The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-06
CANADIAN ANNEXATION.
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Progress Of the Movement To-
wards Independence.
Canadians Growing More and More
Tired Of English Rule.
They Turn Their Gaze FOndly To-
wards the United States.
Organization of a Union League
in Montreal.

MONTREAL, June %, 1870.
The present political situation In Canada should
command the closest alteration OF Americans. On
The events OF the next few months must turn the u
ture destiny OF half the Continent and on their
course depends IN no small degree the commercial
supremacy OF the Orient after whose sceptre now
strive republican America and republican England.
TIE NEW YORK HERALD having special Ing Tor
questions OF broad character, and of national or
OF continental importance Its readers may not read
without interest the following brief sketch OF the
present and well founded anicpatons OF the future
STATE Of things
Inteigiby to under stand and to accomplish this 1t
viii be necessary briefly review the past. 1t will
be remembered that last year no inconsiderable ag
tation took place In Canada on the subject OF
COLONIAL INDEPENDENCE
This movement was led by the star and lie Pays,
of Montreal; Chronicle, OF Quebec, and Free Press,
OF Lonaon and was reviewed at length IN the
HERALD OF June 2s, 1869. These various journals
advocated independence on the ground that the
Gladstone Cabinet intended cutting the colonies
adrift, and that it would be manly for Canada
70 prepare for and accept the inevitable than to
cling to England until she was cut loose by main
force. Again they urged that this would strengthen
the hands OF England in her negotiations with
America as she would then have no impossible
frontier to defend. Again, that independence
would free Canada from her Fenian troubles; would
secure perpetual good relations with America ana
would give an impulse to the new nation which
would only be followed by good. Besides the man.
ayers of the journals have just mentioned there
were many OF The pubic men Of Canada especially
Interested in the movement. At Montreal the Hon.
Mr.. Huntington, Sir A. T. Gait Hon. John Young,
Mr.. r. Lanamme and others formed a cotcrie who
might be considered the leaders OF the party. 1t
- hn oprho fhot Hon Mr. Hupfin ufpn
made couple OF campaigns in Bedford and Waterloo,
where he delivered oraions favor OF independence
and was met by Colonel Chamberlin, NJ. p,
who defended British connection. While a very
great many adherents were drawn to the banners OF
independence. the crusade created a most formda.
BILE and virulent opposition. The Toronto GLOBE,
Montreal Gazette and other organs Of the govern
ment more less subsidized and stupid, denounced
the movement as premature and those who en-
gagged In il as
ANHExArTONIsrs AND TRAITORS.
They had indeed, some groundwork for this charge;
for the movers all had American tinge. Mr.. Gait
was OF the leaders OF the abortive movement for
annexation In 1889, and although he now denies
the soft impeachment he is counted upon by the
unonists as an ally. Mr.. Lanamme, the leader OF
the French wing is pronounced annexationist, and
desired that the policy OF the party should be
openly avowed. Mr.. Huntington, like Mr.. Calf,
openly disavowed American sympathes, but disa-
vows much better than he disprOves. Mr. Young is
generally accepted by the party as independent,
who really believes Canadian independence possible
without annexation resulting therefrom. He Is
man Of extreme egotism who claims TO have origi.
mated everything In Canada, from the Grand Trunk
Railway or volunteer system down to the Caugh-
nawaga Canal. In the desire to be the
father Of his country he has utterly over
looked the consequences. Another strong proof
OF the true tendency and object OF the
movement will be found in the fact that the centre
OF It's leaders was the American consulate at Mon
trea and that many OF the earliest articles in the
Star were written and others inspired by General
Averll, the then American Consul General. The
discussion was very warm and general throughout
the country and much accomplished in the way
OF put ting the question fairly before the people In
the month OF November, 1869, serious schism took
place between the two wings OF the party.
DIVISIONS IN THE CAMP.
The followers OF independence in Canada were
divided, as might naturally have been expected
into two sections. There were those men who
really believed independence with British alliance
desirable and possible and who advocated indepen-
dence as a safeguard against annexation. Although
the papers OF the party almost all adopted this belief
and pronounced themselves opposed to American.
lbIn, sui Inc IOuOWeT5 OF Inl3 luea were In
minority as regarded numbers money and brains
The American wing, who only advocated ndepend-
ence as step towards annexation, had organs in
the Star and lie Pays, and exercised no little
influence They were in correspondence
with leading American statesmen, endeavor-
ing to mould the policy Of the States
towards Canada so as to aid them, while
they kept the loyal wing OF the party in cOmmuni-
cation with the English anti-colonals, so as TO fur.
Their the work OF severIng British connection. l hap
pen to know that the true leaders Of the party, al
though little known, had much to do in abating the
open annexation avowas OF the ants in Nova Sco-
tia, as they advised them to keep quiet to permit
and hasten forward the completion OF the work OF
confederation, on the pledge from prominent Eng
lish radicals that independence would be forced
upon the Dominion Immediately after. The sudden
subsistence Of violent opposition in Nova Scotia and
Newfoundland, so much commented upon, Is to be
ascribed to this There was, of course, good
deal OF lying jesutry necessary; but the fact remains
that three or four clever men, who content
to work the ropes in silence, completely entrapp ed
the loyal independents, committed them and the
antcolOnal party in England TO the very policy
they decried and Afterwards launched the tories into
the work of annexation with a demoniac and anus
ing energy. Between these Wings OF the party there
must, Of necessity, have been chickering's, and in No.
vember last a serious split took place. Before
recounting this, however, / had better premise
that in June, 1862 an independence league was
planned, the object OF which was to forward the
cause OF Canadian independence by educating the
people, holding meetings, Substituting journals, buy
ing up counties, &c. IL was intended that the pre-
sidency should be offered 10 Sir A. T. Gait, and that
the other sachems should be promo ted to positions
where they would make good public show would
be self salshed that they were doing great patriO
TIC work, and would he perfectly harmless, while the
secretaries and treasurers were to be drawn from
the Anne rican wing. In other words Gait Il Co.
would play hgureheads the others do the steering.
MORE ABOUT THE ''LEAGUE.n
In discussing the preminaries OF this league dis
sensions waxed stronger. The loyal wing were OF
opinion that the campaign of 1872 could be carried
by pure electtoneering, and calculated on carrying
least sixty seats out OF the 1872 by local compica-
Eions. They relied too, on Ousting the government
and securing Office by advocating independence. In
short they wanted independence for personal rea-
sons. The American wing strongly opposed this,
with logic which had at least common sense about
IL. They urged that with ontario in solid pha
lanx opposed to independent hereses, and
iern Q,anh ec Nova Scniia cnnnter-