The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-29

chronic excitement caused in both divisons Of the
bellicn- formidable, bu. Of brief duaHon-in which
the civil goveInor rsesated the whole direction Of
affairs to military commsndant Predictions were
then rife both ct homo and In the colony that the
rican dependency would mot be iound worth six
Tho story reads almost like chapter OF ancient
history 90 completely has me condition Of the co
on becoming Governor General in 1847, found the
gigantic difficulties which were ably dissscted Ia
the pages Of the celebrated Durham Report" al
most extinct. It would b difficult to Gay precisely
himself, and his valued successor, died from disap
pontment or fatigue before they could accomplish
much more than lay down few rules, and trace out
Of just and impartial measures. the union be-
tween the Provinces, and the wise concession
of selfgovernment In all that relates to inter
nal administration, have gradually taken the
concerning which hostile factions in former
times were wont TO shake the State With
their dssensions. or the rest, some have faded
through the lapse of time, others are obterated In
the general advance OF the COLONY in wealth aud
importance. The hearty cooperation Of the Home
Ministers in the work Of improvement has never
been wanting; and much OF their recent policy hes
proved eminently pradent, because IL was 80 judi
cously abstinent the score Of interference with
the selffuling privileges OF the Canadians. But
circumstance rather, tho natural development
Of results and capabilities among an active people,
surrounded by n fertile s0i-bave done far more
than any merely political continuance could effect
towards removing the old hindrances to Canadian
prosperity. To these sgen sizes IL Ia chiefly owing
that, while Lord Durham failed in his efforts to
make Car ada peacesble, Lord Elgin but ten years
later was able to prescribe and within very respect
able limits TO realize the object of his govern
ment that of 'placing the colouists in such posi-
tion, politically snd economically, to leave them
Ia In tho ~ 9TH
pie en- the face of the eartb.'
Nothing shows the improved ssatas OF the Cana
dian colonsts In every respect more strkingy than
the comparison, 70 which Lord Elgin afterwards
invited attention, between them and their neigh.
bors In the States, now and at former periods Not
many since the proximity Of the great republic
vas believed to be frsugnt with manifold danger 70
I'M Was na d moot point
the States by summary process OF annexation, or
would be iwpelled by the contagiou of their exam
pie to declaration Of independence on its own
account, or would bave its wealth and substance
sucked away through the overpowering activity Of
Bother Jonathan. The two aforementioned perils
lay rather within the interest Of the Imperial
Legislature, snG were canvassed there not q Lit.
tie. The last danger furnished matter for
anxious thought within Canada itself, giving
rice to many propositions for prote ,tive and ag.
ereseive measures, calculated, % the inventors
imagined, TO secure the industry OF the coooy from
being swamped by American manufacs lures Time,
usual, has sho-n the worthlessness of such con.
tiivapces, as well as the futity Of the fear that
prompted them. At present, the comparison be-
tseen the two countries would turn the other way.
The past year has certainly proved rather disastrous
their &C numerical system, and darkened by moro
than its far share OF catasti0phes, moral material
and mercantile. But taking an average Of some
years last past. we shall find shat Canada has ex-
pspded In all the elements Of wealth quite % rapidly
as the United States themselves Her population,
Ter agricultural products, her manufactures, her
commerce, her industrial enterprises Of all des,rip
tons, every thrg except EXTENT Of territory, wh.h
she does rot want--sre tec0ming developed In
ratio generally equal, aud. in some in
stances, evtn larger than that Of her republican
moment rests on . sound and natural basis, while
much OF the apparently exuberaut wealth so osten-
tatiousiy displayed ii the trading circles Of New
York, Baltimore and other commercial cities OF the
culative. Thus it happens that while labor is be-
coming overabundant In the United States. inso
much that wages have fallen to distressing extent,
and 10 fewer than thirty thousand emigrants re-
found no profitable employment, Canada still In
vites immigration, holding out to almost any mum.
Der of laborers the certain prospect Of easy subss
ence and ultimate Independence as the reward Of
which Lord EIgin received the thanks Of the
colonists before his departure, was the
final conclusion Of the Reciprocity Treaty,
securing practical freedom Of trade between the
ODhSu osotSu 1uu Onu0oot ouu hoooLhe - suss un-
checked interchange of products and manufactures
which the Canadian industrisIs have now learnt to
anticipate with desire instead OF apprehension.
One crowniDg incident in the governorship OF
Lord EPin remains TO be rec ,raed. Daring his
term OF sdmnis ration in Canada the last traces Of
the old political feud between the English and
Fren races in its population have become effaced.
Towards the close Of that period the ercer antago.
nism existing for centuries bet ween the respective
ratios 10 Europe has been replaced by the most
cordial amity. As the symbol Of this new union on
both sides the Atlantic, the late Governor General
Is the bearer of the noble gift. amounting to 100000
which, a. cur readers already know, has been sub.
sc,lbed in equal proportion By the French and Eng
)ish members Of the Canadian community for the
Patriotic Fund. In this fact Is proof presented in
its most tangible form, that Lord Elgin, in quitting
Canada, has LETT behind him prosperous, united,
and o l6yal people.