The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-05-13
UANADA,s WHITE ELEPHANT.
From the Pau lIaU Gazette.

uneApeClcu uouple' III was great victory on
the part of Prussia to expel Austria from Ger
many. 1t was splendid triumph of Napoleon
III to secure the title while welding the sceptre
Of his uncle. Yet neither Count Bismark nor
the Emperor Napoleon may have forcseen the
trials which awaited him on the morrow of
success. Thus it may be with the Dominion of
Canada, unless, as we hope, the rule shall in this
case be Illustrated by brilliant exception,
Year after year the natives OF Upper and
Lower Canada have denounced the Hudson's
Bay Company as usurpers, and threat
ened them with the fate of mtruders.
The fur traders have been warned that, if
they did not retire from any untenable position
and abandon an unauthorized traffic, they would
lose everything they valued and treated as their
. own. BY the shareholders in the Hudson's Bay
y Company these mcnHces were attributed to envy.
They believed themselves secure from attack
Indeed so constantly were their rights assailCd
without being seriously compromised that they
came to regard them as based on secure and
lasting foundation. Seeing that the loud talk of
their opponents did not hinder the declaration
of substantial dividends, they waXed Over-confi-
dent OF their strength and shut their ears to the
wholesome truths which cool-headed and impair
tial onlOolers uttered for their instruction and
guidance. The inevitable conclusion has at last
arrived. Under the pressure of circum-
stances which they could neither control
nor disregard, these shareholders have
now signifed their willingness to resign
the sovereign rights they rated so highly,
taking in return G3OO,OO and many thousand
acres of land. What the company at first re-
garded as a disaster seems likely to improve
their fortunes; shares are rising and the pro-
prietors are already beginning to smile through
their tears. That the coercion applied to them
was somewhat harsh can hardly be denied and
nobody will grudge their Frightening prospects.
AsEfor the Canadians, that they have achieved
so thorough a success must be to them matter
of rejoicing. But they will do well to remember
that the acquisition of tract of country nearly
as large and diversified, both regards soil and
climate, as the whole of Europe, entails re-
sponsiblity of no common kind. From both
sides of the Atlantic they will hear the question,
"What will they do withit?"
- No one need fear that the Canadians will fold
their hands and suffer the territory of the north
west either to be the favorte haunt of the buf-
falo and the home of the Indian, or to be wholly
occupied by enterprising citizens of the United
States 1t is both their duty and their interest
to prepare this country for the habitatiOn of the
European settler. The farmer must displace
the trapper, and the solid habtation of civilized
man must be substituted for the Indians rude
and temporary dwelling. The rivers which now
flow to no purpose must be made to turn mills
and float steamboats,. From the head of Lake
Superior to the base of the Rocky Mountains
there is an almost continuous communication
by the North and South Saskatchewan and their
tributaries. The removal of few natural
obstacles would render the navigation of either
river practicable for steamers OF moderate bur-
den. Thus the conveyance of passengers
a small cost, while the inducements
to settle would be increased owing to the exist
ence of facilities for the transport of produce
The drawback of slow and uncertain means of
intercourse between the different markets of the
United States and of Canada is eXemplifed by
the present condition of the settlements at the
Red river and ut Lake Manitobah. In both cases
the settlers have the power OF growing large
quantities of grain In both the opportunities
for gaining livelihood with little eXertion are
so great that none but incorrigible sluggards
need starve or repine. Yet, despite these advan-
tages the settlements increase in size very
slowly, and the settlers accumulate wealth with
rs great difficulty the dwelers in localities
cursed with sterility. The simple explanation
is that these settlements virtually isolated
for want of suitable roads. The servants of the
/ Hudson's Bay Company have done their best to
keep these settlers within Veritable ring fence.
1t would have been impossible for the company
4 to retain the monopoly of trade if those whom
they wished to make their customers under
compulsiOn had possessed the power of going
elsewhere and purchasing what they required
OF late years the opportunities tol
evading the companys regulations have
been multiplied. The rapid increase OF
population in the neighboring State
of Minnesota has led to interchange OF
commodities between the American traders and
i the Red river settlers. AS soon as this settle
ment shall have been formally ceded to Canada
the monopoly of trade will terminate. From the
fall of exclusive privileges will be dated the
commencement of the settlements prosperity.
Thus the exercise of sovereignty by Canada over
the territory governed by the company will i'm
mediately prove beneficial to at least Il, 900 OF
her Majesty's subjects.
The most difficult problem requiring solution
relates to the kind of government to be estab-
lished over the new territory. This territory
cannot well be united to the province of Ontario.
1t is too vast to constitute n province by itself,
while it is too sparsely peopled to be entitled to
the forms of representative government prevail
ing throughout the Dominion. For consider.
able time the settlers will doubtless be satisfied
with share in the local government, and will
consent to forego representation in the Dominion
Parliament If any political disputes arise
hereafter these will probably have an inter.
national origin. An influx of independent
American citizens may take place. Should they
form considerable proportion of the popula
ton il is not unlikely that endeaYors will bC
made to transfer the allegiance of the province tC
the neighborng republic. Against this cOntin
oencv the best safeguard will be found in libe
Talityof treatment on the part the Canadian Gov
ernment and Parliament Everything in the shap
of undue exercise of central authority must b.
carefully avoided. All that can fairly be don
TO promote local enterprise must be cheeriull
conceded As best calculated to increase genera
satisfaction by furthering individual Interests
the formation of roads and the opening up O
communication by water are among the mrs
duties incumbent on the new propretors OF tn
Hudson's Bay Territory. Even now it is ease
to reach the Red River Settlement by way OF tn
United States than through the western part G
Canada But this obstacle to untettered lntel
course is i'm process of removal. road Is beln
made between the settlement and the Canada
shore at the head of Lake Superior. Besides,
project has been mooted OF grander characte
and of more extended importance. 1t Is pre-
posed to construct a railway from OttaW
10 the Pacific. As this line would be in cor
noction with the Grand Trunk and the lnte