New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-02-24

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tho English public mind, reaction could hardly
under the law of compensating forces, fail to
take place. And We notice without surprise
in the papers received by the last mail that
current of leisurely reflection has set in-first
as TO the real merits Of the attempted quarrel
over the Wet Indian mail boat, and next As
to the protection of the British Provinces III
case of trouble. The signs appear to indicate
that it will no longer be left to such Liberals
as Mr. Bright, Mr.. Golden, or even John STU
ort Mill 10 inculcate lessons of national sobrl-
ety. New teachers are sprlDgDg up IN most
unexpected quarters, who profer most unlocked
for advice. Who among us would have gone
70 the citadel Of English conservatism to look
for an economist who regards the Canada mill
tsry re3nforcements as wasteul outlay, and
holds tho maintenance Of the Colonial empire
Of England to be q mere luxury, which offers
no adequate compensation for its frlghtiul cost
illness
Yet. il is from the chief University of the
Kingdom that this radical remonstrance comes;
and half the beliserent press has already
Z ctan9eu llb Inc VI tio'h <"~he'' ""A
Ouakerism to an oxford Professor Of Modern
History, Mr. Goodwin Smith, who propOunds
the theory tina. the larger Colonies should be
act free 10 follow their bent, and play at SOL
der. as their tastes may dictate or their
means allow
/ Professor Smiths most vigorous assailant, as
might be expected is Tie London Tunes, which,
only five months ago, had itself taken even
stronger ground in favor of early colonial
emancipation As was pointed out in our col
upns at the time Mr. Smiths opponent was
prepared 70 cast the colonies adriit, without
even waiting for a signal from the provincial
people themselves. la its haste to get rid OF
the incumbrance, The Times was even uDgra-
cious enough to use such words rs these: We
are not aware Of any single advantage which
Canada gives US, and which, IN time Of peace
We have not from the United States. Ii is.
perhaps, not necessary for an English leading
journal TO BE- consistent, and if its arguments of
six months ago are found TO answer its arguments
to-day, its readers are saved the mental labor
of finding out the various bearings Of a given
question Bat while Nr. Goodwin Smith and
his antagonist may be left to settle the ques-
ton, either of consistency on the one hand, or
sound English poty on the other, We, in the
United States, may gather from the controversy
Information as to the real tendency Of public
opinion in England when it finds a sober outlet.
apart from a rampant war-cry, or an imaginary
outrage.
We can appeal, for example, from England
Unexpectedly noisy, to England sober; and in
this instance, We may readily believe that the
inspiration which The Times received on the
I'd Of September, when it advocated Colonial
Emancipation, was at least as genuine as that
which appears in its contest with Mr.. Goodwin
Smith. Indeed, if we look at the temper Of
the English public at the two periods, We can
hardly help setting higher value on the utter
ances Of SIX months ago, than on those OF to-
day. In September, there was hardly even the
distant prospect Of a quarrel with this country;
and SO ill-disposed, apparently, was the English
public TO entertain the possibility of such IN
event, that the small re.enforcements sent to
the Provinces, before the close of navigation
occasioned more or less hostile comment
throughout the country generally.
At that time, when passion and prejudice
were nowhere prevalent, as they have been
since the opening Of tho present year, We should
surely be more likely to find an expression of
what may be considered permanent ideas, than
in tho heat and under the influence of prevail
ing war fever. 1t is in this view, then, that
we regard Colonial Emancipation a. an idea
which has taken stronger hold on the mind of
the rejecting English taxpayer than appears
in the recent moods and tempers of the bellig.
erent journals.
The cost Of tho extra munitions, tho military
equipments, aud tho transport service of the
eight regiments recently sent to the British
American Provinces, is variously summed up.
TIE most Trustworthy estimates place it as
high as 500, OO0, 900, and, considering that the
expense Of maintaining troops in tho Colonies
averages 80 per cent over that Of the home
service, while the chances of desertion are
multiplied q hundred fold, there must here
after DO heavy additions to the annual military
estimates, independent Of tho temporary out
lay connected with the transportation Of the
colonial army. The question, then, arises Us
to the ability Of the English taxpayer to bear
those additional burdens ut such time as the