The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-06-04


Governments bow with respect, and the Chi
nese and Japanese kneel in reverence. Still,
much of our success is owing TO the liberality
with which we treat the emigrants arriving
upon our shores, and the entire absence on
our part of that spirit that says to the toiler in
the mine and the workshop, 'I am nobler
than thou" Here labor is honorable. In
Canada they still cling to the old and absurd
ideas of caste. The aristocracy, that has
sprung from questionable origin, is the curse
OF the country, and this scheme of confedera-
tion is merely a cover to introduce into the
new dominion all the absurd customs of the
aristocracy of the Old World.
The rebellion of 1878, under Mackenzie
and Papineau, was brought about by the
expressions of the citizen and agricul-
turist, who could not trace their
lineage to gentle blood, by those who
claimed superior status in society. The
offices in the gift of the Government were
bestowed upon brainless scions of English fami-
lies, who were supported in their Righteousness
by the money gathered from the poor tax
payer. Lord Durham, however, Strengthened
things out, and Canada became under the
union virtually selEgoverned country, and
since then the provinces have made happy
progress. Much of this success, however is due
to the American spirit that has been infused
into her population from this side of the St.
Lawrence. AT the present time perhaps one
third of her population are at heart annexa-
tionists, who will never be satisfied while the
country is a dependency of Great Britain.
The idea of nationality under the protecting
arm of the mother country, it is true, will do
much to unite the people for a few years. but
reaction must come when the pockets of the
people are drained to sustain standing army
now supported by the home Government
Then will be seen the beginning of the end
The French population has never had any love
for English institutions, and do not forget what
their forefathers suffered in the past. They
may for time yield tacit submission to the
new order of things, but the influence of this
element in the provinces, added to that of the
American residents, will bring forth fruit and
culminate in another rebellion, or popular
movement in favor of annexation or indepen-
dence so sweeping in its character that its
success will be beyond the peradventure of a
doubt. After all, perhaps, it is Just as well
that this confederation scheme, which sounds
so large, should be fully tested and permitted
to develop itself. OF the results the most
ardent annexationists can have no fear.
twenty years trial of it will dispel the beau
tiful picture upon which the people have set
their affections. In the meantime, the popu-
latlon will become more Americanized and ripe
for radical change of government.
There is one point, however, in which it
appears to us the provincials are peculiarly
shoTtsighted. Time and again the English
ment, have declared that the mother country
considers her North American colonies expen-
sive elephants, of which she would gladly be
relieved, and permit the people to choose their
own system of government and rulers. Why
this offer has not been accepted we are at a
loss to conceive. Independence, surely, is far
superior to confederation. Let us look at the
question for a moment. Were the provinces
an independent consolidated power, they
would command alike the protection of Eng
land and the United States. The necessity of
expending annually eight or ten million dol
lars for defenses, as will now be the case, would
be removed, and Fenian raids and terror of war
between England and the United States
would cease. But there are still
larger benefits to be derived. The provinces
are rich in gold, coal, silver, and other mineral
| resources and lumber. What they most require
is capital to develop their vast treasures. The
cautious European capitalist is too careful of
his funds to invest in colony many hundred
miles from the mother country, which, in the
event of an interruption of friendly relations
between the United States and England, would
become the battle ground For the same
reason the American capitalist will not assist
in developing the resources of these provinces
Were the colonies an independent power
these objections could no longer be urged
They would be neutral territory, and the only
| force required would be a small constabulary
Capital would flow in from Europe and the
United States; the splendid water power
would no longer remain unemployed; the
dilapidated hamlets, consisting of a tavern,
post Office and store, would grow into pros
porous towns; and in exchange for an interest
in the fsheries we might be induced to nego-
tiate new Reciprocity treaty, giving them
free trade and sweeping all the custom houses,
with their corrupt and fat officials, from the
! border. With all these advantages the pro-
vinces would no longer be convulsed by inter
nal dissensons, and annexatiOnists would be
unknown; for they would be, for all practical
purposes of trade, a part and parcel of the
United States, with this difference, that in half
a century they would have reached the goal
of their ambition, nationality of their own,
with all the advantages of selfgovernment,
| but not inimical to that of the United States.
Let the advocates of new dominion, with a
prince to reign over them, read, reflect, and
| inwardly digest these things.