The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-07-11
SPIRIT OF THH PRESS.
Editorial Opinions Of the Leading Journals
upon Current Topics Compiled Every
Day for the Evening Telegraph.
CANADA AND THE STATES.

Ot the recent DEBATE on our colonial
relations in the House of Lords. That
debate, under the guidance of Earl
Russell, shaped itself into a debate on
Canada. And if we must discuss questions
now sleeping, which nothing but restless
desire to touch on difficult ground brings for
ward at this moment, it is much to be wished
that the difference between the Canadian and
the colonial problem were kept constantly in
view. Canada is not colony in any but par
iamentary language. Axioms and arguments
about our position towards our colonies have
no bearing on our policy with regard to
Canada; an empire of vast extent and con-
siderable population, connected with us only
by the tie of common allegiance. The sole
question as to our common policy which now
admits of discussion-sole, but very en-
grossing-is that of military protection.
It is serious, not to say a formidable
question, and those in Parliament and out of
it do the greatest possible amount of bad SER
vice to both communities who endeavor to
blink that question: those who endeavor to
disguise its reality under pompous platitudes
and tall talk about British spirit and British
glories and maintaining the policy of our
ancestors. This is mere pandering to the
taste of the vulgar, low or high. The states
man who would express a sound Judgment on
the matter must bid "a long farewell to
worldly fame, and speak the truth, regard
less of the certain consequence to himself of
being pointed at as an un-English and faint
hearted.
Let us look at the situation such as it is,
and not as we represent it to ourselves in our
dreams. Canada, with four millions and a
half of inhabitants, is conterminous with the
United States, possessing forty millions. But
it is not merely conterminout with those
States: it hangs on to them as it were, for
two or three thousand miles, like the fringe
of garment, or more nearly like the rim of
a shield. The result is that any attack di
rected from the compact body in the CENTRE
and delivered at any point in the feeble cir
cumference, must meet with the least posi-
BILE amount of effectual resistance. Arguing
on mere military logic, we know that before the
scattered defenders could coalesce, the con-
centrated assailants would have done their
work. For Canada to defend herself effect.
lively against the States, situated as they rela-
lively are, she ought to have three or four
times their population; and she has one-tenth
of it. This is the plain truth of the case, and
it would be really disloyal, were it not trans
parently absurd, to elude it by vaporings
about British valor and Canadian loyalty
As to the political tendencies of the COM
munities on each side of this precarious
boundary there is no doubt at all. The
Americans have q strong desire to annex
Canada, not merely from feelings of national
pride and dislike of England, though these
need not be underrated, but also becaUse
Canada would be to them really valuable
possession. She has nearly the only elements
of commercial greatness in which they are
deficient. Party politics in the States-the
distaste, that is, of each of the great parties
in the Republic to see any substantial
achievement accomplished by the other
might very likely retard the consummation;
but assuredly not for long were external
obstacles removed.
Al -
tion of the Canadians we are pretty well in
formed. The American party there IS not
large, and it is unpopular; but it comprises
good many of the more active and prescient
spirits of the nation. The party which dis
likes the Americans and breads annexation,
but is at the same time without sentimental
attachment to our country, is considerable it
comprises of course large infusion of mere
waters on Providence. The English hearted
as well as English-speaking Canadians are
numerous, brave, resolute. They are in a
certain sense our garrison in Canada. Can
we really maintain them in that position, and
how?
Lord Russell, as far as we can conjecture
from language in which he seems to have
carefully Stunned committing himself to
anything dangerously explicit, seems to think
it may be done by posting five thousand
British regulars at Quebec, and leaving the
rest to the chapter of accidents. 1t is really
hard on the honored ghost of our great cap.
tain, Wellington, that he should be summoned
from the shades to give evidence in favor OF
so superficial a notion, and that some loose
talk of his about Malta and Gibraltar mill
tary posts of quite different class-should be
construed into approval of it. Lord Russell
is fond of history; but it must be history
adapted to pattern. Were this otherwise, he
might have recollected how the military and
political authorities of Tudor times pledged
themselves to the theory-long after we had
abandoned our French possessions-th il
was essential to the greatness of England tc
maintain a garrison in Calais. 1t was oul
paramount duty to hold the key of France
though we had utterly renounced all ides
Of monopolizing the contents of the
casket. When that fortress fell, al
England sympathized with the las
words of poor Queen Mary, who, with al
her faults, was Tudor in spirit for good as
well as for evil, that the name of Calais
would be found written on her heart But
not only was the loss unfelt, but in a very
few years utterly forgotten, or remembered
only as saving of foolish and ostentatiou
expense and the removal of constant provoca
tion to our neighbor. The same fancy TO
holding ''keys" to nothing revived to
trihing extent in later days, in the cases O
Dunkirk and Tangier. But common sense
soon extinguished it, and we should hav
thought, but for Lord Russells historica
views, finally.
One thing of importance, even to his owl
theory, Lord Russell forgets. Supposin
Quebec, with its British garrison, tenabl
against America. Quebec, from its peculia
position, is of no kind of value in a wa
against America, 1t is quite remote from an
probable scene of action. An enemy superio
in land STRENGTH and in possession of the 81