The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-05-17

MIR. EDTroR: In your papor OF yester-
day morning there appeared an article
entitled sour Canada Cousins" which
seems to me so unjust and absurd, that
beg the privilege of replying TO it. The
article would not be worth noticing but for
its apparent logic snd truth.
1 was born in Canada snd lived there
many yesrs, though By parentage and
choice 1 am a Yankee, and no one can
question my loyalty. This reply to your
correspondent is called forth, not SO much
for the defense Of Canada as oftruth, JUS
tice and libsrality.
The theory that well devised CONNER
cial relations tend to increase knowledge
and produce and pegpetuate friendly feel
ings between nations so relsted, Is, with
out doubt, true one. That such hss been
ihe result Of our relations with Cansds ]
hold myself ready to prove.
After S general introduction, your cor
respondent launches forth into The most
indiscriminate and wholesale abuse of Can
ada and Canadians generally. For in-
stance, he says, "NotwiLhstsnding the long
and diversified commercial, zoe al snd po-
litical relations which have existed between
the United Slsles sud Canada, the masses
of the latter have eevideatly derived their III
tie knowledge Of the government, history,
geography and people, Of the former, as an
inheritance from their ancestors, which 1t
would be IS sScreligiOus to d odify, increase
or modeInize, s5 to deny the sacred truths
of Holy Writ" He then goes on to s-ste
that renegsdes from the United States and
Tories from England who settled in canada
about the time Of the revolution, employed
their long, almost Siberian, winter oven
ings in ealogizing the Knglish government
and condemniDg the course taken by the
colonies. Then, hessys, these legends sitter
a time SECURED the force and authority OF
authentic history, aud al attempts to 70
futa tham by correct statements we're re-
ceiYed with scorn and deTision. He repre-
sents this stste Of stfsirs as existing at the
present time.
Whether such statements are the result
of q deplorabls and inexcusab!e ignorance,
or Of wiIful fslsehood, l know not, but 90
not hesitate to ssy they sre false In every
sense. ] think no well Informed aud
truthful man could make such statements,
even against 3 bitter enemy.
The Cansdisn Government has shown
its friendship and goodwill towards Us in
many more instances than fault finders Of
your correspondents stripe are willing TO
acknowledge. Msny 3 plot to burn and
rob our northern cities has been frustrated
bY timely information received from the
authorities in Uansds. The loss sustained
BY the ST. Albsns' bank WEs repaid with
GOLD, dollar for dollar, when our
currency was not worth half its fscs Ia
gold. The expressions OF sorrow ST the
death Of our beloved Presidents and Of sym
pathy for US in our great loss, have been
most earnest and sincere. The most touch
ing tribute to toe memory Of cur msrtyred
President that l have Seen, has come to
me in the form Of 3 pamphlet entitled,
"Msple Leaves from Canada for the Grave
Of President Lincoln" being n sermon and
an address delivered At 81. Galherines, 9.
w, By the Rev. Messrs. Morton and Burns.
These addresses 90 truly expressed the
feelings of these despiseu Cansdisns that
they were published IN a neat pamphlet
in answer 10 an urgent csl from the
people.
Now why, 1 ask, csn we not have lit
tie more hberslity and generosity and lit
tie less spirit Of recTimins.ion snd hatred ?
True it is thst many hostile acts have
been planned and executed in Canada
which have tended to exssperste Us great
IL. But who are the authors Of these acts
Of hostility They are in all cases rebels
and dese1ters vino have lied 10 Csnada.
And it Is not true that they have always
received such marks ofhospitality as your
correspondent asserts. In few csses they
have, but the great majority of Cgnsdians
despise their sDeaking, cowardly conduct
IS much as we do.
The closing sentence Of 'Cs' letter, &C
casing our neighbors Of the lowest degra-
dAtion and immortality, pl inly shows that
he is sadly in need OF soma practical les
sons in common deeeney, ciVility and
truthfulness- s. -..
Yours, for justice and iberality,
J.J. w.