Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1859-05-21
The Gseopeaa Wss-Dnvasaon q Canala
RsOd1ctoA.

JFro0 tho TOTO ITO LeeueHS ISS0
Sshuld England, in self-defence. be CON-
PEELED to take part in this war, who shall
guarantee Canada from attack Who, in
that case, could Insure us against the attack
Of 4 combined Russo French fleet upon the
ancient capital of that new France, Of which
over two centuries ago. the foundations
were laid. on the banks Of the 81. lawrence.
These two powers knew our strength and
our weakness. France, the founder, and
long the owner OF Canada, knows all about
M and Rnssia, We can assure the reader.
Il eous)ly we'll informed. Here - elsewhere.
her iudefatigsble and ubiquitous agents
have possessed themselves Of everv essen.
tisl species of information. They can tell
the precise capacity Of every nsvigabls
river 10 the country, with quite - msch
precision - No know it eurselvea Russia
has intsrssts in America and wherever she
has interests We may be sure che has de-
siGns Of extending them. The next door
nsighbor Of British Columbia, she has .
new motive for desi,ing the extension Of her
possessions south ward, in that region. in the
recent discovery Of gold. on the Frszsrs
River. France. It is easy to conceive, might
come to cherish designs upon another per.
ton of British America 20 that il Eng
land should be unable to maintain positi-
on Of Neutrality, there 10 NO assurance on
part Of the British Empire will be free from
stack. There can be no doubt that the
real object Of the present war 10 territorial
aegrsndisement, On the part Of Farncs and
should Russia take part in it, that will be
her object too. In Newfoundland, the
French demand rights which that Province
has refused to concsds; and - she always
keeps . fleet Of more or less force in that
neighborheod, it would form the nucleus
for any operations which, In conjunction
with Russia, she might desire to direct
against any portion Of British America.
These contingencies may appear 20 re-
mote that any speculation upon them may
be regarded % visionary In the extreme.
But moment's consideration will suffice to
show that everything depends upon the
part which EsgAnd may find herself COM
pslled to play in this war. Should the
Russo. French alliance compel her to act up
on the defensive there il nothing extraordi-
nary in the superstition that Quebec might.
some fine morning or dark night, receive 9
visit from . combined French and Russian
feet.
These CONSIDERATIONS will show hew much
depends upon the position Of England In
this war. That she desires to pursue !
policy Of neutrality does not settle the
question. She cannot select her own course
irrespective Of the events which may pass
around her. The re.csnquest Of Canada
presents no charms for the mass Of the
French Canadians. They are proud Of their
origin and tenacious Of their nationality !;
but. - people. they would not like to COM
init their destiny - the caprices Of the Par
isian mob or . volition Of successful des-
pot, though his authority could be referred
to democratic loirigin. A dreamer hes
now and then been oheard to sigh for re-
turn to French domination in Lower Cana
da.; but the mass Of the population have
lost oil political sympathiss with the count
~ from which they sprung, The numerous
revolutions through which France has pas
sed since the conquest Of Canada. have des
troyed all confidence which the Canadians
nigh have possessed Of the stability of any
form Of government which the French may
set up. We should thereforeshave nothing
to fear from tho population Of Lower Cana
do, in the event Of British supremacy being
attacked, on the banks of the St. lawrence,
in the course Of the present war.
Should England be able to maintain her
position Of nuterslity. Canada will benefit
by the war prices which the bclligereots
will have to pay. Should the war be .
protracted one, our ships would be likely
to find ready market, - we'll - our pro-
ducs Austria it is true ie not great na-
val power /; but . large feet Of INGREDIENT
vessels would be required by the Ibelliger-
ents and demand for new vessels would
spring mp. In any case. the war will give
US higher price for our wheat; but whether
We shall find . market for ships, and British
capital find i's way into Canada, In incrsas-
ing quantities, depends entirely upon
whether England be able to remain neutral,
husbanding her resources. and developing
new sources Of wealth within the limits Of
her wide.extended empire.