The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-01-22

chief representative of royalty in North
America, he found occasion to inform that
embryo nation that 1t already had ats
dcstinics in its own hands, and its statesmen
and people nre recognized as competent TO
judge of their interests, and of what course
TO pursue to reconcile those interests"
England" continued the Governor General.
looked to them for her guidance; and what
ever their decision might be, whether to con-
tinuo their present connection, or in due time
to exchange II for some other form Of nli-
ancc," "the good fifth and intelligence of
England will be prepared TO accedc TO their
wishes" THIS wns speaking plainly enough
but TO make everything certain, his Excel
lcncy went on to declare that "tho choice
Of this measure rested entirely with the
people and statesmen Of Canada"
These assurances alone would suffice TO
prove the liberal intentions Of the present
British Government. But this new policy
VIII not DO carried into effect without q
struggle. The Tory leaders in England,
pcrceiving tho timidty, incompetence, and
confusion which have from the first pre-
vailed in Canada are taking advantage of II
to organize in England and in Parliament
an active If not n strong opposition AGAINST
the change proposed. The London 7imCs,
the wcathcrcock Of English public opinion,
which for time advocated the IDEAS Of the
Gladstone Cabinet. is already vccr.ng away
in n different direction and Earl GRAS.
VILE, tho Colonial Minister, while he as
scrts That England "w,ll never attempt TO
retain the colonies by brute force" still hest
tates and resorts to ambiguity where he
ought to speak dec eivcly.
On the other hand, Sir GEORGE GREY,
himself repeatedly n Colonial Governor un.
der Tory Administration. proclaims that
"the breaking up of England's colonial
empire will be calamity TO both the colo.
MES and the mother country" Sir GEORGE,
however. admits that the present policy lis
no doubt in accordance with what is now the
prevailing opinion in Parliament" but he
evidently thinks that this Parliamentary
opinion can be made to change, If 1t can be
clearly shown that the colonists themselves
are not prepared for tho responsibilities of
an independent national existence On this
ground it is not improbable that a consilcra.
ble party may be rallied In England. The
sentimental motives Of resistance to so great
a change as the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the en-.
pirc must I've of considerable coscncy and
already we SEQ no less writer than Mr.
FEoUDE coming forward TO make them avail.
able. 1t is also argued that the colonies
must be preserved as places of resort for emf.
grafton; though il is difficult to understand
how colony is moro attractive 10 mn cn-
grant than an independent country; and
these who dwell upon the usefulness o. colo
mics for this purpose can never have bchcll
the hundreds OF thousands of British chi.
grants who 20 to Canada intending to stay
there. but who make OF it only O resting
place on their way to the United States.
The struggle OF the Tories for thc rctcn.
ton Of the colonies will probably end very
much like tho effort of the Canadians to
Luild n Pacific railroad upon line where
Nature has rendered tho attempt hmrrncti-
cable