The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-10-07


The Canadians are extremely anxious to have
the Reciprocity treaty for the trade between
themselves and the United States renewed.
This is quite natural; for they have derived
great benefits from 1t. They did not seem to
appreciate 1t SO much, however, till it was tenn
porarily suspended and notice Of its termina-
ton was given. They were like those persons
who enjoy the hospitality of relatives or friends
SO long that they forget the obligations they
are under. The Canadians did more than this.
After sitting ct our table and being pampered
with our Injuries they abused US and gave aid
and comfort to our enemies But when cut Of
from these good things, on account Of their
misconduct, they make long faces and implore
us to renew them
Now, we are disposed to be liberal to our
neighbors, who are at the same time q
sort Of distant relations, but we require
guarantees Of their future good be-
havior first. and especially a severance
Of their connection with our unfriendly
rival across the water. Evil communications
corrupt good manners. And, however we'll
disposed the Canadians might be toward the
United States, they are influenced by their Eng
lish connection, and always must be while it
lasts. While their institutions and ideas are diff
ferent from ours, and while they are trammellcd
by sleepy Old World notions, stiff monarchicaI
prejudices and British influence, we can have
no intimate reciprocal relations with them. 1t
would be contrary to the nature Of things. The
probability is we should never agree. At least
there could be no sympathy between ms.
The welfare and destiny Of Canada, and, in
deed, Of all the British North American colo
MES, depend far more upon the United States
than upon the mother country. The connection
between England and these colonies is arti-
fetal. By proximity 10 this country, by habits
of life, by natural wants, by the necessity
and power of commerce, and by aspirations
Of the future, they are inch more
closely allied to rs. But they are de-
barred from the advantages Of such q
natural and intimate association with us as
they ought to have by being dependencies Of
Great Britain. As long as they are in that
condition they belong to the Old World system.
They will drag along q slow, drowsy existence;
they will not have the spirit or enter into the
system Of the New World; and they will lack
the vigor and progress Of the adjoining States
Of this republic. Their past history and pre-
sent condition show this to be true. We shall
ovcrshadow them, and, relatively, they will
retrograde. And this must be the case in spite
of geographical position, affinity with us, claims
of commerce, or anything else, as long as they
remain separated from MS by the chasm Of
dissimilar Institutions
Let the colonies become republics, as they
ought to be, and we can then make the most
favorable reciprocity treaty with them. They
will belong then in reality to the American
system, and not to the European. They will be
inspired with new life and vigor, and with their
immense undeveloped resources win rival the
States on their border in progress and wealth.
They must identify themselves with the inter-
esis Of this country by having similar institu-
tons, or we cannot make the treaty. But let
them do this, and we will take them by the
hand and give them the reciprocity treaty they
want