The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-01-16
The Canadian NIuddIs.

The imperial government must nave de-
Iightful time of it just now. 1t has been taking
considerable interest in our affairs the last four
years, looking on as the barbarians did at ST
Paul when at Melita serpent fastened upon his
hand; and they waited complacently to see him
fall victim to its poisonous fangs. But the
reptile was shaken of, innocuous. And such
is the spectacle these modern islanders will
now have to witness with regard to us. In the
meantime would it not be very profitable en-
plOyment for these l0okers-0n to contemplate
some of the brood OF troubles from which they
themselves are beginning to suffer? We have
shown how the British government has had "to
eat dirt" in the affair Of Denmark; We have ex-
planned the Australian difficulty, and tho
bespattering with mud which has attended tho
attempt to make that country the perpetual
home of British convicts. We have alluded
also to the Honduras affair, in which the En-
perOr of Mexico, so called, has claimed tho
sovereignty of the Belize, and has proclaimed
his authority over the British wood cutterA
Muddles all! And now we have another OF
later concoction-the Canadian muddle-the
worst of any.
friends, using the phraseology Of their great
geologist Sir William Logan, have been
warned by the home government that they
must look out for thcmselves, and not longer
expect 10 be defended by British troops or kept
up by British money. The Western Canadians,
not feeling very safe in their connections with
the French population of Eastern Canada, hit
| on the expcdient of q confederation, by which
several advantages were to be gained. One
was the geographical and political streppi. !,
additional rr.yinees another. .ae gain of unit,
and mutual support; and, above all, the pos
session of majority in the legislation and
! government of the confederation, which would
swamp the Frcnchmen and the priests. All
| the preliminary arrangements were accord
| ingly made, and promised WELL The delegates
| met, ate and drank, made out their programme
and sent it to England, where il was well re-
ceived. The Crown retains its supremacy and
| the princes are allowed to tickle themselves
| with straws. just at the crisis Of it,
fate, however, the whole scheme has become
precarious. New views of the subject suddenly
are taken in unexpected quarters Amidst the
| difficulties which have arisen through the
recent breaches of neutrality on the part Of the
| Canadian authorities, approved by the stupid
presses, which are always arrayed on tho side
Of anti-republcan principles, it has been plainly
seen, US Mr.. Gait recently said in one Of hi
best speeches. the Canadians ''stand in the
presence Of great Power"
| In "a moment the bad faith Of these people
strips them of their supposed security; they have
sheltered and encouraged raiders, robbers and
murderers to come from their territory int
| ours to do us oil the mischief in their power
They have hesitated as long as they dared II
performing their duty in returning them under
the Extradition treaty; and one simple measur'
alone, that Of enforcing the use Of passports OF
travellers coming from their country into ours
has nearly set them crazy. Their great rail
ways lines, always indebted to the United
States for the best share Of their freigh
and travel, no longer pay expenses, and tn |
termination Of the Reciprocity treaty bid
fair to ensure their bankruptcy. Nor Is thi
| oil. Opposition to the plea of confederation
begins to show itself in all the lower provinces /
| The leading paper in st. Johns, New Brunswick |
admits sturdy opposition there, and confesse j
that the country presses arc generally againf /
/ it. In Halifax, it is also admitted, there is
powerful and talented party arraycd against tn j
plan and openly proclaiming their opposition +
| while in Prince Edward Island, one of the mos .
fourishing and Independent Of all the martini (
provinces, though on small scale, there is a .
overthrow OF the colonial Ministry in const /
quencc Of the agitation on tho subject Thi
island is q gem of the sea, possessing fertil |
| soil, fine harbors and an active and industriOu |
population, trading loyalty with the Unite'
States. 1t is apparent enough TO the Primo
Edward people that o union with Canada an
with British Columbia cannot be of any grea !
advantage to them; and so they naturally oh
| ject, as we should do, if we were one Of thei |
contented and prosperous inhabitants.
Our readers will at once perceive, therefore
| how the muddle has been occasioned and wha
may be the end Of IL The real truth Of th .
whole matter does not lie in q WELL but rathe !
in nutshell. The geographical, commercia |
and political interests Of tho provinces ar
diverse. Those of Canada West lie closcl
alongside of those Of the Northwestern States
which give them their business. Those
| Canada East lie with the States of New
York, Vermont, and New Hampshire,
the map shows and the railroads demonstrate
Those Of the maritime provinces are intmatel
connected with the New England States or th |
Atlantic. All other connections arc to ther
really Of no value whatever, and If they do no
see 1t now, they will at no distant day. Tn
| conduct Of the Canadians and Nova Scotian
during the present rebellion has been such as
deprive them Of our sympathy at this Other
wise interesting moment and the best thin
they can do is TO intimate the example of tbei
rebel friend jeff Davis, and appoint day