The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-08-28
Stock Quotations by TeIeRraph-3 p. NJ.
Glendinning, Davis Co. report through their NeN
CANADIAN INDEPENDENCE.
A Provincial Version of GIadstOne's and
Bright's Opinions.

A Provincial Version of lsIudSIOOe,s and
Bright's Opinions.
From the Toronto Leader, Avg. "a.
1t is to be regretted that at time when some
rather hotheaded people are busying themselves
in urging the independence" of Canada, the
First Minister of the Crown in England should
have said anything in his place in Parliament
which would seem to favor the independence
idea. We say "seem to favor the idea," because
we do not think that Mr.. Gladstones remarks
which we publish elsewhere to-day, will bear
all that it will be attempted to make out of
them. He spoke, indeed, of the existing sys
TEN as vicious one, and said that it encouraged
a feeling of dependence upon Great Britain. He
clearly indicated, we take it, that we need no
longer look to the mother country to keep up a
considerable standing army here at the expense
of the ratepayers Eat home" and that, perhaps,
the systems of guarantees had been carried
about as far as was desirable. Further than this
ms M \ remarks did not go. There are many people
in Canada who are inclined to go long way
with Mr. Gladstone. They are willing to
admit that there is no good reason,
arising out of the colonial connection, why
large regular force should be stationed
here in times of peace, and that we must
ourselves soon come to consider if il be not con-
sistent with onr position and standing, and not
Incompatible with our resources, to look more
after our own defenses than we have been in
the habit of doing. We have certainly been de-
pendent upon Great Britain to q great extent
Cannot we be less so without rushing to eX-
tremes and endeavoring to force on a state of
lulISS WHICH mOulu IL DIOuSuJ dDOuI now, De
most assuredly stepping-stone to annexation !?
Most assuredly we think we can.
While we say this we cannot conceal from
ourselves that what is known as the 'Independ-
ence Party in England hold strong views about
the colonial connection, and most unequivOcally
desire to it destroyed believing that all colo
nes are nowadays dead weight. We are quite
free to admit that even in Government circles in
London this spirit has found lodgment. There
is a story told bearing upon this question, for
which we do not vouch, but which comes to us
with pretty good authority. prominent
gentleman of Montreal himself an avowed sin
dependence" man-we might, perhaps, even say
an anneXationist--lately in England on pub
lie business had an interview with Mr..
John Bright. The conversation turned
upon colonial annexation. Mr.. Bright, having
felt his way for some time, at last put to our
Montreal friend, broadly, the question, How
soon do you think a disruption of the present
connection will take placer" The Montrealer
replied:-"Well, perhaps in the coarse of ten
years" "Ten years J" responded Mr.. Bright,
''why, l had thought it would take place in ten
months" 1t is not improbable that Mr.. Bright,
in his intense admiration for republican institu-
tions and dislike of all colonies, may have made
this remark. If he has, we can only say it is
a pity that such an one should hold an import
ant position in the imperial government.