The New York herald., 1871-03-25
The An SRICAN PROPOSAL TO ASK FOR
CANADA.
From the London Economist, March Ill


It 49, OF course. therefore the object OF his enemies
within the party to Illustrate his nomination.; and
their leader, Senator sumner, IS said TO have de.
clded that the easiest metnod OF opposition VIII be
TO represent President Grants foreign policy as too
favorable to England. More, they wish TO insist on
II, could be gained II the Alabama claims We're kept
open, and more Is angrlly demanded; and they pro-
pose, as the demand most acceptable to the electors
that England SHOULD be requested as the first con-
diton OF permanent peace, to retire from the Amer
can Continent. Such proposal, II Is reported has
been gravely made by Mr.. Howard, and gravely
chance Of acceptance In that body, 1t may have
very great influence upon people outside. 1t IS
doubtful II the m0nstrous character OF the prOpOsi
ton would be perceived at all In America itself.
1t is fact throwing curious light on The effect OF
tory without the consent OF the inhabitants do not
greatly SURPRISE Tar less horriiy the Inhabitants OF
Tney Inc themselves are there Without the com
sent OF the aborigines, and they naye &C
CURED at at different times Louisiana, Florida
their white Inhabitants. They have bought
Alaska, they have made repeated offers for Cuba,
they are in treaty for ST. Domingo, and is NATURAL
therefore, tnat they should regard the cessi0n OF
British America as quite within the limits OF diplO
matte proposals. Moreover, their habit OF erecting
conquered Territories into States with almost COM
pete internal autonomy, so complete as 10 allow OF
enormous differences OF clvillzaton-for example,
free divorce exists In Connecticut prostitution Is le
gaized and made source Of revenue IN fixed
district OF ST. Louis and polygamy is tolerated IN
conquest, which seems to American eyes to partaKe
rather OF the character OF absorption. And finally,
u
not without a certain truth, that any honorable
method OF severlng herself from her Continental
possessions IN America would DE welcome to Great
Britain 1t Is by means Incredible therefore tnat
o proposal to negotiate for the cesson OF BRUSH
America might strike the people OF the United States
as display OF mere diplomatic skill, quite W thin
the bounds oil propriety and involving particular
difnculty and IN tnat case President Grant would
be, as IL were, outbd, and his chance OF obtaining
the party nomination very materially diminished.
The plan worthy Of attention, but 1t WILL we be-
lieYe fail In the FIRST place the political leaders
to the Presidency more advantageous than the ad-
dton to the ranAs OF the electors OF vast numbers
thies. able favOriles aud a tendency to make geo.
graphical rather than party alliances. The Domin.
upset almost all calculations, parncularIy II the
new States were sufficiently out OF temper nc an
nexaton to to ION some depressed section
England or the Pacific Coast. This fear
would Of itself make Mr.. Sumner's proposition
are strong enough to insist on their own terms Of
admission. In the second place, the Irish vote,
Thich Mr.. Sumner would like to gain would se lost
IL once. The Irish are ruled by men who hope utl-
mately FOR war with England, not for the removal
it successfully. they care for what t.ey conceive
TO be the interests OF Ireland tie increased
grandeur OF the Union. And finally, ali Americans
would be entirely inadmissiDe, except as O
result OF the defeat OF Great Britain: They
and dangerous war, in order to absorb people
who, as consequence OF that war. would be hostile
d
the fact. The Canadians may quit the empire by
vote whenever they please. When they have quilt
ted 1t they may join whomsoever they choose. But
any attempt 10 surrender them without their own
consent. or to make their consent the makeweight
In any treaty, would cost the government which
made the prOpo; al Parliament Its existence. The
British people are not ANXIOUS to retain Canaoa;
but they will de.end 1t as long as it chooses to
man colony, and Will neither cede sell 1t. The
proposal is, therefore, rejected from the beginning,
and the moment that is comprehended IL Will cease
to stand In the way Of the abors OF the JOINT Com
mission.