Vermont daily transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1868-1870, 1869-05-01
Vermont Daily Transcript.
81. ALBANS, VT.
SATURDAY, MAY l, 1869.
Mr.. Cats Speech.

ha e noticed, generally approve of Mr.
Calls speech, without why ora where
fore. The Montreal Herald is an ex-
ception, and thinks that the subject of
Mr.. Cats speech was not treated in
such manner as to satisfy the intelli-
gence of the nearer or reader. 1t regards
the observations which MI. Gait made
on the contrast between the conduct of
Canada to the United States, and the
conduct of the United States to Canada
merely as Introductory, though not
without its importance, yet they did
not tell the whole truth. The Canadian
Government, it admits, did do their
whole duty, but " they permitted and
really encouraged a daily issue of the
most offensive abuse of the United
States Government and its cause in
journals which, on every petty question
of party politics, they show themselves
quite able to control" The appearance
of this abuse in ministerial papers, sup
ported by speeches in Parliament from
the same party, which were never re-
buked or contradicted by the Ministers
themselves, furnished good cause to
the people of the United States to be-
lieve that the Canadian Government
was their bitter enemy.
We give entire the closing portion of
the Herultl's article:
Comparing all that was done in Cana
da, however, to the Fenian movement,
there can be no hesitation in awarding
the palm of wickedness to the latter.
Yet in comparing the course of the two
Governments in dealing with the un.
friendly acts done within their borders,
we shall not be just if we do not re-
member that the Fenian movement
was one of a much larger kind, and
much less easily controlled than the
movement of the few refugees who
abused our asylum during the war. We
must remember also that tn dy as was
the Intervention in our behalf of the
Government ut Washington, twas still,
like out efforts to prevent Confederate
mischief, sufficiently effective to elicit
the thanks of the British Government.
We say this because we do not believe
that anything is gained by deluding
ourselves with false views OF the past
but the real interest of Mr.. Galt's speech
was of course in that part which dealt
with the present and the future, and
therein we wish he hal been able to
place before our judgment clear image
Of our true position, unembarrassed by
the cross lights which leave us at the
end in q logical bewilderment, which
may only too clearly indicate a danger
Gus political and International bewil-
derment hereafter. If, said the honor
able gentleman, in substance, the Unit
ed States have cause of complaint
against Great Britain, they should not
make us bear the penalty. We have
an independent Parliament, and res
ponsible Ministry; and she manages
her foreign policy at her own cost. If
that were truly SO, the conclusion that
an American quarrel with England
should not be avenged upon us would be
irresistible and Mr.. Gait, speaking like
Canadian, fairly established his point.
But presently he began to feel like an
Imperialist, aud then expressing his be-
lief that England would not make fur
tier concessions on the Alabama ques-
ton, he uttered, among the cheers of
the House, the confident opinion that
in case of need we should afford her all
the aid-military aid was meant-which
should, and that, we take it, indicates
for good or for evil the real position OF
this country. Futile our assistance
might be-utterly ruinous, perhaps, to
ourselves and embarrassing or mischie-
vOus to the mother country-but it
would, nay must, be rendered. That
being the case, it is silly to amuse our
selves with talking of neutrality-suspicious.
in merely internal matters, since it is
external relations alone which are real
ly in question, and in respect to these
we are as much part of England as the
city of London to partake OF her glOries
but also to bear the chief brunt Of her
trials, if these should occur upon this
continent. In our commercial relations
to foreign countries, no less than in our
military relations, we must take the
consequences of our true position. The
real craftsmanship of the hour is to de-
fine, if needful to modify this position
but to adopt such a policy as shall be in
conformity to it, not to make speeches
which conceal the real character of our
status, and set us wandering aft err mere
phantOms.