New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-12-31
CdNADA-ANNEXdTIOK.

More than twenty years have elapsed since the
question of Annexation was frat openly moOted
in the British Provinces of America. In 1S40,
several able and distinguished men, in various
sections of Canada. avowed themselves to be
in favor of such a measure, as the best mode
of developing the resources of the country
and numerous writers sustained movement
which, at one time in that year, seemed likely
to take a deep hold of the public mind on the
north side of the great Amcrco-C Canadian
river. A manifesto was issued, signed by
more than thousand of the most prominent
men in MOntreal-then, az now, the CONNER
cial capital of Canadian favor of pcaceable
separation from the mother country, with q
view to seeking admission into our great and
prosperous Union. This proceeding alarmed
to such degree the Pro-Brtish party that
extraordinary measures were adopted to stop
the spread of principles so obnoxious to
their tastes. Several hundred magistrates,
militia officers and others holding commissions
under the Provincial Government, were sum
marty dismissed for having signed this docu-
ment. or for speaking in public what were
then esteemed words of treason. These
measures were accompanied by an assurance
from Lord John. now Earl Russell. then Colo
NAL Minister, that Her Majcsty's Government
would exert all its influence to procure re-
ciprocal free trade between the Provinces and
the United States. The severity of the Colo
NAL and the fair promises of the Imperial
authorities had the effect of staying for
time the growing wish of the Cana
dams to enter the Union. This as
surance was at length realized, through the
able diplomacy of Lord Elgin, the Governor
General of Canada. by the contamination of
the Reciprocity Treaty, which, having run its
period of eleven years, was terminated on our
part because of its obvious Onc-sidedness.
The reciprocity scheme, as we all know, gave
to our fishermen advantages with which they
were content, but which, weighed against the
quid pro quo given by us in return, were as
dust in the balance. The same remark ap-
plies with equal force to the navigation of the
st. Lawrence, which the cunning diplomat
threw in, on the part of Canada, as make
weight in the bargain.
What might have happened had our states
men rejected the proposals of England on be-
half of her colonial protege, can only be a
matter of conjecture. Many of the earnest ad-
vOcates of annexation on both sides the line,
are strongly of opinion that, but for the
making of this hapless treaty, Canada would
ere this have knocked at our door for adj
mission. We are of different opinion. Prior
to our great civil war, our statesmen of all
parties were too much engrOssed in the great
political and social problem of Negro Slavery
to embark in outside questions, however inn
portant. This extreme indifference as to what
so much concerned our neighbors' welfare. and
apparently our own, seemed to the Canadian
annexatiOnists most unaccOuntable Many
of these gentlemen, who, not unnaturally,
sought sympathy and moral aid at Wash
ington. returned home disguised with the cold
indifference with which they had been received
by high officials and Members of Congress. Since
the renewal of the agitation of the question
in Canada. consequent upon the termination of
the treaty, similar complaints have been made.
The reason for this apparent apathy is readily
explained Having rooted out Slavery, and with
it the complicated system of checks and bal.
ances, compromises and bargainings between
the North and the South, the East and the West
something akin to political chaos, for time.
ensued. Out of the discordant elements
which remained we had to reconstruct
the Union. This has occupied five
years-a period 80 brief in the history
of nation, and, considering what had to be
done, 80 fraught with danger to consttu-
tonal government, that the future historian
will marvel that such vast and salutary re-
suits have been accomplished in 80 brief
time. These mighty ends being now con-
summated, our Canadian neighbors need no
longer complain of indifference on the part of
our public men or of the press. The large space
occupied by President Grant, in his late mes
sage, in discussing Canadian questions, affords
satisfactory evidence that the time has come