The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-04-05
From fiss Ns~ 96fk Times.
Great BrifafH and the New Nc,,nfuso.

From tiSe N8W YtfE Times.
Great Rrifafn and the New Donainion.
lssApropos of Canadian Independence. Lord
Lisgnr. the Governors General, is said to have
recently expressed surprise that, the public
men Of Canada have not the ngaeity to com.
prehend the desire and intention of England
regarding that province. This may be ciassed
among the sen1i-official limitations 80 fire..
quently given through Isolated members .ot
Parliament, under-secretaries, and certain
English Journals, that Canadian connection Is
q matter Of NO consequence to Great Britain.
1t Is clear that the Canadians are expected to
divine, by some intuitire process, the mean
ing of those ambiguous expressions in which
Ensishmen endeayor to convey the sense oil
WEAKNESS with which the connection op-
presses them. But this underlined language,
we might almost say diplomatic obscurity.
embarrasses the best Canadian minds, an6
one of the ablest public men In the provinces
not long ago complained Of it in IN address
which created no slight sensation in the Ga
madam capital.
British statesmen have undoubtedly come to
the conclusion that their overgrown offspring
should by this time be able to walk alone. but
| take the first step. The public sentiment Of
understand why four millions of their race
should not, id this enlightened day, desire in
dependence, while almost u century ago less
than three millions Of people of the same
blood asserted their freedom in O protracted
and sanguinary struggle. They have, besides,
not forgotten tlatin 1S48 strong annexation
current was discovered in colonial opinion,
andalthough 1t was Immediately checked by Il
- Int hot NJ t,H
loyalty Of which good specimen was ex-
hibited recently in the British House of Com.
mons, they apprehendcd 1t may still exist as
then, In the absence of an expressed desire
for independence, that the English Govern.
ment will plainly tell the Canadians to 60,
while by any possibility they may take the
road to the United States. Canada as Bri-
tish colony is fact far more gratifying to
them than Canada as half dozen States in
the American Union would be; while
Canada, an independent sovereignty, would
be something admirable to behold as amonu-
ment to British magnanimity and reflector
to British glory.
This may or may not be the explanation OF
the vagueness Of these invitations to be free.
but it is obvious that the Dominion and the
mother country are at cross-purposes. The
former misinterprets all the hints of the lat
ter, and persists i'll manifesting the most
boMlldnte loyalty on the slightest provoca-
ton. We shall not analyze this sentiment
| here, although we may perhaps be pardoned
| for questioning Its honesty when we find it
exhibited quite as demonstatively in public
by the French population, who, in private,
| are well known to cherish other feelings.
Our purpose now is to suggest to those In
terested n simple and direct mode of release
| from their embarrassment. All that will be
required in carrying it out is frankness Oh
both sides.
Let Great Britain submit the two conGli.
| tons to n vote of the adult male population
of Canada, eyes" to mean independence.
and "No" continuance of the colonial con.
dition, and no change to follow unless two.
thirds of all the votes cast shall be in the af:
fr1natire. Such proceeding, under the
sanction of an act Of the Imperial Parliament
would place the Canadians in position tc
choose freely, while the "dnrk sayings" Of
scmi-officials only make them feel that Their
loyalty is suspected.