The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-11-20

CANADIAN MATTERs-THs Course OF ENGLAND
The principal impeachment in the progress OF the
annexation movement in Canada, has been III fear
entertained by large portion of the inhabitants,
That separation, in any FORM would moi be courte-
nanced by Great Britain, and that if il were al
tempted, !. woad be resisted and put down b, mill
.ary force. That fear has kept back thousands
who were secretly in favor OF Canadian ndepen-
depce and annexation TO the United States, from
Joining the movement, or from expressing their
opinions on he subject. They look upon evil war
as the greatest OF all caamlt'es and rather than do
anything that would tend to bring about rupture
between the provinces and the mother county,
they would willingly continue to wear the yoke of
colonial seiviiude, and TO suffer on, as they have
suffered, urder the burdens imposed upOn the n.
THIS class CT persons includes large propoi on OF
the people possessing influence and rank IN oIgh-
oat the Two provinces whose weight, if thrown
ino tie scale, would decide tie issue in very
short time. They Rave been holding back-neither
iavoring the annexation sentiment, nor opposing
it, but quietly waiting the time, come when it
might, when the English government would say
to the Canadian people, that if they desired to
effect change in their political relations with the
mother country, they might do so in their own way,
end without opposition.
IL the sentiments on this subject, which have re-
Gently appeared in some of the leading London
journals are entitled to any weight IN the matte,
or have emanated from persons in office, we
should say, that if majority of the people
OF Canada really desire annexation, they can
procure it without any armed opposition from
the British government We infer so from what
has appeared in the London TIMES, and other Eng
l,e1, l. a. 4 T.
the matter treated as one of profit and loss, and
national dignity and honor, and all that sort of
hing, are thrown overheard in discussing the sub
ect. Now, if this is the case, there Is nothing TO
prevent those timid people whom we have referred
to, from coming out and giving IN their adhesion at
once to the annexation movement; and we have no
doubt they will do so. If they feel confident that
a conflict between the Canadians and the British
troops would not result from their Joining the ranks
of the annexatonists, they will do SO, and thus
swell the ranks of that party
Now that there appears to be clear field opened
for the struggle, We shall watch with good deal
of interest the progress OF this movement towards
annexation. The struggle between the remaining
loyalists and the annexationsts will be spirited,
and, unless great care and caution are used, vo-
lent outbreak, ending In a civil war, may be the
result The project of separation from England
will, of course, be opposed by the provincial go-
vernment, and by those who are in office, as well
as by those who have foolish and undefined dread
Of repubhcansm and republican Institutions. In
this category may be included the great army of
retired British navy and military officers, whose
loyalty and attachment to the British crown are of
romantic character, and who fear that, In the
event Of annexation, they would become mere
cyphers in society. In fact, the struggle will be
between republicanism and monarchy, on a small
scale; and it needs no very great prophetic wisdom
to tell In which way it will be decided
All the annexationists have TO do Is to sink
local questions, and in every election, great and
small, make the question of annexation the princ-
pal issue. Let them support no candidate who is
not in favor of the measure, and, although they
may fail once, twice, three times, yet in the cad
they are certain of succeeding As soon as they
shall have majority In the Provincial Parliament,
they can pass resolution dissolvng AL polite al
connection with Great Britain, and the matter will
be over. We should not, however, be surprised
10 see some sangunary conflicts in Canada, before
The end OF ihis bus,n.ss she have been arrived