New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-04-07


Nova Scotia in material progress, increase of
wealth, of population, and all that contributes
TO national greatness. He adds, emphaticaly,
that If Nova Scotia had been for fifty years q
State in the Union, she would have occupied
leading and controlling position in the Union,
and that it is these facts that are inclining
Nova Scotians to promote annexation by all
legitimate means in their power,
The tone and arguments of this article show
that the subject is engaging the serious thought
of the Canadian Provinces, and that the new
era of prosperity which, with the election OF
Gen. Grant, is opening upon the American
people, now freed from the curse of Slavery,
and assured of the stability of their institu-
lions, has awakened a new and intense de-
sire among our northern neighbors to escape
from the anomalies, disadvantages, and dan
gers of their Colonial dependence, and link
their destinies with those Of the Great RepuD-
lie. 1t may be that increased strength and
unaninity will be given to that desire, should
they learn that their consent to immediate
annexation viii repay in large measure their
debts of gratitude to tho mother country by
solving the problem which has thus far defed
the efforts of diplomacy, and assuring an hon
orable and permanent peace between 1reat
Britain and America.
z Should England and the Canadas thus assent
to annexation, the only remaining question,
beyond the arrangement of details, would be
whether the American Government, and the
American people whom it represents, would
cordially accept it as full and final settle
ment of their existing claims. Some of our
citizens, native and adopted, might prefer war
to any settlement, and might argue that in
case of war we should not only humiliate
England by selling the Canadas, but snatch
from her merchants their commerce by priva-
teers that should rival the Georgia and the
Alabama; but we believe that very large ma
jority of the American people would meet such
an advance to reconciliation on the part of
England with the same magnanimity that has
marked their conduct toward the South, and
accept the cession Of the British sovereignty
on this Continent as an ample reparation to
their national honor.
In such an event, the clouds that threaten to
obscure the future would fade before the
dawning Of new and real friendship between
England and America, based upon common
interest and mutual honor, and where a
voluntary and magnanimous reparation had
obliterated the memory of mighty
wrong, and buried the ravages of the
-clads in the grave of Slavery and
the Rebellion. What nobler pride could swell
the bosom of an Englishman than that which
should be aroused by so happy q conclusion to
her colonial policy in the New World 1t
would be the full realization of the picture
drawn by Bright, in contrast to that presented
by the crooked and immoral policy of men by
whom he was surrounded, which aimed at the
division of our Republic and the perpetuation
of the blight of Slavery in territory forty
times as large as England. 81 have" said the
great Commoner, with courageous faith, another
"and brighter vision before my gaze. It
"may be vision, but will cherish it. see
zone rast confederation stretching from the
"tfosen North IN anbroken line TO the gloping
",South and from the wild pillows of the
Atlantic westward to the calmer waters of the
Pacific main; and see one people. and one
Language, and one law, and one faith, and over
all that wide continent the nome OF freedom
"fOr the oppressed of every race and of every
"climen