Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1877-02-10
TrOOpS for British Columbia.

of the crack regiments OF the Eng
lish army-in that city, at an early
date, en- route for British Columbia,
to take post at Esquimalt and other
points in the northern country.
The reason why the telegraph has
failed to note this important move
ment-important from some points
of view, at least-is probably owing
to the transmission of the volumin-
ous reports of proceedings OF the
Electoral Commission. 1t is under
stood that an application has been
made to the United States Govern
ment for permission to use the Cen
trail and Union Pacific route, for
transportation across the continent,
which would spare the men long
and harrassing march over the
desert country extending from Lake
Superior to Frazer river, or the de-
lay of proceeding by way of the
Isthmus of Panama to Victoria.
The Herald thinks that the object
OF sending troops to Vancouver Island
ut reT'rcD.-A-mnment may possibly
have some connection with the war
cloud now omniously looming up in
the east of Europe. 1t has been
noticed that ten Russian men-of-war
have joined company in the harbor
of San Francisco. These vessels
formed the Imperial squadron station
ed at the Amoor and in the Okhostk
Sea, and were not exposed to any
danger of attack from a superior
Turkish naval force. The armed
ships of European Powers stationed
in China and japanese waters are,
however, not very far distant
from tho coasts of Siberia, and it
will be remembered that combined
English and French fleet attempted
in 1854 to capture Petropaulovski,
and were driven off with severe loss.
| 1t is easy to account for the Russian
Mediterranean squadron retiring be-
fore the presence ofan overwhelming
hostile force and seeking friendly
harbor in Chesapeake Bay; but the
rendezvous at San Francico must be
taken to imply an apprehension of
danger from other quarters than that
ofthe Ottoman Empire. The dispatch
of troops to Esquimalt and the recent
reinforcement of the English fleet in
the Pacific by two powerful iron-clad
are facts of peculiar significance.
1t is true that the people of Van
couver Island have lately manifested
much dissatisfaction at what they
consider unfair treatment by the
Dominion Government in failing to
build a railroad, which was one of
the conditions of joining the
Confederation. Smarting under
his neglect, many of the inhabi-
tants have declared that their
condition would be much improved
by annexation to the United States,
and that in any event they would
secede from Canada unless the
agreement relative to the railroad
was carried out without delay.
Lord Dufferin's visit a few months
since did not mend matters, and the
colonists, though few in number,
continue to declare that they will
not submit to u connection that has
SO far proved injurious instead of
beneficial to them. However, the
idea of coercion, or any occasion
arising for the use of it, is not en-
tertained in any quarter. The colo
nists will be pleased to find the
soldiers stationed among them. It
will turn out that it is for other pur-
poses that they 80 to British Column
bia; that it is anticipation of posi-
BILE foreign and not domestic troubles
that has led to the transfer of troops
to the British possessions in
America.
E The Changers Hall at the
east end of Long Bridge, is in frame,
with the roof on, and will soon be
enclosed. 1t is of ample size, with
large hall above, which will, doubt
less, be utilized for meetings of the
Grange.
&c. The brayest MAN vet anpOintAd