principal money not exceed.
ing £3,000,000 btei ling to be raised by loan by the Go-
vernment of Canada for the construction of a rail-
way connecting Quebec and Halifax." The advan-
tages of such a line are too obvious to need recapitu-
lation. Mr. ADDERLEY, in moving the resolution,
gave some interesting particulars. The expenses,
including the cost of construction, the payment of
the interest and the sinking fund of 1 per cent.,
would amount in all to £210,000 per annum. The
security for this is the consolidated revenue of
Canada, and, as Mr. ADDERLEY reminded the
House, she has upon all occasions been able and
ready to meet her engagements. When, in 1842,
England guaranteed the loan of a million and a half
for public works, the revenue of Canada was only
£300,000 a year. With that revenue, however, Canada
paid off the loan nine years before it became due.
Her revenue is now £2,500,000, and her progress
in every respect has been steady, though rapid.
Between 1851 and 1864 the tonnage of vessels
entering the North American ports has increased
from one and a half millions to two and a half mil-
lions ; the exports from four to forty million dol-
lars ; the imports, exclusive of bullion, from nine
million dollars to twenty-one millions. The number
of letters has doubled, the population has nearly
doubled, and in every department of national pro-
gress the most satisfactory advance has been made.
The national debt, which has been incurred entirely
for public works of a remunerative character, amounts
only to about £12,000,000, and is decreasing under
the influence of a sinking fund. Every precaution
hiss been taken for the protection of tie imperial
interests. The line is to be open at all times for
the conveyance of her MAJESTY'S troops, and it is
strictly provided that the interest on the £3,000,000,
and all other charges connected with the railway,
shall be defrayed prior to any other charge on the
Canadian Government in respect to public works.
Under these circumstances, therefore, there seems
little room for the apprehensions of the objectors to
the scheme, some of whom actually urge that it is
rash to enter into any engagements of the kind with
Canada, since in a few years she may he annexed
to the United States.

There were not wanting, however, exponents of
the argument against the measure, though happily
the event proved them to be in the minority. Mr.

LOWE'S opinions on the matter are pretty well
known. He thinks it "absurd" to imagine that we
can defend these colonies against any attack by the
United States ; he holds that nothing can be more
" fatal or ridiculous" than to set them up as a rival
to America. He objects to our showing the world
that we take any peculiar interest in the form of

government which our colonies may choose to
adopt, and thinks the management of our own
affairs quite as much as we are equal to. Since
such potent arguments can be used against the

principle of the scheme, the difficulties as to
its practice are of the less consequence,
else sanguine colonists might regret to learn from
Mr. LOW E'S observations —lst, that the railway

will enable the Americans to invade Canada at any
time ; 2d, that the railway itself is a hopeless un-

dertaking, since it must be closed during a grew

portion of the year— (a fact the less to be regretted

since it will hinder the American invasion) ; 3d

that it is ridiculous to suppose the line can be con

strutted for anything like the highest estimate ;
4th, that it is our duty to cultivate the most peace-
ul relations with the United States, since we cannot
lefend Canada in case of an attack, and had better
It is not surprising, after this

not attempt it.

address from the member for Calne, Mr. WATKIN
thought it necessary to remind the house that these
helpless and insignificant colonies of ours extended

over an area equal to one-eighth of the habitable
globe. Mr. GLADSTONE, as might have been ex-
pected, gave his cordial support to the measure,

admitting that the duty of self-defence was in

cumbent on all our self-governing colonies, bu

dealing with the subject in a statesmanlike and
national spirit. The division, as we have said, will

doubtless have its effect ou the other side of the

Atlantic, giving a stimulus to the loyalty of the
Canadians, and teaching possibly somc moderation

:o the Fenians and their abettors.

The subject of flogging in the army was last night
again introduced in the House by Sir J. FAKING-
TON, and the right hon. baronet suggested some im-
portant alterations, which will no doubt have the
effect of improving the condition of the soldier, and
also of raising the tone of the army. He brought
up a new clause, which he said bad the full concur-
rence of the Commander-in-Chief, who desired to
modify the practice of flogging as far as possible.
First of all, Sir JOHN PAKINGTON explained
that he did not think it was fair to say
he had treated the opinion of the House with
disrespect, because he had come to the conclu-
sion that a majority of one in a house of 213
members was a " deliberate decision" of the House
on the matter. In order that the House might re-
consider the matter, the right hon. baronet thought

it best to retain the clause in the bill. The desire
to have this punishment got rid of is now so gene-
rally felt that the Secretary for 'War only expressed
a common belief when he said ho thought it was
unanimously wished that the practice might be
abolished, and the discipline of the army be main-
tained without it. The difficulty in the way of
total abolition is that no punishment has been sug-
gested that can take its place, the proposals sub-
stituted being quite inadequate for them, as it has
been thought that men would commit offences with
a view to being dismissed from the service.
Two concessions have been made, however,
which seem to go a long way in meeting the dif-
ficulty of the matter. Corporal punishment is to
be limited to three offences of the gravest charac-
ter, and soldiers in the first class shall be exempted
from the punishment altogether. This is an ad-
mirable suggestion, because it holds out an in-
ducement to a man to strive to keep in that en-
viable position if he has already attained it, or else
it

gives him a powerful incentive to rise to the de-
sired place. As matters stand at present there
is 91. per cent. of the whole army consisting of men
of the first clazs, and thus, if they were exempted
from this punishment, a great advance would be
made. Of course, a great deal of discussion took
place as to the best mode of dealing with the ques-
tion, but nothing very new was said on either side,
Mr. °TWAY rather unreasonably, as we think, inter-
posing;his veto to the proposition of the clause, which
he admitted was a considerable concession. On a divi-
sion, however, the clause was carried by a majority
of U. A final agreement was not, however, come
to in consequence of the confusion that prevailed