The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-01-02
SPIRIT or THH PRESS.
EdItorlsI Opinions OF the Leading Journals
upon Current Topics-CempiIed Every
Day for the Evening Telegraph.
CANADA-ANNEXATION.
gcom the n. Y. Tribune.

America In 1S49 several able and distin-
guished men, in various sections OF Canada,
avowed themselves to be in favor of such
measure, as the best mode of developing the
resources of the country; aud 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 America Canadian river. A
manifesto was issued, signed by more than a
thousand of the most prominent men in Mon
treal-tben, as now, the commercial capital
of Canadian favor of peaceable separation
from the mother country, with view to seek
ing admission into our great and prosperous
Union. This proceeding alarmed to such a
degree the pro-British party that extraordi-
nary 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 summarily
dismissed for having signed this document,
or for speaking in public what were
then esteemed words of treason. These
measures were accompanied 10y an assurance
from Lord John, now Earl Russell, then
Colonial Minister, that her Majesty Govern
ment would exert all its influence to procure
reciprocal free trade between the provinces
and the United States. The severity of the
Colonial and the fair promises of the In
perial authorities had the effect of staying
to enter the Union. This assurance was at
length realized, through the able diplomacy
of Lord Elgin, the Governor General of
Canada, by the consummation of the rac-
prooity treaty, which, having run its period
of eleven years, was terminated our part
because of its obvious one-sidedness. The
reciprocity scheme, as we all know, gave TO
our fishermen advantages with which they
were content, but which, weighed against the
Qatd pro quo given by us in return, we're 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 q make
weight in the bargain.
What might have happened had our states
men rejected the proposals of England on
behalf of her colonial protege can only be a
matter of conjecture. Many of tue earnest
advocates of annexation, on both sides the
line are strongly of opinisn that but for the
making of this hapless treaty, Canada would
ere this have knocked at our door for admis-
sion. 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 i'm
portant. This extreme Indifference as to
what SO much concerned our neighbors well
fare, and apparently our own, seemed to
the Canadian annexationists most unaccount-
able. Many of these gentlemen, who, not
unnaturally, sought sympathy and moral
aid at Washington, returned home dis
gUsted with the cold indifference with
which they had been received by high Off
cials 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 'ith it the complicated system
of checks &nd balances compromises and
bargainings between the Northsand the South,
the East and the West, something akin to
political chaos, for q time, ensued. Out of
the discordant elements which remained we
had to reconstruct the Union. This has
occupied five years-a period so brief in the
history of a nation, and, considering what
had to be done, so fraught with danger to
constitutional government, that the future
historian will marvel that such vast and salu-
tary results have been accomplished in so
brief time. These mighty ends being now
consummated, 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
message, in discussing Canadian questions,
affords satisfactory evidence that the time has
come for the consideration of the subject
with view to its early and final solution.
Whether the suggestions made by the Presi
dent for quasi suspension of commercial in
tercourse between the two countries (for that
is what it amounts to- in retaliation fol
wrongs inflicted on few fishermen are feast
BILE or wise, they are certain to be attended
with one good result. He has fairly opened
the question, and the universal attention thus
drawn to it will convince our neighbors that
the period of indifference has at length given
place to one of careful inquiry-the certain
precursor of more decided action.
On one point at least, our public men OF
all parties are at present agreed, viz, that
the Canadians must never hope for renewal
of the defunct Reciprocity treaty. If they
are not yet prepared to lay aside old and use
less Sc n tim entalities, they must, if they de-
sire anything short of annexation, come to
us with a proposal to adopt our commercial
system-our tariff, in fact-as against all the
rest of the world-England included. Thai
tariff will afford the Canadians advantages
which large party here claim for it in refer.
ence to our own national industries. Canada
like this country, has its protectionist party
and this party claims that Canada possesses
great facilities, in the shape of cheap labor
inexhaustible water power, and abundance o.
raw material, for setting up as a manufac
turing country. Only one thing they lack
market in which to sell their sur
plus fabrics. 1t is absolutely certain
that their best market, outside thu
PROVINCES will be our almost illimitable agri
cultural States lying south and west of tht
provinces In these vast and growing mar
kets they will in fact become competitors
with our Eastern manufacturers. PROPOSE
ton, therefore, for new treaty to regulat,
trade between the two countries, to be accept
able to any class in this country, must EN-