The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-12-13

upon street beggars, newsboys and Sab
bath breakers, but there they stop short.
1t may be doubted whether, in a great city
like New York, gambling houses and other es-
Establishments Of kindred nature could be al
together suppressed; but that is not matter
for the consideration of the police authorities.
II is their duty to execute the laws as they fnd
them and if we are to 60 into the business Of
moral reform let US begin at the root of the
matter. There are in this city number of
very good and very influential persons who
have been 80 far scandAli1ed by the irreligious
conduct of portion Of our German fellow Oh
items that they have joined together in an ef-
fort to put down Sunday amusements. Flush
cd with victory, we presume that they will not
hesitate to carry their crusade still further, and
to urge upon the police the necessity Of break
ing up the gambling bells and honses of Ill
fame. Evidence against Eve alleged gamblers
is already in the hands Of the District Attor-
ney. Five will do very well for beginning.
THE UNION OF TUE BRITISH PRoyINcEs-A
CHANCE Fob New ENaLAND-We see it stated
in the news by the Kedar that the Duke
of Newcastle is actively engaged in the pre-.
paration Of scheme for the union of the North
American colonies under one federal govern
ment. The feasibility Of this plan no
doubt occurred to him during his recent
visit to this country with the Prince Of
Wales. He must have seen in the contrast
between its condition and that Of the Bri0Ih
hot he cd T.
adapted TO develope the resources of the latter
than that of separate Legislatures each having
distinct interests and pursuing different poll
cy from the others. A federation would save
great deal of trouble and embarrassment to
the Colonial Department in Downing street,
and render the task of the imperial govern
ment comparatively easy one. In point Of
territory it would cover nearly as large an area
as the settled portion of the United States. In
its relations with the latter there is perhaps no
plan that could be devised that would tend
more to maintain undisturbed the separate in
terests of the two regions or to perma-
nently preserve to Great Britain the allegiance
Of her subjects at this side Of the Atlantic.
On reading the announcement of the
Dukes plan we own that we could
not help experiencing feeling of regret that
his visit to this country had not taken place
subsequently instead of previously to Lin
coins election. 1t is probable that if his Grace
had remained a little longer amongst us he
would have given bis project wider scope,
and included in the proposed Anglo-American
confederation the six New England States. The
policy and Affiliations Of the latter have latter
ly run entirely in that direction, and our
people would be well pleased to see them take
themselves bodily to where their predictions
lie. We trust that her Majesty's Colonial Secre-
tary may be induced to amend his scheme 30
as to include the New Englanders in it. He
would do them a vast amount Of moral benefit,
and save US world Of trouble, by linking them
in tight leash with the Arcadian Bluenoses
and the Canadian Orangemen.