The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-06-18
TIE NJ " DOl[LN[ON.

The New Dominion is threatened with
another trouble by the attitude assumed at
Ottawa by delegates from British Columbia,
who plainly threaten that if her impoverished
northern neighbors do not provide means to
construct Canadian Pacific Railway the
people of British Columbia will clamor voci-
ferously for annexation to the United States.
Before the excitement created by the Fenian
fracas has died away, and before the Red
River rebellion is fully suppressed, this new
ultimatum, which foreshadows the beginning
of the end, is submitted. Various projects
to provide the funds for the proposed under
taking have been devised, but they all hinge
substantially on the question whether the
British Government will be willing to assume
the heavy responsibilities it involves, and
John Bull is scarcely ready to swell his debt
for the real or supposed benefit of his burden
some Canadian colonists.
The United States, in providing for the
construction of the great continental railways
of this country, have set an example which
Great Britain must either follow or yield up
her American possessions on the Pacific
coast; but Canada has hitherto made such
poor returns for the British capital expended
upon her railways, that she has greatly dis
couraged further ventures in the same direc-
ton, and if British Columbia waits for
Canadian Pacific Railway her patience will be
sorely tried. Meanwhile every new link added
to the Northern Pacific Railroad of this coun-
try will add to her discomfort and increase
her present disposition to seek peace and
prosperity under our flag. Hemmed in on
the north as we'll as the south by American
settlements, separated on the east from the
New Dominion proper by vast wilderness,
the natural remedy for her isolation is to be
found in annexation, and every year will in
crease her disposition to adopt it. After one
portion of the British possessions seek repose
and relief by this method the example will
speedily become contagious, and in the
natural course of events British Columbia
will in this way probably open the door
through which the Canadas must eventually
seek deliverance from their present troubles.
TwoNEw BIRDS, says London paper, have arrived
at the Geological Gardens, the alleged habits OF
which afford curious theme for speculation, and
to supply Illustration to poets and philoso
pliers. The male has strong, short, curved beak;
the female much longer bill. The naturalists tell
which lies hid the grub on which they feed and the
female pulls out the worm and presents her mate
with half the meal. Here is delightful instance of
the essential incompeteness and mutual helpfulness
of the sexes the two forming one, as we are told
they should in perfect conjugal union. We hope
that observation may confirm the tale; but animals
at the Geological Gardens are painfully apt to dis
appoint the expectations which we have been led to
form of them. There is the aye-aye, for instance.
Every one has heard OF its marvellousy long nail,
and it's singular adaptation to the necessities Of the
creatures existence. Professor owen has founded
exquisite argument on the Of the long nail in
extracting the creatures food from the deep crevces
in which 1t is supposed to find it, 1t is an admirable
instance of design. But although all sorts Of inge
NOUS devices have been adopted to induce the aye
aye to use its nail for these purposes, it seems to
have rooted objection to do so and has never been
known to do anything else than scratch its nose
with it, which nobody can suppose to be final
cause.