, 1863-11-02

Toronto Leader to be. Can it be possible
that any Canadian claiming to be intelli-
gent, really be1ieves that 1t is the British
troops in Canada that prevents the United
States from forcibly annexiug that country
to this? Does any Canadian actually
think that the handful Of rcd-coats he sees
parading about the streets Of the chief
cities, are :" indispensable to Canadian in
dependence p or that any number Of
troops England could spare, would be
able to tt protect" Canada from the armies
ofthe United States, in the event Of a war
between thetwo countries? Has the Leader
forgotten that the great organs Of opinion
IN England. have repeatedly notified the
Canadians that the "British Government
could not defend them against the Yankee
hordes'' if a war broke out, and that the Ca
nadians must chiefly rely upon themselves
for defense Of their territory? Ofwhat mil
ita1y yalue to Canada is the connection with
the smother country2" England cannot
defend them. All the troops she could send
to their assistance would not equal the
number the single State Of Illinois could
pour into their territory. Situated as the
Canadas are; stretching along our northern
boundary from Passport to Oregon, and
bordering upon war-like population Of ten
times their number it would be the sheer
est Of folly and stupidity to look to Eng
land-s.000 miles away for protection" !"
against an avalanche Of million Of SOL
d1ers that could be precipitated upon them.
In such war there would be no copper
head party to pull back against our Gov
eminent The three or four millions OF
I1ish who sympathize with the rebels and
oppose their subjugation, would be the
foremost to volunteer to fight England and
invade the Cauadas. There would be
only one party in this country in such
war; Canada would be invaded and seized,
sole1y because it is d British possession
For FIVE months or more ot the year the
British Government could not land regi-
ment in Canada or send gunboat there,
and the war vessels left in the st. Law
renee when winter set in, would be shelied
td1iestuction from the Yankee side Of the
river, while frozen fast at their moorings.
The Toronto Leader says, "the States
are their only possible enemy" II this be
true it is simply in consequence Of the Col
onial relation Of that country to Great
Britain. The only "possible' danger Of
q war with the Canadas grows out Of the
fact Of their being British possession II
they were an independent naticn quarrel
between the United States and England
would not involve them unless they volun'
tally took sides against us.
Ass military protector, England is O.
no sort of use to the Canadas. She car
involve them in her quarrels with tn
American Republic, bnt is impotent to de
fend them.
In the further discussion Of the ques
/ ton Of the renewal and extension Of th
Reciprocity ueadY, let the Canadian jour
mails discard the British military protee
tom argument, for it is puerile and at
surd, and can only be entertained wit
scorn and contempt by the Americans
Let the question be considered with rete,
euce to its commercial and social bearing
Il a Reciprocity in manufactures is though
to be injurious to Canadian prosperity, II
the arguments to sustain that opinion b
presented and considered; but keep tl
stupid stuff about the military support an
protection Of Canada by Englan
out Of sight. Don't talk it in the paper
dent insult the people Of the Great Repu1
! Lie with scare-crows. Don't treat the PEI
ple OF the Canadas as if they were chi
dren or jgnoramuses. British milita'
: protection! Nonsense.